Does St. Louis have a beach?

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by I_Love_Roadtrips_22M

why not?

The Mississippi is not a swimming river. However, some people do boat it and tie off on some islands that have beaches I believe.

[BerkeleyKid]

Originally Posted by MUTGR

The Mississippi is not a swimming river. However, some people do boat it and tie off on some islands that have beaches I believe.

I did growing up. My Dad had a boat so we were all over the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Mostly though we'd anchor at the sandbars of islands on the stretch of the river north of Alton, IL. For safety reasons you sure couldn't walk out into the water very far though. Too murky and swift. People also boat over and hunt over on those river islands too.

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by James Bond 007

Don't know about St Louis, but the Missouri River goes through Kansas City, and there is a park along the river which lots of people go to, and let's just say, you probably wouldn't want to go in there anyway. Current is strong, and the water is brown.

Oddly though, that's where my water comes from. In fact I'm drinking a glass of it right now!

I'd suspect the Mississippi River is the same as the Missouri, but moreso.

I've always heard that the Missouri River is the primary reason why the Mississippi River is so muddy in the St. Louis area since it empties into the Mississippi just north of St. Louis.

Originally Posted by I_Love_Roadtrips_22M

why not?

In the St. Louis area it's a muddy river with swift current that's subject to drastic water level changes. Due to this, the roadway directly in front of the Arch grounds in front of the Mississippi is frequently submerged. That means this road here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6245...7i13312!8i6656

Can look like this:
https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...ze=1700%2C1112

On top of the mud, current, and river levels, it's also an active river with a lot of barge traffic.

[SunGrins]

Both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are subject to rapid and unpredictable rises so if you try to camp on a sandbar or an island beach you may be racing to get to safely at 3 AM. That’s a little dangerous when the river is rising because it picks up logs and debris along the shore so doing it at night is really dangerous. Plus, if the water rises behind you you might be cut off from an escape route.

[MUTGR]

Originally Posted by BerkeleyKid

I did growing up. My Dad had a boat so we were all over the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Mostly though we'd anchor at the sandbars of islands on the stretch of the river north of Alton, IL. For safety reasons you sure couldn't walk out into the water very far though. Too murky and swift. People also boat over and hunt over on those river islands too.

By accident, I discovered that whole thing professionally. Some really expensive boats up on the Missouri river and Mississippi and the Alton pool. Apparently when we have a bad winter with snow and ice the docks have issues and the boats get damaged - that's how I discovered it.

[kcbluesprings]

Originally Posted by James Bond 007

Don't know about St Louis, but the Missouri River goes through Kansas City, and there is a park along the river which lots of people go to, and let's just say, you probably wouldn't want to go in there anyway. Current is strong, and the water is brown.

Oddly though, that's where my water comes from. In fact I'm drinking a glass of it right now!

I'd suspect the Mississippi River is the same as the Missouri, but moreso.

Funny....kind of reminds me of a float trip I took with my brother and his friend from Parkville to the output near I-435. We stopped for lunch at a sandbar near Downtown KC, near the Buck O'Neal Bridge. I remember walking quite a ways, almost to the middle of the river before the bottom started to slope downwards. The river was definitely not up!!! This was about 10 years ago!!

[Just One of the Guys]

Originally Posted by aliasfinn

We did have a son of a beach, but he left with the football team.

And now he lives in Malibu where he has a world class beach!! And now a world class football team. :-)

[HowardTeam]

I agree with MoNative34. I haven't been in years but I know there are sandbars in the West Alton/Portage Des Sioux area that people use for swimming in the Mississippi. I've heard the same near Godfrey. I would certainly wear a life jacket.

[Misty Mountains]

You can find "beaches" on the Mississippi but you will have to go outside of St. Louis. In between the Lock and Dam's along the Mississippi, in St. Charles county you can get access to the River off 94. Called the "Alton Pool".

It is a boating mecca with sand bars to goof off in. We did it for several yrs. in our younger days.

It can be dangerous with rock dikes and your boat, so go with someone experienced.