Tower Rock, an Island in the Mississippi River, Can Now be Reached by Foot

Posted: October 19, 2022 11:23 pm

It’s no secret that the United States is experiencing prolonged drought conditions. From Lake Mead in the West to the Mississippi River in the nation’s heartland, water levels seem to be falling in major waterways all over the country. While this has been a societal challenge on a number of levels, one small benefit is that geological structures that are normally submerged under water have become visible. One such natural feature is Tower Rock in the Mississippi River.

What is Tower Rock?

Tower Rock is a distinct looking island in the main channel of the Mississippi River, located south of St. Louis and roughly in between the town of Grand Tower, Illinois and the community of Wittenberg, Missouri. This unusal rock formation has been used as a navigation marker for centuries, with the first surviving European account of the island coming way back in 1673.

Tower Rock’s steep, rocky sides rise almost straight up from the water’s surface and are mostly devoid of plant life, giving it a rather otherworldly appearance. In fact, while the top of the island is flat and has the normal vegatation, American natives never went there because they believed that a demon like entity made its home on the island. Over the years, it was used as a base for a number of pirate bands and other criminals that made their fortunes up and down the Mississippi River. In 1970, Tower Rock was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its prolonged historical significance and granting it federal protection.

Accessing Tower Rock

Under normal water level conditions, Tower Rock is an island. As that might suggest, adventurous tourists and locals could only reach it by boat. Additionally, savvy residents of the area that have learned to understand the river have long known that there is a certain time of year when natural fluctuations of the water level allow for the island to be reached by foot, if you know where to go and don’t mind wading through waist high water. Outside of that, only serious strain on the Mississippi River system can cause the water to drop any lower.

Drought Conditions in the Mississippi River System During 2022

Drought has become a serious concern for many Americans in recent years. According to the US Drought Monitor, 55% of the mainland United States is currently under drought conditions. While this is often thought of as a problem only for Western states like Arizona and California, drought has hit the Mississippi River hard in a very short period of time.

As of this writing, 70% of Arkansas and nearly 40% of Missouri are under severe drought, up from just 5% in the Summer. In Memphis, the Mississippi River has been measured at is second lowest level on record, reduced to a mere trickle beneath the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge. Three other river gauges along the Arkansas portion of the River have registered record lows inb recent weeks. Conditions are expected to become even worse, with no forecasted relief in sight. Since water in the River begins its journey many months earlier as snow in the northern plains of the United States, it can take a long time for the system to correct itself when water levels become this low.

Tower Rock Now Only a Short Walk Away

Among this bleak outlook created by the climate data, there are some silver linings to be had. These near record lows in the water level of the Mississippi River have revealed things that have long been covered by the quickly flowing water. For example, the former island of Tower Rock can now be reached with very little effort because a broad section of rock has emerged from the water and connected Tower Rock to the shoreline. As a result, it now takes only an easy walk to get there. According to recent visitors, you won’t even have to get your shoes muddy to make the trek.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Tower Rock can be reached by foot the rough and wet way when the river measures 1.5 feet or lower (this is measured against a 0 level that is stipulated rather than the bedrock of the river, so this level equates to several feet of water). On October 14, the measurement of the river hit 0.00.

In the days that followed, news spread that Tower Rock was easily accessible and people flocked there for the rare opportunity. That weekend, children could be seen clamboring all over the island’s normally still rock faces. According to locals, the water only falls low enough to allow for this about once every generation. This bit of joyful celebration is a much needed distraction from the realities that continue to face the people who live near and depend on the Mississippi River.

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