Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Chattachoochee River/Jason Bilips via NPS
The National Water Trails System currently includes 18 trails in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin for a total of 2,674.2 miles of NWT.
In other words, you shouldn't have to look, or drive, too far to find a place to dip a paddle or float your boat!
Here's a rundown of the water trails in the National Park System:
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Water Trail
Trail length: 48 miles
Location: Georgia
The water trail encompasses the existing Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a linear park in the Atlanta-metro area. It includes 48 miles of river, over 70 miles of hiking trails, and 18 developed access areas. The purpose of the Chattahoochee River Water Trail is to lead the preservation and protection of the 48-mile Chattahoochee River corridor from Buford Dam to Peachtree Creek and its associated natural and cultural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Water Trail
Trail length: 76 miles
Location: Minnesota
The Mississippi River Water Trail encourages river stewardship of one of North America's most iconic rivers by increasing the use of the river and its shoreline. This 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, and 4 miles of the Minnesota River, is filled with nationally significant historic, cultural, economic, scenic, recreational, natural, and scientific resources.
Trail length: 631 miles
Location: Alabama
The ASRT passes through the heart of Alabama from northeast to southwest, taking users through a wide variety of terrain, flora, and fauna and reconnecting citizens and visitors to Alabama's rivers, as well as bringing sustainable rural development to communities along the rivers in Alabama.
Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trail/NPS
Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trail
Trail length: 120 miles
Location: Georgia
These wilderness canoe trails offer opportunities to view wildlife, wet prairies, cypress forests, and pine uplands. Canoeing, kayaking, and motorboating are permitted year-round on marked trails.
Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trails strive to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat, ensure integrity of the ecological system, and embrace the grandeur, mystery, and cultural heritage of the area.
Mississippi River Water Trail - Great River Water Trail
Trail length: 121 miles
Location: Missouri and Illinois
The MRWT Great River Water Trail is deeply rooted in natural scenic beauty, Native American heritage, and cultural history. The MRWT Great River Water Trail extends through the heart of North America, from Saverton, Missouri downstream to St. Louis, Missouri and offers numerous recreational and educational opportunities, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Trail length: 8 miles
Location: New York
The Bronx River Blueway passes directly through the New York Botanical gardens, the Bronx River Forest, cityscapes, and the Bronx Zoo and offers a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities. The Bronx River Blueway aims to introduce community and interested groups to the River and to the developing Bronx River Greenway through canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, program, and project opportunities in and along the river corridor.
Hudson River Greenway Water Trail/John Resch via NPS
Hudson River Greenway Water Trail
Trail length: 256 miles
Location: New York
The Hudson River Greenway Water Trail is designed for day-users as well as long-distance paddlers. It includes 94 designated access sites, wildlife marshes, islands, historic sites, cities, downtowns, and hiking trails. The Hudson River Greenway Water Trail connects communities and people to the Hudson River, promotes recreational access for all users, provides infrastructure for multi-day paddles, protects natural and cultural resources, and supports the health the river for future generations.
Trail length: 173 miles
Location: Kansas
The Kansas River offers outstanding scenic, recreational, historic and cultural opportunities, appropriate for novice boaters and families. The River also provides areas for picnicking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and relaxing. The trail aims to help Kansas residents and visitors enjoy the Kansas River for fun, wellness, and recreation and to have communities and businesses along the river experience increased economic benefits improving the quality of life for all Kansas residents.
Willamette River Water Trail/NPS
Trail length: 217 miles
Location: Oregon
The Willamette River Water Trail flows through rural and urban landscapes, providing scenic, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. Seventy percent of Oregon residents live in the Willamette River valley. The trail aims to connect communities and visitors to Oregon's celebrated Willamette River as an accessible adventure in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
Trail Length: 330 miles
Location: Illinois, Wisconsin
The Rock River Water Trail is a water trail of the Upper Mississippi River Region. The trail meanders down a gentle gradient through beautiful rural and wilderness landscapes and vibrant urban riverfronts to safely carry the water traveler 330 miles from the headwaters above the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in south central Wisconsin to the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. The Rock River Water Trail is of national significance for its great diversity and landscape, vista, recreation, cultural, and historic experience, and for its ease of accessibility.
Trail Length: 100 miles
Location: South Carolina
The Waccamaw River Blue Trail extends the South Carolina portion of the Waccamaw River meandering 100 miles through protected bottomland hardwood swamps of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge and passing through the historic, riverfront cities of Conway and Georgetown. The Waccamaw, a coastal black water river, is home to many rare species of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else on earth.
Trail Length: 10.2 miles
Location: Michigan
Experience a very unique paddle in southeast Michigan crossing four different water bodies, along the international border. The mission of the Island Loop Route is to provide a safe, unique and exciting recreational experience for residents and visitors of all abilities to enjoy as they navigate four distinct water bodies in St. Clair County.
Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail
Trail Length: 147 miles
Location: Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota
The Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail contains some of the last remaining natural stretches of America's longest river. Come canoe, kayak, and camp along the trail as you experience the Missouri River as Lewis and Clark saw over two hundred years ago. The astonishing array of wildlife, scenic vistas and national significant history make a trip down this stretch of river a once in a lifetime experience.
Trail Length: 36 miles
Location: Iowa
The 36 mile Red Rock Water Trail is located on Lake Red Rock near Pella and Knoxville, Iowa. The loop can be paddled in its entirety or broken up into shorter sections. Eagle nests, a sea cave, beautiful rocky cliffs and bluffs, and a wide variety of migratory water fowl are just a few of the things you can experience while paddling around Lake Red Rock.
Black Canyon Wilderness at Lake Mead National Recreation Area/NPS
Trail Length: 30 miles
Location: Nevada and Arizona
The Black Canyon Water Trail is located along a rugged and remote portion of the Colorado River in Arizona and Nevada within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This spectacular river setting provides unique paddling and rafting opportunities from flowing hot springs in some of the side canyons to the history associated with the Hoover Dam and the early inhabitants of the surrounding areas.
Trail Length: 371 miles
Location: Washington
The Kitsap Peninsula includes 371 miles of coastline on the Puget Sound in Washington State and some of the most spectacular marine environments on the planet. The Kitsap Peninsula is a destination for paddlers from around the globe because of its unique marine environments, the natural scenic beauty of the mountains and sound, migrating marine mammal populations, and ports and towns steeped in tradition.
Trail length: 135 miles
Canoes, kayakers, and dogs on the Alabama Scenic River Trail/NPS, Alabama Scenic River Trail
Location: Louisiana
This paddling trail in Louisiana wanders through four parishes and 13 towns along a historically and culturally significant bayou. This trail promotes the natural beauty of south Louisiana and integrates the history of the people and the land while providing access for paddlers of all abilities.
Trail length: 104 miles
Location: Michigan
More than 100 miles of the Huron River in Michigan offers an inland paddling journey that enables you to explore the river's natural and historic resources and the communities. Offering access to flat-water paddling through picturesque scenery, the Huron River Water Trail has stimulated local economies, encouraged people to enjoy the outdoors and strengthened community pride, partnerships and collaboration.
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