Michigan's premier whitewater river — the Pine runs cold, clear, and fast through the Manistee National Forest. Designated Wild & Scenic in 1978 among the first eight rivers in the eastern U.S. to receive that honor. Crystal spring-fed water stays below 65°F year-round, supporting one of Michigan's finest wild brook trout populations.

Michigan's most celebrated canoe river — 140 miles of spring-fed water from Grayling to Lake Huron. Birthplace of Trout Unlimited (1959) and home of the legendary Au Sable Canoe Marathon, 120 miles nonstop each July since 1947.

190 miles through Manistee National Forest — among the finest trout fisheries east of the Rockies. Upper reach is fast and intimate; below Tippy Dam widens into world-class steelhead and Chinook salmon water every fall.

Michigan's longest river entirely within the state, running 216 miles from Houghton Lake to Muskegon Lake. Below Croton Dam, the lower reach is a Michigan Designated Trout Stream with world-class steelhead and Chinook salmon runs. The world's first logging railroad was built in 1876 specifically to feed logs into the Muskegon system.

National Wild & Scenic River and Michigan Natural River, the Pere Marquette is a legendary steelhead and salmon fishery. The upper river features designated fly-fishing-only water, drawing anglers from across the country.

Flows into Grand Traverse Bay at Traverse City, the Boardman has seen dramatic ecological revival through recent dam removals restoring fish passage. A cold, clear stream winding through forested terrain to one of Michigan's most vibrant waterfronts. Designated a Michigan Natural River, the upper reach from Supply Road to Brown Bridge is a remote forest paddle before the lower 40 miles deliver paddlers into downtown Traverse City.

Michigan's first designated Natural River (1972), the Jordan is a cold spring-fed gem with superb brook trout fishing. Its intimate, winding course through the Jordan River Valley is one of the most scenic paddles in the Lower Peninsula.

Flowing to Lake Michigan at Frankfort near the Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Betsie offers excellent salmon and steelhead runs. A scenic Natural River winding through Benzie County's rolling forests and farmland.

Flowing through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the Platte is famous for its coho salmon run — one of the first successful Pacific salmon introductions in the Great Lakes. A gentle, crystal-clear paddle to Lake Michigan.

Flowing through the Rifle River Recreation Area, the Rifle is one of Michigan's most family-friendly float rivers with good smallmouth bass fishing. A gentle, forested paddle through the eastern LP. Designated a Michigan Natural River, its 60-mile run from the scenic Ogemaw County headwaters to Saginaw Bay offers popular family floats on the middle reach between Selkirk and Sterling.

Michigan's only National Water Trail at 104 miles, the Huron flows through Ann Arbor and is the most accessible urban paddle in the state. A remarkable blend of city parks, wetlands, and natural areas along a surprisingly wild corridor.

A central Lower Peninsula gem, the Flat River flows past the historic Fallasburg Covered Bridge and offers excellent smallmouth bass and steelhead fishing. Gentle Class I-II water through rolling farmland and hardwood forest.

Winding through southwest Michigan's rural farmland, the Thornapple offers good bass fishing and a peaceful, pastoral paddle to its confluence with the Grand River. A quiet alternative to busier northern LP rivers. The 90-mile river drifts through gentle meanders from Vermontville to Hastings before widening on the run into Grand Rapids.

The shortest river in Michigan at just 2.5 miles, the Crystal flows with teal-blue, glass-clear water through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. An extremely popular short paddle and one of the most photographed waterways in the state.

Quieter and more intimate than the main stem Au Sable, the South Branch winds through state forest with wild brook trout in every pool. A peaceful escape for anglers and paddlers seeking solitude. Designated a Michigan Natural River, the 40-mile South Branch is narrowest and wildest from Chase Bridge to Smith Bridge before widening on the lower reach to Roscommon.

Flowing into Black Lake and then to Lake Huron, the Black River traverses some of the most remote northern Lower Peninsula landscape. A quiet, forested paddle far from the crowds of more popular rivers.

Michigan's Thumb area river flowing through agricultural country, the Cass is a family-friendly paddle with gentle current and easy access. A pleasant introduction to paddling in the eastern Lower Peninsula. Its 95-mile course runs from gentle farmland meanders between Cass City and Caro down to wider, slower water reaching Saginaw Bay.

Flowing through the Mt. Pleasant area and Central Michigan University's hometown, the Chippewa is a gentle central LP paddle with good smallmouth bass fishing and easy access from mid-Michigan communities. The 90-mile river begins as a narrow, wooded stream in Mecosta County before broadening through Mt. Pleasant and on to Midland.

A spring-fed creek in southwest Michigan's Cass County with excellent trout habitat, the Dowagiac is a small gem prized by anglers for its cold, clear water and healthy brown trout population. Designated a Michigan Trout Stream, its 30-mile run drops from intimate headwaters at Dowagiac through Sumnerville to the St. Joseph River.

Major southwest Michigan river flowing 175 miles to Lake Michigan at Saugatuck. The Kalamazoo offers diverse paddling from urban stretches through Kalamazoo to scenic lower reaches through Allegan State Game Area.

Premier steelhead river and home to the Michigan DNR weir used for egg collection to stock rivers statewide. The Little Manistee runs cold and clear through the Manistee National Forest. Designated a Michigan Natural River, the 55-mile stream flows from Luther to Manistee Lake, with the lower reach from Old Stronach Road serving as the main steelhead corridor.

Quiet tributary of the Muskegon River flowing through the Manistee National Forest, the Little Muskegon offers excellent trout fishing and a peaceful, uncrowded paddle far from the busier main stem.

Home to Ocqueoc Falls, the only named waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. A small, intimate river in the remote northeastern LP with good trout fishing and a surprising natural landmark. Thirty miles of gentle forest paddling in Presque Isle County link the falls to Lake Huron.

Flowing through the Pigeon River Country State Forest — Michigan's elk country — the Pigeon is the most remote river in the Lower Peninsula. A wild, intimate paddle with a chance to see elk along the banks. The 40-mile river begins with a forest run from Pigeon Bridge to Elk Hill before gentling toward Mullett Lake.

Flowing through mid-Michigan to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, this river offers gentle paddling through farmland and wetlands with excellent birding opportunities. Its 100-mile course drifts from gentle meanders between Holly and Byron down to the wider wetland corridor of the refuge. The lower reach is one of the premier wildlife-viewing paddles in the Lower Peninsula.

The fastest river in the Lower Peninsula with good current and Class I-II water that can challenge beginners. A scenic, forested paddle through the northern LP with reliable flow and a reputation for swift water. Designated a Michigan Natural River, the 45-mile run from Wolverine to Burt Lake features its fastest water through state forest above Rondo.

Flowing to Lake Huron at Alpena and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, this northeastern LP river offers a scenic paddle through forested country to one of the Great Lakes' most significant underwater preserves.

A Lake Michigan tributary at Hesperia with good steelhead and salmon runs, the White River is a scenic west Michigan paddle through the Manistee National Forest with reliable spring-fed flow.

Immortalized by Hemingway in 'Big Two-Hearted River' (1924). Flows through Lake Superior State Forest to a dune-backed beach at Lake Superior. Remote, undeveloped, wild — one of the finest wilderness paddles in the Midwest.

A quiet, spring-fed tributary of the Big Manistee River flowing through the Manistee National Forest. The Lake Branch offers gentle riffles and sand-bottom runs through mixed hardwood and pine forest — ideal for beginner paddlers and anglers chasing brown trout in clear, cold water.

The fastest river in the Lower Peninsula — the Sturgeon drops through northern Michigan hardwoods and cedar swamps with continuous Class I–II rapids and a swift current that keeps paddlers alert. The Sturgeon River Gorge section near Wolverine is a scenic highlight with steep, wooded banks and clear spring-fed water.

A surprisingly wild river flowing through the suburban fringe north of Grand Rapids. The Rogue offers easy riffles and clear, spring-fed water through wooded corridors, making it one of the most accessible quality paddles in western Michigan. Good smallmouth bass and steelhead fishing add to the appeal.

A small, clear-flowing stream in the tip of the Lower Peninsula near Pellston and the Inland Waterway. The Maple River offers intimate paddling through cedar swamps and northern hardwood forests, with good brook trout fishing and a quiet, undeveloped character that makes it a local favorite.

A gentle southern Michigan stream flowing through the rolling farmland and woodlots of Branch and Calhoun counties. The Coldwater River is a reliable warm-weather paddle with easy riffles, consistent spring-fed flow, and good smallmouth bass fishing. A classic Midwestern farm-country canoe trip.

The crown jewel of East Coast whitewater — one of the most celebrated Class IV–V rivers on the planet. The legendary Gauley Season (22 dam-release weekends each fall) was created by the first U.S. law mandating recreational dam releases.

One of the oldest rivers on earth — predates the Appalachian Mountains and flows north through them. America's newest National Park (2020). The New River Gorge delivers Class III–V whitewater beneath the iconic New River Gorge Bridge.

Longest free-flowing river in West Virginia at 170 miles. The Greenbrier River Trail — 78 miles on a former C&O Railway grade — parallels the river, creating the perfect float-and-hike combination.

The Cheat Canyon is the crown of West Virginia's rugged Tucker County — 12 miles of Class III–IV whitewater in a remote sandstone gorge with no road access. The Cheat is dam-release paddling at its finest: big waves, long drops, and the kind of remoteness that makes the Gauley feel civilized. Best spring flows April–May.

The Tygart's remote Arden section is one of the most technical and undervisited Class III–IV runs in the Appalachians — a 10-mile gorge through Taylor County with no road access and dramatic sandstone walls. The upper river offers family-friendly floats through rolling farm country before the river drops into the gorge.

At 172 miles, the Elk is one of West Virginia"s longest rivers, winding from the highlands of Webster County to the Kanawha at Charleston. The gentle gradient and Class I–II character make it ideal for multiday canoe camping. Central West Virginia"s elk reintroduction program has brought the river"s namesake animal back to the watershed after a 200-year absence.

A gem of the Monongahela National Forest, the Cranberry flows through the Cranberry Wilderness — one of the largest wilderness areas in the eastern United States. The river is small, cold, and crystalline, draining a unique boreal ecosystem of spruce and cranberry bogs more typical of Canada than Appalachia.

The Meadow River Gorge is one of West Virginia"s most demanding whitewater runs when it"s flowing — a steep, technical Class III–IV creek-style run through a remote gorge in Fayette County. Above the gorge, the upper Meadow offers gentle Class I–II floating through Greenbrier County farmland. The river is rain-dependent and runs only after significant precipitation.

The Cheat River drops through the Cheat Canyon on one of the most iconic big-water whitewater runs in the eastern U.S. Rapids like High Falls of Cheat, Coliseum, and Pete Morgan draw intermediate-to-expert boaters every spring. Above the canyon, the Cheat Narrows offers classic Class III–IV intermediate water, and the river supports an important smallmouth bass fishery.

