Mississippi | Jones and Forrest Counties / Pinebelt Blueways

Leaf RiverMS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp

A consolidated upper Leaf itinerary linking the Hwy 588 and Hwy 590 sections to the Upper Leaf Blueway launch at Eastabuchie.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 20.15 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePlan 8–11 hours with intermediate Hwy 590 bailout and shuttle margin
ShuttleCar shuttle
A sandy Leaf River shoreline provides a quiet Mississippi paddling corridor.
Route photoConsolidated upper Leaf route from Hwy 588 to EastabuchiePhoto by Seven Rivers Canoe Club

Need to know

Why this call
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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultymoderateThe selected reaches are moving-water day trips with broad current, sandbars, occasional rapids, strainers and strong flood response. They are suitable only for paddlers who can self-rescue and manage a full shuttle.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current city, county and ramp hours, parking and any blueway notices before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyThese are day-use blueway routes. No on-route overnight campsite is claimed; use separately permitted campgrounds or lodging and never camp on private banks.
SeasonJan-DecLeaf River stage responds quickly to heavy rain. Check Collins gauge trend, rainfall, flood warnings and each landing status immediately before launch.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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WeekendChecking

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Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

A consolidated upper Leaf itinerary linking the Hwy 588 and Hwy 590 sections to the Upper Leaf Blueway launch at Eastabuchie.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

MS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill public concrete boat ramp (water-entry edge)

Use only the named public concrete ramps and existing access roads.

Finish

Take-out

Eastabuchie / Church Street concrete boat ramp (water-entry edge)

Recheck stage, trend, rainfall, weather, wood and temporary closures before departure.

Road shuttle

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named public concrete ramps and existing access roads.
  • Recheck stage, trend, rainfall, weather, wood and temporary closures before departure.
  • Do not use private banks or unmarked pull-offs for parking, bailout or camping.

Watch for

  • Long distance and shallow upper-river sections
  • Strainers, sandbars and bridge approaches
  • Hwy 590 and Eastabuchie ramp condition

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.

Data status
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Data reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

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Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteLeaf River near Collins, MS
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
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Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor5.50 ft
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreSeven Rivers Canoe Club Leaf River guide
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named reach and accessMS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp; 20.15 miles

    Seven Rivers documents both adjacent component trips and their public concrete ramps; the route retains Hwy 590 as an intermediate bailout.

    Source

  • Scoring cueAt least 5.5 ft stage at USGS 02472000 near Collins

    Seven Rivers publishes 5.5 ft as the optimal Collins gauge level for its Leaf River day sections. Verify current stage, trend and local conditions; this is not a safety guarantee.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 02472000 near Collins

    Direct Leaf River stage telemetry for the upper and middle Leaf corridor.

    Source

Check the source links

Paddler reports

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Leaf River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the MS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp route on the Leaf River?

Paddle Today watches Leaf River near Collins, MS and uses 5.50 ft as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does the MS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp route on the Leaf River start and end?

This route starts at MS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill public concrete boat ramp (water-entry edge) and ends at Eastabuchie / Church Street concrete boat ramp (water-entry edge), about 20.15 river miles on the water.

Is the MS Hwy 588 / Sand Hill ramp to Eastabuchie / Church Street ramp route on the Leaf River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.