The Pearl River is one of the state’s most significant waterways and is not a typical paddling river, but it is both interesting and challenging. Challenges include logjams on the upper reaches followed by dwindling current as the river approaches Ross Barnett Reservoir. As the river nears the coast, some of the most impressive swamps in the state appear with a real sense of isolation and an abundance of wildlife. This stretch may pose obstacles of sandy shoals and fallen trees during time of low water. However, the Pearl widens and slows near the end of the route and these obstacles cease to be a problem.