The Bluestone cuts a dramatic 1,000-foot gorge through the southern West Virginia mountains on its way to join the New River at Bluestone Lake. The lower 10 miles flow through Bluestone National Scenic River and Pipestem Resort State Park — a remote backcountry float with clear water, smallmouth bass, and Class II–III rapids. Access requires a tram or a long hike into the gorge.

The Tygart Valley River cuts a long, varied path through central West Virginia with multiple classic whitewater sections fed by dam releases from Tygart Lake. The Arden section (Class III–IV) and the dramatic Tygart Gorge below Valley Falls (Class IV–V) are both popular with Mid-Atlantic boaters. The river also holds a strong smallmouth bass fishery through its middle reaches.

The North Branch Potomac is a cold-tailwater trout fishery below Jennings Randolph Lake, transformed from an acid-mine-dead river into one of the finest wild rainbow and brown trout streams in the Mid-Atlantic. Scheduled whitewater releases from the dam create classic Class II–III paddling, and the river supports trophy trout for 25 miles below the lake.

The Cacapon River flows 81 miles through the eastern panhandle of West Virginia past quiet farmland, forested ridges, and dramatic limestone cliffs. It is among the cleanest rivers in the state — a Class I float with excellent smallmouth bass fishing, easy multi-day camping options, and a gentle pace perfect for families. The name comes from a Shawnee word meaning 'medicine waters.'

Shavers Fork is a high-elevation tributary of the Tygart Valley River flowing through the Monongahela National Forest at elevations up to 3,500 feet. The upper river is one of West Virginia's most important native brook trout streams, while the middle reaches offer Class II–III whitewater paddling. The river parallels the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley scenic railroad through the Cheat Mountain backcountry.

The Williams River is a small, remote mountain river in the heart of the Monongahela National Forest, flowing past the Cranberry Wilderness and through some of the finest native brook trout water in the eastern U.S. When it runs, the river offers tight technical Class II–III paddling through a deep hemlock canyon. Scenic Highway 150 follows the river for easy access.

America's most-rafted river. From the headwaters near Leadville the Arkansas drops 5,000 feet in 125 miles. Browns Canyon is Colorado's #1 Class III run; the Numbers push Class IV–V; Royal Gorge delivers Class V through thousand-foot walls.

Colorado's only federally designated National Wild & Scenic River — a genuine gem near Fort Collins. Continuous Class II–IV rapids through Poudre Canyon in Roosevelt National Forest. Best paddled late May through early July.

The last major free-flowing (undammed) river in the Colorado system. Flows through Steamboat Springs into Dinosaur National Monument, where it joins the Green River in one of the most spectacular remote canyons in the American West.

Lodore Canyon is the Green River's dramatic entry into Dinosaur National Monument — a 44-mile trip from the Gates of Lodore put-in through deep red-walled canyons to the Yampa confluence at Echo Park, then through Whirlpool Canyon and Split Mountain to the takeout. Class III whitewater (Disaster Falls, Hell's Half Mile, Triplet Falls) makes this one of the great intermediate multi-day trips in the West. Permitted by NPS Dinosaur National Monument under the same lottery as the Yampa.

A gem of the Elk Mountains — the Crystal River flows 40 miles from the Maroon Bells Wilderness through the Victorian coal town of Redstone and the marble quarry village of Marble to the Roaring Fork at Carbondale. Upper canyon delivers technical Class III–IV in a spectacular alpine gorge; lower river mellows through Elk Mountain scenery. Colorado's best-kept paddling secret.

Twelve miles of thundering Class III–IV through Glenwood Canyon — one of the most dramatically scenic river corridors in North America. Limestone walls rise 1,800 feet from the Colorado River as I-70 clings to the cliff faces above. The mandatory Shoshone hydraulic is the most powerful river feature on the Colorado. Best in May–June spring runoff.

The Blue River flows north from Breckenridge through Summit County to its confluence with the Colorado near Kremmling. Designated Gold Medal trout water by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Blue below Dillon Reservoir is one of the state"s premier tailwater fisheries, producing trophy brown and rainbow trout. The cold, consistent dam releases create year-round paddling and fishing opportunities.

The Roaring Fork drops from Independence Pass near Aspen to its confluence with the Colorado at Glenwood Springs. The river runs through one of Colorado"s most scenic mountain valleys, offering Class I–III whitewater with the Elk Mountains as a backdrop. The Crystal River tributary adds volume and drama. Peak snowmelt in June creates excellent intermediate whitewater.

The Eagle River flows through Vail and Minturn before joining the Colorado at Dotsero. Designated Gold Medal trout water below Vail, the Eagle offers accessible Class I–III whitewater alongside I-70 with dramatic Gore Range views. The annual Vail Valley kayak rodeo and easy access from Denver make it one of Colorado"s most popular intermediate runs.

Glenwood Canyon is the most iconic commercial whitewater stretch on the Colorado River, where the river cuts through 1,300-foot limestone walls alongside I-70. The Shoshone Rapids section delivers classic Class III–IV big water, while the lower canyon offers scenic Class II floats. The Glenwood Hot Springs at the takeout is a tradition after any canyon run.

The Taylor River is a Gold Medal tailwater fishery below Taylor Park Reservoir in the upper Gunnison basin, famous for trophy rainbow and brown trout in the 'Taylor Canyon' section. The river also offers solid Class II–III whitewater paddling during summer release flows, and the valley is one of the most scenic corners of the Gunnison National Forest.

The Fryingpan River below Ruedi Reservoir is one of the most famous trout tailwaters in the American West, drawing fly fishers from around the world to chase trophy rainbows in the 'Toilet Bowl' and upper reaches. The river is primarily an angling destination — paddling is limited by low flows and private land — but the wild beauty of the canyon and the Gold Medal fishery draw devoted visitors every season.

The South Platte is Denver's home river and one of the most important trout fisheries on the Front Range. Cheesman Canyon (below Cheesman Reservoir) holds some of the most technical trophy trout fishing in the country, while the Waterton Canyon and Deckers reaches offer accessible Class II–III paddling. The river is an essential Colorado urban waterway from the mountains to the plains.

The Cache la Poudre ('hiding place for powder') is Colorado's only National Wild & Scenic River, flowing from Rocky Mountain National Park through a dramatic granite canyon alongside Highway 14. The river delivers nearly every level of whitewater — from Class II family floats to the committing Class V 'Big South' in its headwaters. The Poudre Canyon is the whitewater center of northern Colorado.

The main stem Gunnison below the Black Canyon is one of Colorado's finest multi-day river trips — Gold Medal trout water, desert canyon scenery, and solid Class II–III whitewater through the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. The Chukar trail access delivers boaters to one of the most remote and spectacular river canyons in the Lower 48.

The Upper Colorado River from Pumphouse to Radium or State Bridge is the most popular intermediate whitewater run on the Colorado River — a scenic Class II–III day float through sandstone canyons, hot springs, and ranching country. Pumphouse Recreation Site is a major BLM put-in supporting rafting, kayaking, and overnight camping, and the river is one of the best family whitewater trips in Colorado.

The 'River of No Return' — longest undammed river in the lower 48 states. Runs 425 miles through the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in the contiguous U.S. The Main Salmon canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon at its maximum. World-class steelhead and Chinook salmon.

One of the most relentlessly challenging whitewater rivers in the American West — 70 miles of continuous Class III–V rapids through Clearwater National Forest along the historic Lewis and Clark Highway (US-12). No flat sections, no breaks. The Lochsa runs snowmelt-driven and window is narrow: peak April–June.

The North Fork Payette through Banks is legendary in the North American kayaking community — Class V and V+ whitewater that draws elite paddlers from around the world. Cascade Falls section rivals any whitewater in the country. The roadside gorge provides easy shuttles and difficult consequences. Not for the uninitiated.

The premier wilderness river trip in North America — 100 miles through the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest roadless area in the lower 48. Accessible only by float plane or a 28-mile trail. Begins at 6,000 feet elevation with Class IV–V whitewater and descends 3,000 feet through Impassable Canyon to join the Main Salmon. Grizzly bears, gray wolves, mountain goats, and Chinook salmon share the corridor.

Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America — 7,993 feet from the Seven Devils peaks to the Snake River, deeper than the Grand Canyon. The 79-mile corridor along the Idaho-Oregon border has no road access for 68 miles. Class III–V whitewater, ancient Nez Perce pictographs, and North America's largest bighorn sheep population. Dam-controlled flows create year-round paddling.

The Selway is Idaho"s most exclusive wilderness river — a federally designated Wild and Scenic River flowing through the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness with a strict permit system that limits launches to one group per day. The 47-mile permitted section offers continuous Class III–IV whitewater through pristine old-growth forest with no road access, no cell service, and no other humans. Permit odds hover around 5%.

The South Fork Boise is the best day-trip whitewater near Idaho"s capital — a dam-controlled release from Anderson Ranch Reservoir that provides reliable Class III–IV flows from May through September. The river cuts through a basalt canyon with consistent gradient and warm summer water temperatures that make it Idaho"s most popular intermediate kayaking run.

The Priest River connects Priest Lake to Lake Pend Oreille in the panhandle of North Idaho — a gentle Class I float through dense cedar and hemlock forest in one of the most scenic corridors in the inland Northwest. The river drains the Selkirk Mountains and offers outstanding wildlife viewing, with moose, osprey, and occasional woodland caribou sightings.

Legendary spring creek voted number one trout stream in America by Trout Unlimited. Henry's Fork of the Snake River is a pilgrimage destination for fly fishers worldwide. The Railroad Ranch section in Harriman State Park is holy water — glassy spring-fed flats where massive rainbow trout sip tiny mayflies in water so clear every refusal is visible.

Oregon's most famous river — flows 215 miles from the Cascades to the Pacific. The Wild Rogue section (40 miles through Siskiyou National Forest, trail access only) is one of the finest multi-day wilderness floats in North America. Class III–IV whitewater, black bear, osprey, and remote hot springs.

Flows 252 miles from the Cascade Mountains through Oregon's high desert to the Columbia River. The Lower Deschutes from Maupin is one of the Northwest's great whitewater destinations — 100 miles of canyon paddling through 25-million-year-old basalt. Legendary rainbow trout fishery.

Spring-fed, emerald-green, and remarkably constant in flow — the McKenzie is one of Oregon's most beloved and photogenic rivers. Flows from the Cascade foothills through old-growth forest to the Willamette Valley. Exceptional drift boat trout fishing, gorgeous family floats, and wild Class III whitewater.

Oregon's most challenging multi-day wilderness float — 34 miles through the Siskiyou Mountains with no road access and no trail exits for 28 miles. The Illinois canyon contains some of the most botanically diverse terrain on earth, with rare serpentine plant communities found nowhere else. Class IV–V Preacher Falls, York Creek, and the Green Wall are Oregon benchmarks.

One of the most beautiful rivers in the Pacific Northwest — emerald green, spring-fed, and remarkably stable from volcanic geology. The North Umpqua flows 110 miles through Umpqua National Forest with the famous 79-mile North Umpqua Trail running beside it. World-renowned summer steelhead and Chinook fishery. The Narrows deliver Class III–IV whitewater through a volcanic gorge.

