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This segment of the Great Loop is a trip through America’s heartland for more than 1,000 miles on the inland rivers. Chicago is the last big city you’ll see until you reach the Gulf of Mexico several weeks later. Many areas will be rather remote, and all but very fast boats will likely have to spend a few nights at anchor on this segment because of the lack of marinas. This segment includes the western-most point on the Great Loop as well as the longest distance between fuel stops. There are several locks along the way operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers.
This segment of the Great Loop is a trip through America’s heartland for more than 1,000 miles on the inland rivers. Chicago is the last big city you’ll see until you reach the Gulf of Mexico several weeks later. Many areas will be rather remote, and all but very fast boats will likely have to spend a few nights at anchor on this segment because of the lack of marinas. This segment includes the western-most point on the Great Loop as well as the longest distance between fuel stops. There are several locks along the way operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers.
Designated the first “Clean Marina” in the State of Indiana, the Hammond Marina is just 12 nautical miles from Downtown Chicago, with a boating season that extends from May 1st until October 15th. The Marina is located on miles of sandy shoreline, and is adjacent to the Horseshoe Casino. Visitors enjoy activities that appeal to every age… all linked together by a pedestrian trail and within 2 square miles.
When leaving Chicago, there are two routes to continue your Great Loop cruise. Your route choice will depend somewhat on your boat's air draft. Route one via the Chicago River is a scenic cruise through downtown to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. There are more than 40 bridges in about 5 miles, the lowest of which has a fixed vertical clearance at 18.5 ft. If you can not clear it, then you'll take route two via the Calumet River to the Cal-Sag Channel to join the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Regardless of which route you take from Lake Michigan, you will soon come to the lowest fixed bridge on the Great Loop. At mile 300.5 on the Illinois River is a fixed railroad bridge that is charted at 19.6 feet. Sailboats that have not already done so will need to unstep their masts before leaving Chicago to clear this bridge. Transient docking is available at Big Basin Marina, just south of Juliet, IL, which provides fuel, boat repairs and a saloon to grab some grub.
Whether you chose St. Charles or Grafton, plan on getting an early start when you leave, as there are two busy locks on the next legs and, because commercial traffic has priority when locking through, you may experience delays. Mile 0 of the Illinois River meets the Upper Mississippi River at Mile 218.0. There are several locks to contend with on this leg of the Upper Mississippi. The Mel Price Lock & Dam is at Mile 200.8. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers converge at Mile 195.3 on the Upper Mississippi. The Chain of Rocks Lock & Dam @ Mile 185.0. St. Louis is at Mile 180.0 there are no facilities on the waterfront that allow a stop for recreational vessels. Hoppie's Marina @ Mile 158.5 is a "must-stop" because it's the last place to take on gasoline, and sometimes diesel, for about 200 miles.
This leg includes another route choice. One option is to turn onto the Tennessee River at Paducah. The Tennessee River runs from the south to the north, so keep in mind that the red buoys will now be on your right and the green will be on your left. Also, since you're on an upbound river, the right descending bank will now be on your left. Many Loopers opt to travel 12 miles farther on the Ohio to the Cumberland River to bypass a sometimes long wait on the Tennessee River at the Kentucky Lake Lock and Dam. On this route, the Cumberland River intersects the Ohio River at Kentucky Chute. Like the Tennessee River, the Cumberland is an upbound river. The Barkley Lock & Dam is at Mile 30.6 and creates Barkley Lake. Loopers will take the Barkley Canal at Mile 33 to cross into Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River. Green Turtle Bay Marina has earned a "Must Stop!" designation by the AGLCA "Great Loopers" and is known to cruisers from the Great Lakes to the Florida waters. Green Turtle Bay has been awarded the industry coveted Five Anchor designation from Quimby's Cruising Guide. This full service marina features over 450 slips for most any boat style or size from 28' to 100', uncovered slips for both power and sail, and covered slips from 22' to 100' for cruisers and houseboats. The Marina's transient dock offers slips convenient to all amenities. They dispense ethanol-free gasoline and marine diesel, both of which are treated with Valvtect Marine additives.
This is the final leg on the Tennessee River before entering the man-made portion of the Tenn-Tom, the Divide Cut. If you plan to take a side trip on the Tennessee River to Chattanooga, you would do so during this leg. Grand Harbor Marina is located approximately 9 miles upstream of Pickwick Dam at the junction of the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway at Mile Marker 449.7. The marina features covered slips from 24' through 70’ and transient dockage. Each of the more than 325 slips are protected by an 8-foot breakwater and backed by all of the top notch facilities you would expect to find at the ultimate marina resort. With pump out stations, electric service (50 amp 220v and 30 amp 125v) and a fuel dock equipped with high-speed pumps for diesel Grand Harbor is the ideal refueling point for boats and their crew.
Grand Harbor is at the entrance to the Divide Cut which marks the beginning of the man-made canal that connects the Tennessee River with the Tombigbee River. It is a straight, man-made canal built by the Corp of Engineers that was opened in 1985, making possible this popular Great Loop route that avoids the lower Mississippi. From the Tennessee River, turn into Yellow Creek at the Mississippi/Tennessee state border. On your way to Fulton, you will encounter three locks, Whitten Lock @ mile 411.9, Montgomery Lock @ mile 406.7, Rankin Lock @ mile 398.4. Fulton is at Mile 392.
This leg includes several locks, the first of which you'll quickly encounter after departing Fulton. Fulton Lock is @ Mile 391.0, Glover Wilkins Lock is @ Mile 376.3, Amory Lock & Dam is @ Mile 371.1, Aberdeen Lock and Dam is @ Mile 357.5, John Stennis Lock and Dam is @ Mile 334.7. A possible end to this leg is Columbus, MS at Mile 335.
Shortly after leaving Demopolis you will reach the Demopolis Lock & Dam at Mile 213.3. This is another leg that will require an overnight anchorage for most Loopers. One option is Bashi Creek at Mile 145. Coffeeville, at Mile 118.9 is the location of Bobby's Fish Camp which offers the opportunity to tie up for the night and take on fuel.
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