For thousands of years, people have been traveling upon the great rivers of the Mississippi Watershed by canoe. The canoe is the ideal form of travel if you wish to glide silently past a nesting pair of bald eagles or watch a coyote hunt along the river bank. It is a pristine form of travel, promoting physical fitness and organic living. Your body, mind and soul become interconnected with the flowing water and all that surrounds you. BMA invites you to experience "river time" and travel upon it just as the ancients did.

Big Muddy Adventures is an insured river guiding and outfitting company. We are located at the Confluence of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. We offer custom guided trips, including St. Louis area day trips, full moon floats, and multi day canoe camping trips. BMA features Bell expedition canoes, and "Clipper Voyageur" canoes, 26 feet long. It is always safety first, and our record is spotless so bring yourself, your friends, the family, the whole Boy/Girl Scout Troop or classroom.

The mission of Big Muddy Adventures is to connect adventurers of all ages to the rivers of America and to facilitate a life long love of learning through exploration.

Big Muddy Adventures is dedicated to the conservation of America's rivers, wilderness areas, and natural resources. Big Muddy Adventures strives to make the rivers accessible to all people. BMA emphasizes racial and gender equality and cultural tolerance.

BMA brings people to the rivers in two ways- through guided river trips and via on-line learning expeditions. BMA...

• Collaborates with individuals, families, community organizations, teachers, students, and all life long learners to explore the great rivers of America;
• Provides instruction, motivation and resources to make travel by canoe and kayak on the rivers an enjoyable and safe experience;
• Fosters geographic knowledge, cultural tolerance, and understanding of the natural and social sciences;
• Promotes active participation in environmental initiatives dedicated to conserving nature;
• Introduces adults and children to the excitement and beauty of nature by making live visits to schools and organizations and by providing live demonstrations of canoe making;
• Develops engaging, constructive, standards based lessons and activities delivered on-line in the Big Muddy Schoolhouse or in person;

Mike Clark
Big Muddy Adventures, Proprietor

“Big Muddy” Mike Clark is one of the most accomplished canoeists and guides in America. He has over 10,000 miles of big river experience and has led large and small groups on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers since 2001. BMA is a licensed and insured river guiding business and operates as an affiliate of Quapaw Canoe Company. Mike conducts live learning adventures for school children across North America -- connecting our youth with our rivers. He also teaches computer lab, science & history at St. Anne’s of Normandy, an inner city Catholic School in North St. Louis. Mike Clark is a youth leader and truly a Champion of America’s Rivers.

If you are interested in paddling & experiencing any of the great rivers around St. Louis, you will want to contact Mike to set up a custom-guided adventure with the man who knows those rivers better than any one else! St. Louis is the center of a giant wheel of rivers that come flowing in from all directions, connecting America’s cultures, history & geography like no other single location. Mike conducts day trips, learning adventures and extended expeditions on the Lower Missouri River, the Middle Mississippi (St. Louis to Cairo, Illinois) the Lower Illinois and the last section of the Upper Mississippi.

Betsy Tribble
Big Muddy Adventures, Manager

Betsy Tribble brings a deep passion for the river to BMA. She was a paddler on a full moon float and took an interest in the work of guiding and outfitting. Since that time, Betsy has utilized her many talents to organize trips, plan events, assist guides, and keep the logistics in order.

Besides her river rat bona fides, Betsy is a pet whisperer. We're confident that one day she will tame a coyote and have great blue herons bringing her fish.