At 281 miles, the John Day is the longest undammed river in Oregon and one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the contiguous United States. The river cuts through the Painted Hills and high desert canyon country of central Oregon, offering multiday wilderness float trips through some of the most remote landscape in the Pacific Northwest. Fossils from the John Day Fossil Beds span 40 million years of evolution.

The Clackamas is Portland"s backyard whitewater river — 83 miles from the slopes of Mt. Hood to the Willamette, offering everything from expert Class IV canyon runs to gentle family floats. Bob"s Hole, a world-famous river surf wave near Estacada, draws playboaters year-round. The upper river flows through old-growth forest in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

The Sandy River drops from the glaciers of Mt. Hood to the Columbia, offering the closest whitewater to downtown Portland. The river"s glacial-melt character means milky blue-green water in summer and crystal clarity in winter. The Sandy River Gorge provides a surprisingly wild Class II–III corridor just 30 minutes from the city. Marmot Dam was removed in 2007, restoring 100 miles of fish habitat.

The Wenatchee River through Tumwater Canyon and the Leavenworth-to-Monitor corridor is the most paddled whitewater river in Washington state. Drains from Stevens Pass and Lake Wenatchee through Bavarian-themed Leavenworth to the Columbia at Wenatchee. Class III–IV Tumwater Canyon is spectacular.

Flows through the Methow Valley — one of Washington's most stunning landscapes — from the North Cascades to the Columbia River. Surrounded by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the Pasayten Wilderness. A river that delivers solitude, wildlife, and Class I–III paddling through an increasingly prized outdoor recreation valley.

Washington's second-largest river by volume, draining the North Cascades and flowing to Puget Sound. The Skagit is one of the last rivers in the lower 48 to support all five Pacific salmon species. The upper Skagit is the only place in the lower 48 where bald eagles winter in the thousands.

Washington's most celebrated whitewater river — the Skykomish drains the Cascades above Stevens Pass and delivers continuous Class III–IV rapids through a spectacular old-growth forest canyon. Boulder Drop, Lunch Counter, and the Upper Sky above Index are Washington benchmarks. Best April through June on snowmelt.

Flows from Glacier Peak Wilderness through ancient old-growth Douglas fir to the Skagit — one of Washington's most wildlife-rich rivers. Class I–III paddling through pristine Cascade foothills with extraordinary salmon viewing in fall and bald eagle congregations in winter. The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe's ancestral home.

The White Salmon is Washington"s premier expert whitewater river — a spring-fed, dam-free gem in the Columbia River Gorge that runs year-round. The removal of Condit Dam in 2011 restored the river to free-flowing status for the first time in a century. Husum Falls, a 14-foot Class V drop, is the signature rapid. The river"s consistent spring-fed flows make it one of the most reliable whitewater runs in the Pacific Northwest.

The Tieton is Washington"s most unique whitewater experience — a dam-release river that runs only during the annual September drawdown of Rimrock Lake. For three to four weeks each fall, the Bureau of Reclamation releases 1,500–2,500 cfs, transforming the normally dry Tieton into continuous Class III–IV whitewater. "Flip-Flop," the signature rapid, has earned its name honestly.

The Green River Gorge is the closest whitewater to Seattle — a surprising Class II–III canyon cut through sandstone just 45 minutes from downtown. The gorge section features continuous rapids, 300-foot canyon walls, and old-growth forest in a corridor that feels impossibly remote for its proximity to the metro area. Above and below the gorge, the Green offers gentle Class I floating.

The only free-flowing non-tidal stretch of the Columbia River. The Hanford Reach runs 51 miles through the former Hanford nuclear reservation, where decades of restricted access accidentally preserved the last wild fall Chinook salmon run on the Columbia. The massive river flows past White Bluffs and through shrub-steppe desert in a setting unlike anything else in the Pacific Northwest.

The 'Yough' (pronounced 'yock') is the crown jewel of eastern Pennsylvania whitewater — a Class III–V river that flows through the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains. The Youghiogheny Gorge at Ohiopyle State Park is one of the most popular whitewater destinations in the eastern U.S. Three distinct sections serve every skill level.

Hidden gem of north-central Pennsylvania. The Loyalsock flows 64 miles through the Loyalsock State Forest in the ridge-and-valley Appalachians, with dramatic rapids and gorge scenery rarely seen in the East. Exceptional paddling late March through May.

The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Pine Creek flows 73 miles through the deepest gorge in the eastern United States — walls rising 1,000 feet above the creek, maintained as a Pennsylvania State Forest. A 62-mile rail-trail runs the entire length of the gorge.

Pennsylvania's most beloved canoe river outside of the Delaware — 120 miles through the Allegheny National Forest with the Clarion River Gorge delivering Class I–III paddling through a remote hemlock and hardwood canyon. Designated a National Wild & Scenic River in 1996. Outstanding smallmouth bass fishing, multiple primitive campsites, and genuine Allegheny backcountry solitude.

Pennsylvania's best whitewater east of the Yough — the Lehigh Gorge delivers 26 miles of Class II–IV rapids through a dramatic 1,000-foot-deep gorge in Lehigh Gorge State Park. A 26-mile rail-trail parallels the river the entire length, creating Pennsylvania's finest paddle-and-bike combination. Best on dam releases from Francis E. Walter Reservoir.

The upper Delaware is one of the finest free-flowing rivers in the eastern U.S. — 70 miles of National Wild & Scenic River along the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Winter bald eagle concentrations here are among the highest in the Northeast. Gentle Class I–II water is ideal for multi-day canoe camping and eagle watching.

The longest river on the East Coast at 444 miles — the Susquehanna drains nearly half of Pennsylvania on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The river passes through Harrisburg, the state capital, where dramatic Class I–II ledges at City Island create an urban paddling playground. Wide, shallow, and island-studded, the Susquehanna is Pennsylvania"s big-water canoe river.

The Schuylkill ("hidden river" in Dutch) flows 128 miles from the coal regions of Schuylkill County to the Delaware River in Philadelphia. The 75-mile Schuylkill River Trail parallels the river from Pottsville to Philadelphia — one of the premier multi-use trails in the eastern U.S. The river has undergone a dramatic environmental recovery from its coal-mining past.

The Juniata is widely regarded as the finest smallmouth bass river in Pennsylvania — 104 miles of Class I–II water winding through a series of ridge-and-valley water gaps in central PA. Gentle riffles, deep green pools, and abundant wildlife make it an ideal multi-day canoe trip, and the smallmouth fishing is legendary from June through October.

Slippery Rock Creek drops through McConnells Mill State Park in one of the most dramatic sandstone gorges in Pennsylvania, delivering Class II–IV whitewater past historic grist mills and mossy boulder gardens. The gorge section is one of the premier intermediate whitewater runs in western PA, and the fall color through the gorge is some of the best in the state.

The Kiskiminetas — known locally as 'the Kiski' — is a Pennsylvania river recovery success story. Once dead from coal and steel pollution, the Kiski now supports a strong smallmouth bass fishery and Class I–II paddling through forested hills and historic river towns. The Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team and decades of restoration have returned this river to life.

Tohickon Creek is one of the Mid-Atlantic's most famous dam-release whitewater runs, delivering Class II–IV creek-style paddling through a scenic gorge in Ralph Stover State Park. Twice-yearly scheduled releases from Lake Nockamixon (usually March and November) draw hundreds of boaters from NY, NJ, MD, and PA to one of the few reliable whitewater runs in the eastern seaboard.

The Little Juniata is central Pennsylvania's premier limestone tailwater trout fishery — 15 miles of fly-fishing-only wild trout water between Tyrone and Spruce Creek, with wild brown trout reaching 20 inches. The river's productive limestone chemistry and cool temperatures support dense hatches and trophy trout, and it is considered one of the finest limestone streams east of the Mississippi.

The Lackawaxen River flows 31 miles through northeastern Pennsylvania past Zane Grey's historic home to join the Delaware River at Lackawaxen. The river is a tributary of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and offers solid wild trout fishing in its upper reaches and smallmouth bass and paddling below. Historic D&H Canal remnants line the river valley.

Kettle Creek is one of the PA Wilds' most celebrated wild trout streams, flowing through Susquehannock State Forest and the Kettle Creek Natural Area in the heart of Pennsylvania's largest remaining wilderness. The upper creek is Class A wild brown and brook trout water, while the middle reaches offer intimate canoeable riffles. Surrounding forests hold elk, black bear, and some of the darkest skies in the eastern U.S.

One of the most spectacular wilderness river corridors in the American West — flows along the southern boundary of Glacier National Park and through the Great Bear Wilderness. Bears (both black and grizzly), mountain goats, moose, and wolves inhabit the corridor.

Flows from Yellowstone National Park through Big Sky and Bozeman to the Missouri River. Immortalized in 'A River Runs Through It' (filmed partly on the Gallatin and nearby Blackfoot). World-class whitewater above Big Sky, blue-ribbon trout fishing below.

'A River Runs Through It' country. Norman Maclean's Blackfoot River flows 132 miles from the Continental Divide to the Clark Fork near Missoula. A beloved recreation river restored through a landmark conservation partnership. Exceptional fly-fishing, continuous Class II–III whitewater in spring, and access to some of the last wild bull trout habitat in the lower 48.

The most historically significant float in North America — Lewis and Clark paddled these exact 149 miles through the Upper Missouri Breaks in May 1805. The river flows through one of the largest remaining areas of shortgrass prairie wilderness in the world, past white sandstone formations, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and bald eagles. Changed almost nothing in 220 years.

Drains the Beartooth Mountains (one of the highest mountain ranges in the U.S.) through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness to Columbus. The upper river through the Beartooth canyon delivers Class III–IV whitewater in a spectacular alpine gorge; the lower river is a blue-ribbon trout stream in classic Paradise Valley-adjacent scenery. World-class fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout.

The longest undammed river in the contiguous United States — 692 miles from Yellowstone National Park to the Missouri River confluence. The Yellowstone flows through Paradise Valley, past Livingston and Billings, delivering world-class trout fishing and Class I–III whitewater in one of the most iconic Western landscapes.

Montana"s largest river by volume — the Clark Fork flows 310 miles from Butte through Missoula to Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. The Alberton Gorge west of Missoula delivers 14 miles of Class II–III whitewater through a dramatic railroad canyon. Missoula"s urban stretch offers one of the best city float experiences in the West.

The "River of 10,000 Bends" — the Big Hole meanders 153 miles through one of Montana"s most remote and undeveloped valleys. Blue-Ribbon trout fishing for wild brown, rainbow, and brook trout in a landscape that looks much as it did when Lewis and Clark passed through. One of the last rivers in the lower 48 where Arctic grayling survive.

One of the most famous trout rivers in America. The Madison is a blue-ribbon trout stream flowing from Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks where it joins the Gallatin and Jefferson to form the Missouri. The 50-mile riffle between Quake and Ennis lakes is legendary — continuous riffled water holding wild rainbow and brown trout in extraordinary densities.

The Nolichucky gorge is the deepest river gorge in the eastern United States — deeper even than the New River Gorge. Plunges through the Unaka Mountains in a 3,000-foot-deep canyon in the Pisgah National Forest. Class III–IV rapids in a remote corridor with no road access for 26 miles. One of Appalachia's great wilderness paddling experiences.

