Cat Island River Trail

Total Miles
8.1

Technical Rating

Easy

Best Time

Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

Trail Overview

This trail runs along the Mississippi River near the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge. Depending on the time of year, higher river flood stages can make this trail inaccessible since it lies in a natural flood plain. During dryer periods, the trail is often covered with several inches of silt. This trail provides some great views of the Mississippi River along long undeveloped stretches. The trail itself provides access to a sparse number of camps and old, unused agriculture areas.

Photos of Cat Island River Trail

Want to see more?

Difficulty

The rating of (3) is during a very dry period where there is little mud and dry silt. If traveling on this trail during a wet period, the terrain would require a higher rating.

Technical Rating

Status Reports

Started on the Plattenberg side on 12/31. Prior to the trail start there signs warning of road closure, but there is a very mild water cross over a concrete path to bypass the bridge under construction. There was a fair bit of rain the past weekend, so there was a good amount of mud holes and ruts, but nothing too extreme. If I had to estimate, the deepest hole we went through was around 8-10in. We intended to head south to where it seems the trail spits out onto Cat Island NWR, but the trail started to deteriorate and we decided to turn around.

Basically just a rough country dirt road when dry. Could be more fun after some good rain.

Bridge is out 1 mile prior to trail head. It looks to be mostly completed but no postings of when it will reopen.