City: West Alton, MO
County: St. Charles County
Type: Boat Ramp
Location: 38.88032856, -90.18924106
Air Temp: --
Location
Live Webcam
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Real-time data from USGS Water Services
Whitewater Runs on Mississippi River
1 run
There are no whitewater runs within 50 miles of this access site.
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
Difficulty Classes
I Easy
II Novice
III Intermediate
IV Advanced
V Expert/Extreme
VI Unrunnable
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater
About This Access Site
Lincoln Shields Recreation Area in West Alton provides public boat access to the mighty Mississippi River, one of North America's largest waterways. The site features a functional boat ramp along with amenities including picnic areas and restrooms. The adjacent 2-mile West Alton Trail offers a scenic rail-to-trail option for biking or walking. Note that this is a no-wake zone, so plan accordingly for launching and retrieving vessels.
Paddlers should be aware of the Mississippi River's significant scale and power at this location. With an average flow of over 685,000 cubic feet per second and velocities around 11 feet per second, this is a major river requiring respect and preparation. The river's considerable current and traffic from commercial and recreational boats demand experience and caution. The site also features nearby ponds and wetland areas with foot-traffic-only access for observation and exploration. Ellis Lake and Teal Pond within the recreation area do not permit boat traffic, but Ellis Bay offers shoreline access for foot traffic on mowed areas.
Paddlers should be aware of the Mississippi River's significant scale and power at this location. With an average flow of over 685,000 cubic feet per second and velocities around 11 feet per second, this is a major river requiring respect and preparation. The river's considerable current and traffic from commercial and recreational boats demand experience and caution. The site also features nearby ponds and wetland areas with foot-traffic-only access for observation and exploration. Ellis Lake and Teal Pond within the recreation area do not permit boat traffic, but Ellis Bay offers shoreline access for foot traffic on mowed areas.