Tennessee's only National Wild & Scenic River — and among the best-kept secrets in eastern whitewater. The Obed and its tributaries (Clear Creek and Daddy's Creek) cut through the Cumberland Plateau in dramatic sandstone gorges. Technical, unforgiving, and extraordinary.

One of the Southeast's most beloved paddling rivers — flows through the Cherokee National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is regulated by releases from Apalachia Dam, creating consistent flows all summer. Outstanding for beginners and families. World-class blue-ribbon trout fishery below the dam.

Site of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics whitewater canoe/kayak events — the Ocoee is the most commercially rafted river in the South and the most technically consistent Class III–IV river in the Southeast. Dam-regulated flows from Ocoee No. 2 powerhouse create perfect year-round conditions. The 5-mile middle Ocoee section is a non-stop Class III–IV wave train through the Cherokee National Forest.

The most biologically diverse river in North America — the Duck River supports more species of freshwater fish and mussels per mile than any other river on the continent. 284 miles through the heart of middle Tennessee, flowing through some of the oldest and most continuously inhabited landscapes in eastern North America. Class I–II scenic floating through cedar glades, limestone bluffs, and agricultural bottomland.

Hartford"s gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains — the Pigeon River delivers 30 miles of Class III–IV whitewater through the Appalachian foothills of eastern Tennessee. One of the most popular commercial rafting rivers in the Southeast, with dam-controlled releases providing consistent flows. The upper section near Hartford is the wildest; the lower section near Newport is more accessible.

A limestone spring-fed gem in south-central Tennessee — the Elk River flows 195 miles through the Highland Rim, fed by some of the largest springs in the state. Gentle Class I–II water through pastoral countryside with dramatic limestone bluffs and abundant wildlife. The Elk is one of the most biologically significant tributaries of the Tennessee River.

One of Tennessee"s premier tailwater fisheries — the Caney Fork below Great Falls Dam delivers trophy brown and rainbow trout in cold, clear water through the Cumberland Plateau. The dam-release schedule creates consistent flows for both paddling and fishing. The upper section above the dam offers scenic Class I–II floating through the Highland Rim.

The most commercially rafted river in California and one of the most popular in the nation. The South Fork drops through the Sierra Nevada foothills into the American River Canyon east of Sacramento. Gorge, Tunnel Chute, and Satan's Cesspool are classic Class III–IV rapids. The river flows through the heart of Gold Rush country.

The crown jewel of California whitewater — an 18-mile wilderness float through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Stanislaus National Forest. Pristine Sierra granite, Muir Gorge, Clavey Falls (Class V), and the famous Lumsden campsite make this one of the finest multi-day runs in the American West.

Southern California's premier whitewater river — drops out of the southern Sierra Nevada through Sequoia National Forest and Kern Canyon. The Forks of the Kern (Class V–V+) is one of the most committing wilderness whitewater runs in North America: 15 miles of continuous Class V with no road access.

Northern California's premier whitewater river — flows 165 miles from the Trinity Alps through Shasta-Trinity National Forest to the Klamath. The Trinity Gorge section (Class III–IV) rivals anything in the Sierra for scenery and technical challenge. The Hoopa Valley Tribe has maintained treaty-reserved salmon fishing rights since 1864. Exceptional steelhead and Chinook salmon.

Flows from the Sierra Nevada through Yosemite National Park and the spectacular Merced River Canyon — one of the most scenic river corridors in California. The iconic Class IV–V Merced Gorge between Briceburg and Bagby delivers technical Sierra granite whitewater. The Yosemite Valley section flows past El Capitan and Half Dome. National Wild & Scenic River since 1987.

The site of the largest dam removal in U.S. history — four Klamath River dams were removed in 2024, reopening 400 miles of salmon habitat for the first time in over a century. The Klamath flows 257 miles from southern Oregon to the Pacific through remote Northern California canyon country. Class I–IV whitewater, world-class steelhead, and one of the most dramatic river restoration stories in American history.

Sierra Nevada foothill whitewater through Goodwin Canyon and the Camp 9 run — the Stanislaus delivers Class III–IV rapids in a dramatic limestone and granite canyon east of the Central Valley. The river was at the center of one of California"s most famous environmental battles when New Melones Dam flooded the original Camp 9 canyon in the 1980s.

Wild & Scenic through the heart of redwood country — the Eel River flows 200 miles through some of the most remote and forested terrain in California. The river supports critical steelhead and Chinook salmon runs and passes through ancient coast redwood groves. Best in winter and spring rain season; the Eel is California"s most seasonal major river.

California's largest river by volume — the Sacramento flows 400 miles from Mount Shasta to the San Francisco Bay Delta. The upper river below Shasta Dam runs cold and clear through pastoral Shasta and Tehama counties, supporting the state's most important salmon runs. A big-water float through the heart of Northern California's agricultural valley.

One of the Sierra Nevada's most beautiful whitewater rivers — the Yuba carves through deep granite canyons with emerald pools, Class III–IV rapids, and some of the clearest water in California. The South Fork's swimming holes near Nevada City are legendary, drawing crowds on hot summer days to pristine granite-lined pools.

The closest whitewater to Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Cache Creek runs through a scenic basalt canyon between Clear Lake and the Sacramento Valley, offering reliable Class II–III rapids in a Mediterranean landscape of oak woodlands and grasslands. A popular spring weekend run when Sierra rivers are still too high.

A Sierra Nevada gem flowing through the gold country of Amador and Calaveras counties. The Mokelumne offers excellent Class III–IV whitewater in a granite canyon setting, with the Electra Run being one of the most popular intermediate whitewater day trips in the central Sierra. Dam-controlled flows provide reliable summer paddling.

California's last major undammed river — the Smith flows free from its headwaters in the Siskiyou Wilderness to the Pacific Ocean near Crescent City. Exceptionally clear water, old-growth redwood groves, and world-class steelhead fishing make the Smith one of the finest wild rivers on the West Coast. Best paddled in winter and spring rain season.

The Feather River drops out of the northern Sierra through one of California's most iconic canyons, delivering Class III–IV whitewater alongside world-class wild rainbow and brown trout. The Middle Fork is a National Wild & Scenic River and a premier multi-day wilderness run. Summer releases from Oroville Dam keep the lower river floatable into fall.

California wine country's signature paddling river — the Russian flows 110 miles through Mendocino and Sonoma counties past vineyards, redwood groves, and sleepy river towns before reaching the Pacific at Jenner. Summer flows are mild enough for families and beginners, and the river is famous for its mid-river beach coves and warm-water swimming. The Alexander Valley run from Healdsburg to Guerneville is the classic summer float, while the lower river carves a redwood canyon to the sea.

The Kings drains the southern Sierra Nevada from 14,000-foot peaks in Kings Canyon National Park, delivering some of the biggest and most committing whitewater in California. The Main Kings (Banzai Bob to Kirch Flat) is a classic Class III run, while the Upper Kings canyons deliver expert Class IV–V. Strong spring snowmelt makes this a destination river in May and June.

The Napa River flows 55 miles through the heart of California wine country from Mount Saint Helena to San Pablo Bay. The upper river is a seasonal Class I riffle run through vineyards, while the lower tidal estuary offers year-round flatwater paddling past historic Napa and through restored wetlands. Fall paddling pairs perfectly with winery tours.

The Truckee is the only outflow of Lake Tahoe and delivers 121 miles of accessible Class II–III whitewater from the lake to Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The California reach flows past Truckee and along I-80 through the northern Sierra, featuring cold clear water, granite boulder gardens, and a solid wild trout fishery. Late spring through summer offers dependable flows.

Known to California paddlers as the 'Cal Salmon,' this wild tributary of the Klamath delivers some of the finest expert whitewater in the state. The Nordheimer run is a classic Class IV–V big-water test piece with crystal clear water, deep pools, and dramatic Klamath Mountains scenery. Spring snowmelt from the Marble Mountain and Trinity Alps Wilderness areas powers the run.

The Pit is northern California's longest river and one of its best kept trout fishing secrets — 207 miles from the Warner Mountains to Lake Shasta through a series of dam-controlled reaches known simply as 'Pit 3,' 'Pit 4,' 'Pit 5.' Wild rainbow trout average a foot-plus, and the volcanic canyon scenery below Lake Britton is some of the most dramatic in the state.

Virginia's greatest river — flows 340 miles from the Appalachians to the Chesapeake Bay. Class IV whitewater runs through the city of Richmond, making it the most urban whitewater destination in the East. The James River Park System delivers boulder gardens and surfing waves within sight of the state capitol.

One of the most beloved canoe rivers in the eastern United States — flows through the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains in a series of long, gliding pools and Class I–III ledge rapids. Harpers Ferry confluence with the Potomac is one of the most historically significant river junctions in America.

One of the last great undammed rivers in the eastern United States — flows 195 miles from the Blue Ridge to the Chesapeake Bay without a single major dam on its main stem. The Rappahannock rapids at Fredericksburg are a natural Class II–III waterfall in the heart of the city.

One of the oldest rivers in the world — the New River predates the Appalachian Mountains and flows northward through the ridges it carved 65+ million years ago. In Virginia the river delivers Class III–IV Breaks Interstate Park whitewater and the famous Narrows of Virginia, before crossing into West Virginia and becoming America's newest national park. Extraordinary fly fishing.

The most extreme commercially-accessible whitewater in the eastern United States — the Russell Fork's Breaks Canyon section drops through a 1,000-foot gorge at the Virginia-Kentucky border with Class IV–V+ rapids including El Horendo, Triple Drop, and Tower Falls. Best on fall dam releases from Pound Reservoir. The Breaks Interstate Park canyon is the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi.

Goshen Pass — one of the most spectacular river gorges in Virginia. The Maury River flows 60 miles through Rockbridge County, with the 3-mile Goshen Pass section delivering Class I–III whitewater through a dramatic mountain gap. The river passes VMI and Washington and Lee University in Lexington, making it one of the most historically rich paddling corridors in the Shenandoah Valley.

Virginia"s premier Blue-Ribbon trout tailwater — the Jackson River below Gathright Dam delivers cold, clear water through the Allegheny Highlands, supporting trophy brown and rainbow trout. The 95-mile river flows through some of the most remote mountain terrain in Virginia, with the dam-release section offering year-round fishing and gentle Class I–II paddling.

Smoke Hole Canyon — one of the deepest and most remote river gorges east of the Mississippi. The South Branch Potomac flows 130 miles through the Allegheny Mountains along the Virginia-West Virginia border, with the 25-mile Smoke Hole section delivering Class I–III whitewater through a 1,000-foot-deep canyon. Wild trout, cave formations, and zero road access make this one of the most wilderness-like rivers in the East.

The Big South Fork of the Cumberland cuts one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in the eastern United States — 500-foot sandstone walls, no roads, and over 190 miles of river and creek within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The whitewater through the gorge alternates with broad still sections.

