The Big Black River slices diagonally across the state from northeast to southwest. It contains elements of both the Mississippi Delta and the piney hills and it includes sandbars and a few red clay bluffs. Some of the highlights found on this river include lush forest, plenty of sloughs for exploring, and great catfishing, but it is very muddy and the current is slow. The woods and wildlife make it worth it and paddlers return in spite of the mud. Plenty of sloughs and oxbow lakes provide great detours on this section of the river. Views of wildlife, including abundant waterfowl, and gorgeous scenery in the lush forest are found on these detours. The presence of alligators, some reportedly as long as 16 feet, adds to the wildness of the river.