ESCATAWPA
RIVER
check river levels
River levels change quickly due to rainfall and seasonal conditions. Always evaluate river conditions and your own paddling ability before launching.
The Escatawpa River has its headwaters in Washington County, Alabama near the town of Copeland and flows approximately 129 miles until it empties into the Pascagoula River Bay near Moss Point, Mississippi. It crosses into Mississippi just south of US Highway 98.
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The Escatawpa derives its name from a native American Choctaw phrase meaning "where cane is cut". Baca, Keith A. (2007). Native American Place Names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 34.
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The Escatawpa is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Fish include numerous species and varieties of catfish, bass, crappie, sturgeon and gars. There are also a large variety of turtles, including the spiny soft shell turtle. As you can see from some of the pictures below there are also numerous varieties of water snakes. Alligators inhabit some parts of the river. Birds you may expect to spot are Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Swallow Tailed Kites and numerous varieties of hawks, ducks and other waterfowl.
We were unable to find any "improved" landings on the Escatawpa, but primative landings are accessible in several locations.​
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LANDINGS
ESCATAWPA RIVER
HWY. 612 TO TANNER-WILLIAMS RD.
Launch – Hwy 612 (Dirt drive to primitive landing)
Landing - Denham Progress Rd. (Gravel drive to parking area and concrete boat ramp)
Distance - 8.8 miles
Time - 3.5 - 4.5 hours
Features (in order)-
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 1.67 On Left
Unnamed Stream - @ mile 2.88 On Right
Take Out on Left
Drive from Hattiesburg Train Station to Hwy. 612 Launch - 69 miles (1 hour 10 minutes)
Drive from Hwy. 612 Launch to Tanner-Williams Rd. Landing - 11.4 miles (16 minutes)
Drive from Tanner-Williams Rd. Landing to Hattiesburg Train Station - 77 miles (1 hour 20 minutes)
Highway 612 to Tanner-Williams Road
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This section of the Escatawpa River gave us a couple of big thunderstorms, numerous examples of wildlife, including 4 Diamondback Watersnakes within 1/4 mile of one another. See the highlights below.