The Red River Gorge is one of the most visually stunning river corridors in the eastern United States — a UNESCO-recognized natural area of sandstone arches, hemlock gorges, and ancient rock shelters carved into the Daniel Boone National Forest. World-famous rock climbing destination.

Kentucky's longest river at 384 miles — flows through the heart of Mammoth Cave National Park in one of the most geologically extraordinary landscapes on earth. A 25-mile wilderness canoe route through Mammoth Cave NP is one of the most unique paddling experiences in America — floating above the world's longest known cave system.

The most beautiful river in Kentucky — the Rockcastle flows through the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest in spectacular sandstone gorge country. Class I–III rapids through dramatic palisades of Pennsylvanian sandstone, with world-class rock climbing on the canyon walls above. The river's clarity is exceptional — and it was Daniel Boone's favorite hunting ground.

The quintessential Bluegrass paddling creek — the South Elkhorn meanders 35 miles through the heart of horse country, passing thoroughbred farms, covered bridge ruins, and limestone palisades within sight of Lexington. Best Class I–II canoe and kayak stream in central Kentucky. Spring bluebells line the banks; great blue herons work every pool.

The Palisades of the Kentucky River — 100 miles of 300-foot limestone cliffs through the heart of bourbon country. The Kentucky River flows 259 miles from the Appalachian foothills to the Ohio River, passing Camp Nelson, bourbon distilleries, and some of the most dramatic river gorge scenery in the eastern U.S. Class I water with stunning geology.

Daniel Boone country — the Licking River flows 320 miles through the rolling hills of northeastern Kentucky, past Blue Licks Battlefield (site of the last battle of the American Revolution in 1782) and through some of the most historically significant landscape in early American frontier history. Gentle Class I–II water through farm country and forested hills.

A spring-fed Green River tributary in south-central Kentucky — Russell Creek flows 50 miles through cave country, fed by numerous limestone springs that keep the water cold and clear year-round. The creek passes through pastoral farm country with dramatic karst geology, sinkholes, and spring resurgences. Best at moderate flows in spring; a hidden gem for small-creek paddlers.

The most commercially rafted river in the eastern United States — 8 miles of continuous Class II–III through the Nantahala Gorge in Nantahala National Forest. Ice-cold tailwater from Fontana Reservoir creates year-round paddling. 'Nantahala' means 'Land of the Noonday Sun' in Cherokee — the gorge is so deep that sunlight only reaches the river floor at midday.

One of the most celebrated wild rivers in the eastern United States — 57 miles of National Wild & Scenic river forming the Georgia-South Carolina border through Sumter and Chattahoochee National Forests. Section IV contains Bull Sluice, Corkscrew, Crack-in-the-Rock, and the legendary Five Falls sequence — considered the finest Class IV–V day run in the South. Immortalized in James Dickey's novel 'Deliverance' (filmed here in 1972).

One of the oldest rivers in the world — geologists believe the French Broad predates the Blue Ridge Mountains and carved its path through the rising Appalachians over millions of years. Flows 210 miles from headwaters near Brevard through Asheville and into Tennessee. Hot Springs NC — where hot springs meet the river — is one of the most beloved paddling destinations in the Southeast.

Six miles of the most technical creek kayaking in the eastern United States — the Green River Narrows has become a world-renowned destination for expert paddlers since the 1990s. A continuous sequence of Class IV–V+ drops through a narrow gorge of Piedmont granite, culminating in the famous Gorilla rapid (Class V+). The annual Green Race draws the world's fastest creek racers each November.

Flows from the High Country of the Blue Ridge near Boone through the Tennessee Valley Divide in a series of gorges and waterfalls. The Watauga Gorge delivers Class III–IV whitewater through one of the most dramatic high-country canyons in North Carolina. Dam releases from Watauga Lake (TVA) provide consistent flows. Best spring through early summer.

The North Carolina headwaters of the Nolichucky — upstream of the famous Tennessee gorge. The NC section flows through the Black Mountains (home of Mount Mitchell, highest peak east of the Mississippi) delivering Class II–III whitewater in a dramatic Blue Ridge setting. This is the river before it enters the gorge — less intense but equally scenic.

The "Tuck" — western North Carolina"s most accessible family and intermediate whitewater river. The Tuckasegee flows 40 miles through Jackson County past Sylva and Dillsboro, with dam-release sections providing consistent Class I–III rapids. The river is the primary paddling training ground for Western Carolina University and the gateway to the Smoky Mountains from the south.

Linville Gorge — the "Grand Canyon of the East." The Linville River plunges through one of the deepest and most rugged gorges in the Appalachians, with the upper canyon section delivering expert-only Class IV–V whitewater through a federally designated Wilderness Area. Below the gorge, the river transitions to more moderate Class I–III. Linville Falls, a dramatic two-tier waterfall, marks the gorge entrance.

The Davidson River flows through the heart of Pisgah National Forest past the legendary Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. Famous for its wild and stocked trout, the Davidson is one of the most accessible and most pressured trout streams in the Southeast — renowned for large, educated rainbows and browns that challenge even expert fly fishers. Tubing is popular on the lower river near Brevard.

Above the famous Nantahala Gorge lies the Upper Nantahala — a less-paddled Class III–IV reach below Nantahala Lake that delivers intimate mountain whitewater through a tight hardwood canyon. Unlike the dam-release gorge section, the Upper Nantahala is rain-dependent and runs only after significant precipitation, making it a treasured backcountry run for advanced paddlers.

The Little Tennessee flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains through the heart of Cherokee country past the Great Smoky Mountains and into Fontana Lake. The river is one of the finest smallmouth bass fisheries in western North Carolina, with beautiful Class I riffle water through forested valleys and historic Cherokee town sites. Below Fontana Dam, it becomes a cold tailwater trout stream.

The Roanoke River in eastern North Carolina delivers one of the most famous striped bass fisheries on the East Coast. Every April and May, hundreds of thousands of stripers run from Albemarle Sound upriver to spawn around Weldon — drawing anglers from up and down the Atlantic. The lower Roanoke also features a unique system of paddle camping platforms through bottomland hardwood forest.

The Cape Fear River is eastern North Carolina's largest river, flowing 191 miles from the Piedmont through the coastal plain to the Atlantic at Wilmington. The lower Cape Fear is an exceptional largemouth bass, redfish, and flounder kayak fishing destination, while the Black River tributary hosts some of the oldest trees east of the Rockies — bald cypress dated over 2,600 years old.

The Neuse River flows 275 miles from Falls Lake northwest of Raleigh to Pamlico Sound — the largest river entirely within North Carolina by drainage area. The Neuse supports a popular paddling scene around Raleigh, solid bass and catfish fishing throughout, and unique lower-river cypress swamps and tidal reaches. The Neuse River Trail is a 33-mile paved greenway along the river's Wake County reach.

The Haw River is the Triangle's most popular Piedmont paddling river — 110 miles of Class I–II water from the Greensboro suburbs past Saxapahaw to Jordan Lake. The middle reach around Bynum and Haw River State Park delivers fun, accessible whitewater and beautiful forested bluffs. The river is a centerpiece of the Haw River Trail paddle and hiking system.

The greatest river journey in North America — 226 miles through the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Colorado cuts through 1.7 billion years of geological record. Lava Falls (Class V) drops 37 feet in 300 yards — the most famous single rapid in North America. Wait times for private permits now exceed 10–15 years.

The best whitewater in Arizona outside the Grand Canyon — 52 miles through the Salt River Canyon Wilderness east of Phoenix, entirely on White Mountain Apache tribal lands. The river flows through a dramatic 2,000-foot deep canyon of towering red walls. Flows are dam-controlled — check the Roosevelt/Theodore/Horse Mesa/Mormon Flat dam schedule before any trip.

Arizona's last major free-flowing river — 170 miles through the Sonoran and semi-desert grassland from the Prescott National Forest to the Salt River. The Verde River Greenway protects a remarkable riparian corridor: nesting bald eagles, river otters, great blue herons, and over 100 bird species in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Best paddled November through April.

Oak Creek flows through Sedona's iconic red rock canyon, one of the most photographed landscapes in Arizona. Slide Rock State Park draws visitors to the natural sandstone waterslide, while the creek meanders through towering crimson buttes and lush riparian forest. The 56-mile creek runs from a forested canyon above Sedona down through the red rock corridor and out into desert riparian before joining the Verde River.

The Black River drains the White Mountains of eastern Arizona, flowing through ponderosa pine forests and the Fort Apache Reservation. One of the few mountain rivers in Arizona, it offers cool-water paddling and excellent native trout fishing far from the desert heat.

The Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area protects 23 miles of the Gila River through a rugged desert canyon in southeastern Arizona. BLM-managed wilderness offers Class II–III whitewater through towering canyon walls with hot springs and desert bighorn sheep.

The San Francisco River flows through one of the most remote and least-visited canyons in eastern Arizona. Forty miles of gentle desert water through Greenlee County offers solitude, wildlife, and a landscape virtually unchanged from the frontier era. The Clifton reach narrows through a canyon before the river drops into the Gila confluence below.

Fossil Creek is a Wild and Scenic travertine creek flowing through a stunning canyon in central Arizona. The spring-fed creek maintains a constant 72 degrees year-round and deposits brilliant blue-green travertine formations. A permit is required for access from April through October.

The Snake River through Alpine Canyon below Jackson Hole delivers the biggest whitewater in Wyoming — 26 miles of Class III–IV rapids framed by the Teton Range. Grand Teton National Park headwaters feed world-class Yellowstone cutthroat trout fishing alongside genuine big-water excitement. The canyon section from West Table Creek to Sheep Gulch packs eight named rapids into 8 miles.

Below Flaming Gorge Dam the Green River carves through Red Canyon — 1,500-foot red rock walls sheltering one of the finest trout tailwaters in the American West. The cold, clear dam releases maintain year-round flows ideal for trophy brown and rainbow trout. Forty miles of Class I–III water through the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area.

Seventy miles of remote blue-ribbon trout water between Saratoga and Seminoe Reservoir in south-central Wyoming. The North Platte through Northgate Canyon is one of the least-visited quality trout streams in the Rocky Mountain West — long gravel bars, cottonwood galleries, and trophy brown trout in a landscape that looks unchanged since the Oregon Trail era.

The Wind River carves through Wind River Canyon between Boysen Reservoir and the town of Thermopolis, cutting through 2.5 billion years of geological history. The canyon walls expose some of the oldest rock in North America, and the river delivers Class II–III whitewater framed by towering formations.

The Shoshone River flows from Buffalo Bill Reservoir through the town of Cody, gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Eighty miles of scenic Class I–II water through the Absaroka Range foothills with excellent trout fishing and wildlife viewing.

The Hoback River is a major Snake River tributary flowing through the Hoback Canyon south of Jackson Hole. Forty miles of Class II–III whitewater through a scenic mountain canyon, popular with paddlers seeking an alternative to the crowded Snake River runs.

The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone is Wyoming's premier expert whitewater run — 20 miles of Class IV–V canyon through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The river drops through a dramatic granite gorge with continuous technical rapids and mandatory portages.

