Bogue Chitto River (Mississippi/Louisiana)

Water gushing from the river bottom, Bogue Chitto River, Mississippi

General Description & Characteristics -- The Bogue Chitto River rises in several small streams around Brookhaven, Mississippi.  The two main branches, the East and West Bogue Chitto Rivers come together a few miles south of Brookhaven to form the main stem.  The river flows southward, near McComb, Mississippi, then gradually bends toward the southeast, entering Louisiana, and finally flows into the West Pearl River Canal a few miles south of Bogalusa.  Map study suggests that the Bogue Chitto is the primary source of the stream that is officially named West Pearl. The name is supposed to come from a Choctaw Indian term meaning "big creek".  This river is an excellent example of a southern forest/swamp river, with fairly easy access and nice gravel sandbars throughout most of its course.

While locally popular in the summer, we recommend the Bogue Chitto for canoeing in the cool seasons, from October to April.  Even in the winter, there will be many fine days for canoeing.  The months of January through April generally have somewhat higher water, but there is usually adequate water for canoeing at all times.

Location & Canoeable Mileage -- For a trip of about 95 miles, you can launch at Alford Bridge, about 5 miles north of McComb, Mississippi and a couple of miles east of US 51. The take out is at Lock #3 on the Pearl River Canal, about 10 miles south of Bogalusa, Louisiana, east on a signed road off highway 21.  There is adequate parking and a boat ramp here.  In order to reach this place by water you have to paddle up the Pearl River Canal about one half mile (north or left as you enter from the Bogue Chitto).  There is little or no current in this canal except in periods of very high water on the Pearl River.  For a shorter trip, you can launch or take out at Bogue Chitto Water Park off highway 98 a few miles east of McComb.  This would be about 21 miles downstream from Alford Bridge and 75 miles upstream from the Pearl River.  There are several other access points particularly at or near the many bridges that cross the Bogue Chitto River.

Interesting Features -- If you make this entire float, you will share with the river its experience of traversing a changing environment from the rolling hills of southeast Mississippi to the swampy flood plain of the much larger Pearl River.

This area has been devastated by major storms and floods in recent years.  These catastrophic events caused several course changes of the river, and they seem to have reduced the number of seasonal cabins and settlements along the river; many of those you will see look fairly new.  At low to moderate levels there are many snags and downed trees in the river (probably more than average because of changes in the river's course).  Some of these obstacles can be hazardous and require good maneuvering skills. 

At low water you will encounter some shoals and perhaps an occasional rock shelf that you might want to check out carefully or line around.

At several places there are seeping or flowing springs where ground water flows along a sandstone formation.  In one location we saw a profuse flowing spring coming from the bottom of the river and spurting above the surface like a geyser or artesian well.

Some sections of the Bogue Chitto are very popular for canoeing and tubing, notable around and downstream from Bogue Chitto Water Park and also near Enon, Louisiana.  On summer weekends, you are likely to see lots of other floaters.   In the cool season and during the week you are likely to have the river to yourself. 

A diverse forest surrounds the Bogue Chitto River, and in many sections there are cypress swamps in the adjacent terrain.  River birch and sycamore are seen in abundance, in addition to the cypress and many others.  At the end of your trip you will enter the Pearl River Canal, an abandoned navigation project that is still administered for recreational use.  The area around the confluence of Bogue Chitto and Pearl Rivers is the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge,

Camping -- The Bogue Chitto boasts of many fine gravel and sand bars for your camping pleasure.  These are somewhat scarcer on the upper reaches of the river and as you draw nearer the Pearl River, but in the middle section you will find some amazingly immense sand bars.  If you have to camp where there is no sand bar, be sure to seek permission, as you will probably be on private land.  There are many nice remote sites where you are not likely to disturb anyone, but you should avoid camping near settlements or other inhabited areas.

Additional Information:

Canoeing Information	.
Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service	>Bogue Chitto Canoeing and Tubing (Isabel, LA) Wayne's World (Enon, LA) Sweetwater Canoe Rentals 601-876-5474 Canoe and Trail Outpost 601-876-6964
River Flow Data	Tylertown, MS Franklinton, LA If you have difficulty obtaining information from these links, click here and follow directions to your area of interest: Redirect to USGS Water Main Page
Parks on/near the River	Bogue Chitto Water Park Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge
Towns/Other Locales on/near the River	Brookhaven, MS Bogalusa, LA
Books	Lower Pearl River's Piney Woods : Its Land and People
More Pictures	Canoe Camping Photo Gallery Arthur Kuehne's Photo Gallery of our January 2003 Trip
Environmental Issues/Organizations	.
Acknowledgments/Contributors	.
Miscellaneous	Canoe and Trail Adventures  - Guided trips on the Bogue Chitto and other area rivers.

South Central Locator Map