Leaf River
Smith / Jones Co. · 180 mi · Class I
923CFS/ 2.57 ft
Optimal→Stable
Optimal: 300–3,000 CFS · USGS #02473000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Mississippi Scenic Stream · Pascagoula River System
The largest river wholly within Mississippi — 180 miles of sand-bottomed flow through the Pine Belt from Smith County to its confluence with the Chickasawhay at Merrill, forming the Pascagoula. White sandbars, cypress-lined banks, and excellent fishing make the Leaf a premier multi-day canoe trail.
Trip sections
Upper — Taylorsville to Ellisville, 60 mi, narrow piney woods
Middle — Ellisville to Hattiesburg, 60 mi, sandbars and riffles
Lower — Hattiesburg to Merrill, 60 mi, wide and slow
Outfitters
Leaf River Paddle Company
Canoe and kayak rentals for Leaf River paddling
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPSLoading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.