The Greys River flows through one of the most remote valleys in Wyoming — 60 miles along the Salt Range in Lincoln County. Elk, moose, and mule deer outnumber people along this backcountry float through the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Eighty-four miles of wilderness whitewater through the deepest canyon in the Uinta Basin — deeper than the Grand Canyon at its maximum point. Desolation Canyon is one of the great multi-day river trips in North America: Class I–III rapids through 2,000 feet of layered sandstone, cottonwood groves sheltering ancient Fremont rock art, bighorn sheep on every cliff band, and not a road or power line for the entire run.

The San Juan River from Mexican Hat to Clay Hills winds 84 miles through Monument Valley country — a river of deep geological time. The Honaker Trail formation exposes 300 million years of Earth history in the canyon walls. Ancestral Puebloan ruins, petroglyphs, and granaries appear at nearly every bend. The Goosenecks of the San Juan — where the river meanders 5 miles to travel 1 mile of distance — are among the most photographed geological features in the Southwest.

Cataract Canyon begins at the Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in the heart of Canyonlands National Park and delivers 46 miles of escalating whitewater through some of the most dramatic desert canyon scenery on Earth. The Big Drop rapids — a mile-long sequence of three Class IV–V drops — are among the most powerful whitewater in the American West at peak flows. At 30,000 cfs the Big Drops become truly enormous hydraulics.

The Provo River is Utah's premier Blue-Ribbon trout stream, flowing 70 miles from the Uinta Mountains through Heber Valley to Utah Lake. The middle section through Heber Valley offers world-class fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout in a pastoral mountain setting.

The Weber River flows 90 miles from the western Uinta Mountains through Morgan Valley to the Great Salt Lake, passing through scenic Weber Canyon. A popular fly fishing destination near Ogden with Class I–III whitewater in the canyon sections during spring runoff.

The Logan River flows through scenic Logan Canyon in northern Utah's Bear River Range, offering 45 miles of gentle paddling and excellent trout fishing. Logan Canyon Scenic Byway follows the river through limestone cliffs and dense forests.

The Dolores River offers 150 miles of remote desert canyon paddling through the Slickrock Canyon country of southeastern Utah. Class II–IV whitewater through Ponderosa Gorge and Slickrock Canyon makes this one of the great multi-day desert river trips, but McPhee Dam limits the runnable window to spring snowmelt years.

Westwater Canyon packs 11 miles of Class III–IV whitewater into a dramatic Precambrian granite gorge on the Colorado River near the Utah-Colorado border. A BLM permit is required, and the canyon delivers big-water rapids through 1.7-billion-year-old black schist and gneiss.

The Taos Box is 17 miles of Class III–IV whitewater through an 800-foot basalt gorge carved into the Taos Plateau — the deepest canyon of the Rio Grande. The river drops through continuous boulder-garden rapids framed by dark volcanic walls, with hot springs seeping from fractures in the basalt. Rio Grande del Norte National Monument protects the entire corridor.

Thirty-three miles of Wild & Scenic wilderness float through Georgia O'Keeffe country — the Rio Chama canyon is a living painting of red, yellow, and white sedimentary walls that inspired decades of O'Keeffe's most iconic work. Class II–III whitewater through the Santa Fe National Forest with no roads, no development, and canyon walls that shift color with every hour of light.

The Gila River flows through the heart of America's first designated wilderness — the Gila Wilderness, set aside in 1924 at the urging of Aldo Leopold. Forty miles of gentle Class I–II water through a landscape of hot springs, ancient Mogollon cliff dwellings, ponderosa pine forests, and volcanic canyon walls. This is the river that launched the American wilderness movement.

The Pecos River rises in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 12,000 feet and flows through the Pecos Wilderness, one of the most pristine mountain watersheds in the southern Rockies. Excellent native trout fishing and gentle paddling through ponderosa and spruce forests.

The Red River drops from the ski valley above the town of Red River through a steep canyon in the Carson National Forest to its confluence with the Rio Grande. Thirty miles of Class I–III water through a narrow, forested mountain canyon in the Sangre de Cristos.

San Antonio Creek flows through the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a volcanic caldera formed 1.25 million years ago. The spring-fed creek meanders through vast mountain meadows inside the caldera, offering gentle paddling in one of the most unique geological settings in North America.

The Canadian River flows through the plains and mesas of northeastern New Mexico, carving through volcanic basalt canyons on its way to the Texas border. Eighty miles of gentle Class I–II water through a remote high-plains landscape with pronghorn, mule deer, and raptors.

The Jemez River flows through the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico, past natural hot springs and through red rock canyon country. The river passes near Jemez Pueblo and through the Santa Fe National Forest, offering gentle paddling in a geothermally active volcanic landscape.

Below Ripogenus Dam through Ripogenus Gorge, Class V Cribwork, Exterminator — Maine's premier big-water whitewater run. Sixteen miles of relentless rapids in the shadow of Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

First state-designated Wild and Scenic waterway in America (1966) — a 92-mile wilderness canoe route through Maine's North Woods. Remote lakes, boreal forest, moose, and brook trout define this iconic multi-day paddling expedition. The route travels from Telos Lake through Churchill Dam and on to Allagash Village, mixing flatwater portages with Class I–II river sections.

Dam-release whitewater below Harris Dam — Magic Falls is a thundering Class IV drop and the centerpiece of Maine's commercial rafting hub at The Forks. Twelve miles of big-water rapids through the Northern Forest.

Dam-release whitewater classic — Flagstaff Lake releases transform the Dead River into 16 miles of continuous Class III–IV big water through the Northern Forest. One of New England's premier scheduled-release whitewater runs, right next to the Kennebec.

The US-Canada border river of Downeast Maine — 114 miles of remote Class I–II paddling through boreal forest and past Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. One of the wildest and least-visited multi-day canoe routes in the northeastern United States.

Three miles of legendary catch-and-release water between Lower Richardson Lake and Umbagog Lake in Maine's western mountains. The Rapid River is one of New England's most famous landlocked salmon and brook trout fisheries — cold, powerful, and stunningly clear. The short but intense Class II–III run through the Rangeley Lakes region delivers big water and bigger fish in a remote North Woods setting.

A 75-mile Downeast Maine wilderness river flowing from the remote bogs and lakes of Washington County to Machias Bay on the Atlantic. The Machias is one of Maine's most important Atlantic salmon restoration rivers — federal and state agencies have invested heavily in removing dams and restoring habitat. Multi-day canoe trips through vast, uninhabited blueberry barrens and boreal forest define the Machias experience.

A remote North Woods river flowing 30 miles through the vast commercial timberlands of Penobscot County to the East Branch of the Penobscot. The Seboeis delivers continuous Class II–III whitewater through an uninhabited boreal forest landscape with wild brook trout in every pool. Access is via private logging roads — this is deep Maine backcountry, requiring self-sufficiency and a sense of adventure.

Seventeen miles through a remote Adirondack gorge with no road access — the Hudson River Gorge is the wildest whitewater run in the northeastern United States. Class III–IV rapids through pristine wilderness that feels impossibly remote for a river that ends at the Statue of Liberty.

Western Adirondacks powerhouse — the Black River delivers continuous Class III–IV whitewater through gorge sections near Watertown. Dam-controlled flows provide reliable paddling from spring through fall.

Lake Ontario tributary with dam-controlled flows and world-famous steelhead and salmon runs. The Salmon River delivers reliable Class II–IV whitewater through a scenic gorge while hosting one of the greatest fall salmon migrations in the eastern United States.

Premier Adirondack expert kayaking — the Bottom Moose delivers eight miles of continuous Class IV–V whitewater through a remote gorge. Crystal Falls, Fowlersville Falls, and Agers Falls are rites of passage for northeastern creek boaters.

National Wild and Scenic corridor through the scenic Catskills — the Upper Delaware offers 73 miles of family-friendly paddling between New York and Pennsylvania. Bald eagles nest along the cliffs, and the river supports world-class wild trout fishing.

The Catskills' most celebrated trout stream and paddling run — Esopus Creek flows 30 miles from Slide Mountain (the highest Catskill peak) through the heart of the Catskill Park. The Shandaken Portal releases water from the Schoharie Reservoir into the Esopus, creating a unique portal-enhanced flow that supports legendary fly fishing and fun Class I–III whitewater through hemlock-lined gorges.

The southern Adirondacks' premier whitewater river — the Sacandaga drops steeply through the foothills with continuous Class II–IV rapids, particularly on the upper sections above Great Sacandaga Lake. The river is a favorite of New York paddlers for its reliable spring flows, accessible roadside runs, and Adirondack mountain scenery.

The Adirondacks' classic through-paddle — 146 miles from Blue Mountain Lake to the St. Lawrence River, passing through some of the most remote wilderness in the eastern United States. The Raquette links lakes, carries (portages), and river stretches in the traditional Adirondack carry-camp-carry style. Class I–III rapids punctuate long flatwater lake crossings through the heart of the Adirondack Park.

Birthplace of American fly fishing. The Beaverkill and its tributary, the Willowemoc, are the Catskill streams where Theodore Gordon invented dry fly fishing in America in the 1890s. Generations of legendary fly tiers and anglers — the Dettes, the Darbees, Lee Wulff — refined their art on these riffles. Wild brown and brook trout in classic pool-riffle-run water.

Georgia side of the legendary Chattooga — Section IV with the infamous Five Falls is among the most challenging and iconic whitewater runs in the southeastern United States. Deliverance country, wild and uncompromising. A National Wild & Scenic River flanked by the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Georgia reach pushes Class III–V water from Bull Sluice through the Five Falls sequence.

Urban river through Atlanta's Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area — 48 miles of NPS-managed parkland through the heart of metro Atlanta. The most accessible paddling in the Southeast's largest city. Below Buford Dam the tailwater is Class I–II trout water and tubing country, with an urban whitewater reach from Roswell to Paces Ferry farther downstream.

Blue Ridge mountains gem — the Toccoa River flows through Chattahoochee National Forest as a TVA tailwater from Blue Ridge Dam. Excellent trout fishing in cold, clear water with Class I–III rapids through Appalachian forest.

A classic Georgia Piedmont river flowing through Athens and the red-clay heart of the state. The Oconee offers excellent bass fishing and easy Class I–II paddling through forested bottomlands and university-town charm.

From the north Georgia mountains to Lake Allatoona, the Etowah flows through some of the most historically significant landscape in the Southeast. Cherokee history, Civil War sites, and the Etowah Indian Mounds line the corridor.

A steep creek run dropping through the north Georgia mountains near Amicalola Falls State Park — home to the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi at 729 feet. Amicalola Creek delivers technical Class III–IV whitewater through a forested mountain gorge, with continuous gradient, tight moves, and a wilderness setting minutes from the Appalachian Trail's southern approach.

Northeast Georgia's premier Piedmont river — the Broad flows 60 miles through rolling farmland and granite shoals between Athens and the Savannah River. Home to the endemic shoal bass (found nowhere else on earth outside the Chattahoochee and Flint basins), the Broad offers gentle Class I–II paddling over granite bedrock with excellent fishing and a pastoral landscape untouched by development.

