The French Corridor Expedition featuring Chef Josh Galliano

Join Big Muddy Adventures Founder and Senior Guide "Big Muddy" Mike Clark and guest guide Chef Josh Galliano on an amazing culinary journey through the historic Middle Mississippi River Valley!

The French Corridor Expedition will take paddlers down the Mississippi River from St. Louis to Ste. Genevieve. Our journey will highlight the historic connection between river travel, food, and the great cultures that have explored, inhabited, and settled in the valleys of the Great Rivers. Along the way, guests will experience the river islands and historic places settled by the French in the 17th and 18th centuries. To compliment the sights and sounds of the Mighty Mississippi, guest guide and good friend of BMA, Chef Josh Galliano, will prepare “campfire gourmet” meals highlighting local Missouri ingredients.

Our trip will start with a morning meetup at the BMA warehouse where our expert guides will assist in packing up your gear into our 29 foot voyageur canoes and then we’ll shuttle to the put-in. The trip will cover approximately 55 miles on the Mississippi River and includes all meals, snacks, canoes, paddling gear and transportation. No paddling experience or special equipment is necessary, we’ve got you covered! Guests will need to provide their own tent and sleeping bag or rent one from BMA for an additional charge.

Trip Information:

How often does this trip run? - Once a year!

When is the French Corridor Expedition in 2024? - Friday, September 20th to Sunday, September 22nd, 2024

Who is this trip best for? - This trip is best for anyone (18+) who enjoys paddling, unique outdoor experiences, camping, history, adventure and campfire fine dining!

Where and when does this trip start and end? - This trip starts at 9 am on Friday and ends around 5pm on Sunday. The meet-up location will be the BMA warehouse, located in Midtown St. Louis. Paddlers will be shuttled from the warehouse to the put-in location and from the takeout location back to the warehouse.

What is included in this trip? - We provide all necessary safety and paddling gear including life jackets, paddles, and dry bags. Our experienced river guides will be available to you the entire trip to assist you and answer all of your questions. No need to worry about transportation as our crew will take care of shuttling you to and from the river. We’ll provide seven meals (lunch and dinner on Day One, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Day 2 and breakfast and lunch on Day 3) and we are able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. We will supply a cooler for any BYO beverages.

What do I need to bring? - Please make sure you bring the following items with you on your trip:

Required Gear:

  • Tent

  • Sleeping bag

  • Weather appropriate clothing

  • River shoes/sandals with a backstrap, waterproof boots, or old sneakers that you don’t mind getting muddy or wet (NO FLIP FLOPS)

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Headlamp/flashlight

Suggested Gear:

  • Sleeping pad

  • Personal items

  • Change of clothes

  • Camera

  • Hat

  • Sunscreen/bug spray

  • Dry bag or box for personal items

  • Any adult beverages you’d like to enjoy while camping

  • Cash to tip your awesome guides

How much does this trip cost? - $500/person