Mississippi River at Saint Francisville

The St. Francisville boat ramp, located at the historic Old Ferry Landing, provides convenient access to the main channel of the Mississippi River near this charming small community in West Feliciana Parish. The concrete ramp is a remnant of the former New Roads/St. Francisville Ferry service that operated from 1956 to 2011, making it a well-established access point with direct connections to local streets and amenities.

Paddlers and boaters should be prepared for the powerful characteristics of this major river system. The Mississippi at this location is a massive waterway with an average flow of over 685,000 cubic feet per second and average velocities around 11 feet per second. The river has minimal gradient (0.8 ft/mile), meaning strong, consistent current rather than steep drops. This is an ideal location for experienced paddlers and boaters familiar with large river navigation, though visitors should respect the substantial current and boat traffic typical of the Mississippi River.

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, located nearby approximately 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, offers additional recreation opportunities in the region and may provide scenic paddling options for those exploring the area.