A north Georgia mountain river flowing from the Blue Ridge through Carters Lake tailwater to the Oostanaula River at Calhoun. Below Carters Dam, the tailwater provides cold, clear water year-round with excellent trout fishing. Above the reservoir, the upper Coosawattee runs through remote mountain valleys with Class II–III whitewater. The river's name comes from the Cherokee word meaning 'old place.'

One of the original eight National Wild & Scenic Rivers designated in 1968. The St. Croix forms 125 miles of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, flowing through deep basalt gorges and pristine boreal forest. The Dalles of the St. Croix — a narrow volcanic canyon — is among the most dramatic geological features in the upper Midwest.

The Kawishiwi is the most-traveled canoe route into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — over a million acres of roadless lake-and-river country straddling the Minnesota-Ontario border. Paddlers portage between crystal-clear lakes connected by short river segments through boreal forest unchanged since the last ice age. The classic entry runs from Kawishiwi Lake to the Sawbill Entry with an iconic 80-rod carry around Kawishiwi Falls.

Minnesota's premier whitewater river carves a dramatic sandstone-and-basalt gorge through Banning State Park. The Hell's Gate section delivers continuous Class III–IV rapids through a canyon where 19th-century quarry ruins still cling to the cliffs. Spring snowmelt transforms the Kettle into one of the best intermediate whitewater runs in the upper Midwest.

The St. Louis River crashes through Jay Cooke State Park in a series of dramatic Class III–IV rapids over tilted slate ledges before emptying into Lake Superior at Duluth. The largest U.S. tributary to Lake Superior, it offers everything from remote flatwater canoeing in its upper reaches to serious whitewater in the gorge below Thomson Dam.

A classic Minnesota canoe river winding through pine forests and past sandy banks for 75 gentle miles. The Crow Wing is ideal for family paddling and multi-day camping trips, with reliable summer flows fed by the Hubbard County lake chains. It joins the Mississippi at historic Crow Wing State Park.

Southeast Minnesota's Driftless Area gem — the Root River winds through the unglaciated blufflands of Fillmore and Houston counties, past the artsy town of Lanesboro and along the Root River State Trail. Spring-fed tributaries support a thriving brown trout fishery in one of the Midwest's most scenic landscapes. The Root River Trail parallels the river, making bike-and-paddle combos a local tradition.

A 100-mile wilderness paddling corridor on the edge of the Boundary Waters — the Cloquet River flows through the boreal forests of northern Minnesota from its headwaters near the BWCAW to the St. Louis River at Cloquet. Remote Class I–II paddling through dense spruce-fir forest with moose, wolves, and loons. One of Minnesota's finest multi-day canoe trips outside the Boundary Waters proper.

A gentle southern Minnesota river flowing 112 miles from Shields Lake through Faribault, Northfield, and Cannon Falls to the Mississippi River at Red Wing. The Cannon was a federal Wild and Scenic study river and remains one of the most accessible paddling streams in the Twin Cities region. Wooded bluffs, farmland, and small-town charm define the Cannon River experience.

Wisconsin's legendary whitewater river flows through the Menominee Indian Reservation — one of the most sustainably managed forests in North America. The Wolf delivers 20 miles of continuous Class II–IV rapids through ancient granite ledges, with Ducknest Rapids and Gilmore's Mistake as the marquee drops. The Menominee Nation has stewarded this forest since time immemorial, and it looks the same today as it did 150 years ago.

The Namekagon is the northern arm of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway — 98 miles of pristine northwoods paddling from Namekagon Lake near Cable to its confluence with the St. Croix at Riverside. Crystal-clear water over sand and gravel, Class I–II riffles, and virtually no development make this one of the finest multi-day canoe trips in the Midwest.

Wisconsin's most challenging whitewater river — the Roaring Rapids section delivers continuous Class IV–V through a remote granite gorge in the Marinette County forest. Five-Foot Falls, Horserace Rapids, and the infamous Terminal Surfer have tested expert paddlers for decades. The Peshtigo is also remembered for the 1871 Peshtigo Fire — the deadliest wildfire in American history, which killed over 1,500 people along the river valley.

The North Fork Flambeau is Wisconsin's premier wilderness whitewater river — 60 miles of continuous Class I–III rapids through old-growth hemlock forests and remote northwoods. The Flambeau River State Forest protects the corridor, and multi-day trips offer a true backcountry experience with riverside campsites and minimal development.

Known as the 'crookedest river in the world,' the Kickapoo meanders 125 miles through the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin — a glacially unscathed landscape of towering sandstone bluffs and narrow valleys. Gentle Class I current and over 60 miles of canoeable water make it one of the best family paddling rivers in the Midwest.

Wisconsin's Black River flows 190 miles from the pine forests of Clark County through the cranberry marshes of Jackson County to the Mississippi River at La Crosse. The upper river delivers fun Class II–III whitewater through sandstone gorges near Black River Falls; the lower river meanders through one of the world's largest cranberry-growing regions. A diverse paddling experience from whitewater to prairie marsh.

A quiet Northwoods stream flowing through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northeast Wisconsin. The Pine River offers intimate Class I–II paddling through old-growth pine and hemlock forests, with cold spring-fed water supporting wild brook trout. One of the most remote and least-visited paddling rivers in Wisconsin — solitude guaranteed.

Wisconsin's longest river — 430 miles from Lac Vieux Desert on the Michigan border to the Mississippi River at Prairie du Chien. The Wisconsin Dells section carved dramatic sandstone canyons during glacial lake outburst floods 15,000 years ago. Below the Dells, the lower Wisconsin flows free for 92 miles as one of the longest undammed stretches in the Midwest — a designated State Riverway with sandbars, eagles, and classic canoe camping.

Iowa's finest paddling river winds through the Driftless Area — a region the glaciers missed, leaving 400-foot limestone bluffs, cold trout streams, and forested ridges unlike anything else in the state. The Upper Iowa carves through towering dolomite cliffs, past caves, and over gravel bars in a landscape that looks more like the Ozarks than the Corn Belt.

Iowa's most remote paddling corridor flows through the 8,500-acre Yellow River State Forest — the largest contiguous forest in the state. Cold-water trout streams, rugged Driftless Area topography, and virtually no development create a wilderness experience unique in Iowa. The Paint Creek Unit offers the most secluded backcountry camping in the state.

The Maquoketa carves through the most dramatic gorge in Iowa at Backbone State Park — Iowa's oldest state park (1920), where 90-foot dolomite bluffs line a narrow Class II–III canyon. Below the gorge, the river widens through rolling farmland and hardwood bottomlands to the Mississippi. A surprisingly diverse paddling experience for the Corn Belt.

Iowa's longest interior river stretches 300 miles through the agricultural heartland, passing through Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids. Broad riffles, wooded islands, and surprisingly diverse fisheries make the Cedar a year-round paddling destination and one of Iowa's most accessible water trails.

Iowa's capital city river flows 525 miles from Minnesota to the Mississippi, passing through Fort Dodge, Des Moines, and Ottumwa. The Ledges State Park section features stunning sandstone canyon walls, while the Des Moines metro reach has been transformed into a world-class urban water trail.

A 225-mile journey from prairie headwaters to the Driftless edge, the Wapsipinicon passes through some of Iowa's most varied terrain. Limestone outcrops, wooded bluffs, and gentle riffles characterize this underappreciated Iowa water trail that flows past Wapsipinicon State Park near Anamosa. The upper reach from Independence to Quasqueton runs through prairie riffles, while the middle section into bluff country rewards multi-day trips.

Flowing 160 miles through the heart of Iowa's Driftless Area, the Turkey River winds beneath towering limestone bluffs and through deep hardwood valleys that escaped glaciation. The lower reaches near Elkader and Garber feature some of the most dramatic bluff scenery in the Midwest.

A small, intimate Driftless stream flowing through the 5,500-acre Volga River State Recreation Area in northeast Iowa. The Volga offers quiet-water paddling through wooded valleys, past limestone outcrops, and alongside some of Iowa's best public land for hiking and mountain biking. The 15-mile SRA corridor and the 20-mile farm-valley reach to the Turkey River together make up a classic Driftless paddle.

The jewel of the Ozarks — a spring-fed river of astonishing clarity flowing through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, America's first federally protected riverway (NPS, 1964). Big Spring, the largest single-outlet spring in North America, pours 286 million gallons per day of 58°F water into the Current. The result is a river that runs cold and clear year-round, even in the driest Missouri summers.

The most pristine river in the Ozarks — 44 miles of National Wild & Scenic River flowing through a roadless corridor of old-growth forest, towering bluffs, and spring-fed tributaries. Greer Spring, the second-largest spring in Missouri, adds 220 million gallons per day of crystal-clear water. Far less crowded than the Current, the Eleven Point offers the closest thing to true Ozark wilderness paddling.

Missouri's best whitewater — the St. Francis carves through Precambrian rhyolite at Millstream Gardens Conservation Area, creating a dramatic series of Class III–IV drops through billion-year-old igneous rock. Cat's Eye, Double Drop, and Rickety Rack are the marquee rapids on this geologically unique river. The exposed St. Francois Mountains rhyolite is among the oldest exposed rock in North America.

The Jacks Fork is the wilder, more remote sister of the Current River — both part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (NPS). Crystal-clear spring-fed water flows through towering dolomite bluffs and deep forests with minimal development. Multi-day float trips on the Jacks Fork offer some of the most pristine paddling in the Ozarks.

Missouri's most popular paddling river — 218 miles from the Ozark highlands to the Mississippi near St. Louis. The Meramec flows past Onondaga Cave, through Meramec State Park, and over Class I–III rapids in the upper reaches. Its proximity to St. Louis makes it the gateway river for Ozark paddling.

A 135-mile Ozark river flowing through Missouri's historic Lead Belt — past abandoned mines, forested hills, and the bluffs of Washington State Park. The Big River offers gentle Class I–II paddling through a landscape shaped by two centuries of lead mining. Despite its industrial past, the river has recovered remarkably, with clear water, gravel bars, and good smallmouth bass fishing throughout the lower reaches.

The longest river entirely within Missouri — 280 miles from the Ozark Plateau to the Missouri River at Gasconade. The Gasconade is a classic Ozark float stream with spring-fed tributaries, gravel bars, limestone bluffs, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Less crowded than the Current or Meramec, the Gasconade rewards paddlers with solitude and authentic Ozark scenery.

Missouri's premier Blue-Ribbon trout stream — the North Fork of the White River is fed by massive springs including Blue Spring (one of Missouri's largest) that maintain cold, crystal-clear water year-round. The river flows through the Mark Twain National Forest in the heart of the Ozarks, offering gentle paddling through a world-class coldwater fishery.

America's first National River — designated by Congress in 1972 to prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from damming this Ozark masterpiece. 135 miles of free-flowing water through towering limestone bluffs, past ancient bluff shelters, and over gravel bars backed by old-growth hardwood forest. The Buffalo is the crown jewel of southern paddling — wild, undammed, and flowing exactly as it has for millennia.

