The Mississippi River is large, has a lot of power, and carries lots of tugboat traffic and for these reasons it demands extra caution. For long trips, paddling down the center of the river in as straight a line as possible and pulling aside for barge traffic is the best strategy. For short trips, paddling close to the shore to avoid traffic may be easiest. Hazards on this big river include strong upstream eddies and dangerous whirlpools. Although the difficulty rating of this river is Class I with no rapids, this river should not be attempted unless you are competent with a paddle. The woods and wildlife are phenomenal surrounding the 400 miles of river through Mississippi. On this section, you will experience lots of barge traffic just as you are starting. Views and scenery include beautiful forests, large sandy beaches, and some agricultural fields.