Arkansas's premier whitewater — the Cossatot drops through the Ouachita Mountains in a series of continuous Class IV–V boulder gardens and ledge drops. The name comes from a French corruption of a Caddo phrase meaning 'skull crusher.' Cossatot Falls, a 15-foot ledge drop into a violent hydraulic, is the most feared rapid in the state. Rain-dependent and remote, the Cossatot rewards those who chase it with some of the best technical whitewater in the South.

The Mulberry is Arkansas's most popular whitewater river — 56 miles of Ozark Highland beauty flowing through the Ozark National Forest. Designated a National Wild & Scenic study river, the Mulberry delivers fun Class II–III rapids through forested mountain valleys with towering hardwoods and spring wildflowers. Rain-dependent but worth the chase, it offers the perfect balance of accessible whitewater and Ozark scenery.

A scenic Ozark gem in northwest Arkansas, War Eagle Creek winds past the historic War Eagle Mill and through limestone bluffs in the heart of the rapidly growing Fayetteville-Bentonville corridor. Rain-dependent but beautiful when running, with easy Class I–II rapids and clear spring-fed water.

Big Piney Creek delivers some of the best whitewater in the Ozarks when rain brings it up — continuous Class II–III rapids through a forested canyon in the Ozark Highlands. The Hector to Long Pool section is a classic Arkansas creek run, with sandstone bluffs, clear water, and a wilderness feel just off the interstate.

Arkansas's only Natural State Scenic River — 90 miles of Ozark Highland beauty from the Boston Mountains to the White River at Table Rock Lake. The Kings delivers fun Class I–III whitewater through forested valleys with towering bluffs, clear pools, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Rain-dependent but consistent enough to be Arkansas's most paddled Ozark stream.

A rain-dependent Ozark creek that delivers excellent whitewater when running. Illinois Bayou drops through the Ozark Highlands in Pope County with continuous Class II–III rapids, sandstone bluffs, and forested canyon scenery. When the gauge is up, this is some of the best creek boating in Arkansas — technical, scenic, and uncrowded.

A scenic Ouachita Mountain river flowing 65 miles from the Caddo Gap area to DeGray Lake. The Caddo offers gentle Class I–II paddling through pine-covered hills, hardwood bottoms, and quiet ranch country in one of Arkansas's most beautiful but least-visited river corridors. The upper Caddo above Caddo Gap is intimate and remote; below Glenwood it widens into a classic Ozark-style float.

The largest river swamp in North America — 140 miles of labyrinthine bayous, cypress-tupelo forests, and vast floodplain stretching across south-central Louisiana. The Atchafalaya carries roughly 30% of the Mississippi River's flow through a primordial landscape that feels unchanged since the Pleistocene.

Louisiana's best canoe and kayak river — 100 miles of sandy-bottomed blackwater flowing through piney woods and hardwood bottoms from Mississippi to Lake Pontchartrain. White sandbars make perfect lunch stops and primitive campsites. The middle reach from Warnerton to Franklinton has the best sandbars and paddling, with the lower river protected by the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge.

Pristine piney woods paddling through the heart of southwest Louisiana. Whiskey Chitto winds through longleaf pine forests and hardwood bottoms with white sand beaches, gentle riffles, and some of the clearest water in the state. A Louisiana Natural & Scenic River, its 60-mile run narrows on the upper reach from Oakdale to Mittie and widens with sandbars on the lower creek.

The Northshore's favorite family paddling river — 70 miles of gentle blackwater winding through piney woods and cypress-tupelo swamps from Franklinton to Lake Pontchartrain. Sandy bottoms, tea-colored water, and easy access make the Tchefuncte one of Louisiana's most beginner-friendly paddle destinations.

The Baton Rouge area's primary paddling river — 105 miles from the piney woods of southwest Mississippi to Lake Maurepas. The Amite provides surprisingly wild paddling within reach of Louisiana's capital city, with sandy bottoms, hardwood bottoms, and good fishing throughout.

Pine country paddling through the Florida Parishes — 80 miles of sand-bottomed blackwater flowing from the Mississippi border to Lake Pontchartrain. White sandbars, longleaf pine corridors, and a relaxed rural character make the Tangipahoa one of southeast Louisiana's best day-trip rivers.

A narrow, intimate cypress bayou draining into Lake Pontchartrain — Bayou Lacombe offers quintessential Louisiana paddling through ancient bald cypress and water tupelo forests. The short length and easy access make it ideal for half-day paddles on the Northshore. The upper 15 miles form a cypress tunnel, with the lower half traversing the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Baton Rouge's metro paddling river — the Comite winds 60 miles through the eastern suburbs and rural areas of East Baton Rouge Parish. Sandy bottoms, wooded banks, and surprising wildlife encounters make this an accessible urban escape for capital city paddlers.

Mississippi's only National Wild and Scenic River — 40 miles of tea-colored blackwater winding through De Soto National Forest. Towering longleaf pines, white sand beaches, and a wilderness corridor that feels a century removed from modern Mississippi.

Mississippi's most popular canoe stream — 20 miles of gentle Class I–II rapids, white sandbars, and piney woods through the heart of south Mississippi. Okatoma means 'red water people' in Choctaw. Designated a Mississippi Scenic Stream, the upper 10 miles from Seminary to Sanford holds the best rapids and is the classic day-trip run.

A pristine Gulf Coast blackwater stream flowing through some of the most undisturbed longleaf pine savanna remaining in the Southeast. The Wolf River's tannic waters, white sand bottom, and cathedral-like canopy make it one of Mississippi's most beautiful paddling experiences. Designated a Mississippi Scenic Stream, the 35-mile river is narrowest and wildest from McHenry to Landon before widening on the coastal plain.

A small but stunning Pine Belt blackwater creek — Bowie Creek winds 30 miles through De Soto National Forest with white sand beaches, tea-colored water, and longleaf pine uplands. One of Mississippi's most scenic short paddles and a hidden gem of the southern piney woods.

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.

Mississippi's longest river — 444 miles from Neshoba County to the Gulf of Mexico, forming the Mississippi-Louisiana border in its lower reaches. The Pearl flows through Jackson, past the Ross Barnett Reservoir, and into vast bottomland swamps that harbor some of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems in the Southeast.

Home to Dunn's Falls — one of the only true waterfalls in Mississippi — the Chunky River is a 40-mile gem winding through Newton County's piney woods. Class I-II riffles, rocky shoals, and the historic waterfall make the Chunky one of the most unique paddling experiences in the state.

A remote piney hills stream winding 80 miles through the Bienville and De Soto National Forests. Tallahala Creek offers true solitude — white sandbars, longleaf pine uplands, and virtually no development along its forested corridor. One of Mississippi's most peaceful multi-day paddle routes.

The deepest canyon east of the Rockies — Little River flows atop Lookout Mountain before plunging into a 600-foot gorge managed by the National Park Service. One of the only rivers in North America that flows its entire length atop a mountain.

The most biodiverse river per mile in North America — 194 miles from the Appalachian foothills near Birmingham to the Alabama River. Home to 131 fish species, 69 rare and imperiled species, and the largest known stand of Cahaba lilies, which bloom spectacularly each May.

Birmingham's backyard whitewater — 30 miles of Class II–IV rapids through sandstone gorges in Blount County. The Locust Fork delivers genuine Appalachian whitewater just 45 minutes from downtown Birmingham, with continuous rapids and dramatic bluff scenery.

Flowing through the heart of Bankhead National Forest and past the Sipsey Wilderness — Alabama's only federally designated wilderness — the Sipsey Fork offers some of the most remote and pristine paddling in the state. Canyon walls, waterfalls on tributaries, and old-growth forest create a true backcountry experience.

Alabama's rain-dependent whitewater surprise — when the Mulberry Fork is running, it delivers genuine Class II–III rapids through a scenic Appalachian foothill gorge in Blount and Cullman counties. Sandstone bluffs, hardwood forests, and a remote corridor make this a favorite among Birmingham-area whitewater paddlers. The upper 25 miles above Garden City hold the Class II–III technical water, gentling to Class I–II on the run to the Locust Fork confluence.

Central Alabama's major river — 280 miles from the confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula in Rome, Georgia, through the Appalachian foothills to the Alabama River at Wetumpka, site of a 80-million-year-old meteor impact crater. One of the most biodiverse river systems in North America.

A river steeped in American history — the Tallapoosa flows 265 miles from the Georgia Piedmont through Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, site of Andrew Jackson's decisive 1814 battle against the Red Stick Creek. Rocky shoals, scenic bluffs, and rich biodiversity define this underappreciated Alabama river.

A short, gentle family float through the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge corridor in Morgan County. Flint Creek offers easy Class I paddling, excellent birdwatching, and access to one of the most important migratory waterfowl refuges in the Tennessee Valley.

A crystal spring-fed jewel flowing six miles through Ichetucknee Springs State Park — nine major springs produce 233 million gallons of water daily at a constant 72 degrees. The river's gin-clear turquoise water and lush aquatic vegetation make it one of the most visually stunning paddling experiences in North America.

Central Florida wilderness and one of the best fossil-hunting rivers in the world — prehistoric shark teeth, mammoth bones, and dugong fossils wash out of the Peace River's banks after every rain. A mellow Class I paddle through ranch country and cypress swamps.

Florida's first National Wild and Scenic River — a short but spectacular paddle through a pristine cypress swamp in Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The Loxahatchee is a window into what southeast Florida looked like before development.

Stephen Foster's famous river — 246 miles from Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. The Suwannee is fed by dozens of first-magnitude springs creating windows of turquoise clarity in the dark tannic water. One of the great multi-day expedition paddles in the eastern United States.

A spring-fed Wild and Scenic candidate flowing through Orlando's suburban edge — 15 miles of crystal-clear water, towering cypress, and surprising wilderness just minutes from theme parks. Home to manatees, otters, and one of central Florida's last undeveloped river corridors. The 8-mile state park corridor from Wekiwa Springs to Katie Landing is the classic day paddle, with a wilder reach below to the St. Johns confluence.

A first-magnitude spring run flowing six miles of crystal-clear water through Rainbow Springs State Park. The Rainbow River produces over 400 million gallons daily at a constant 72 degrees, creating one of the most visually stunning short paddles in Florida. Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and Aquatic Preserve, the river's turquoise clarity reveals every detail of the lush underwater garden below.

Tampa's river — 54 miles from the Green Swamp to Tampa Bay, passing through Hillsborough River State Park, which contains Florida's only legitimate Class II rapids. The upper river winds through cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks, offering surprisingly wild paddling within reach of Tampa's metro area. Alligators, river otters, and wading birds are abundant throughout.

One of Florida's most remarkable rivers — the Santa Fe literally disappears underground into a sinkhole at O'Leno State Park, flows through three miles of subterranean limestone caverns, then resurfaces at River Rise Preserve State Park. Above the sink, the river is tannic blackwater; below the rise, it is fed by dozens of crystal springs including Ginnie, Poe, and Blue Springs. A geological wonder and a world-class paddling destination.

The same legendary Chattooga made famous by Deliverance — the South Carolina side delivers Section IV, one of the most celebrated Class IV–V whitewater runs in the eastern United States. Five Fingers, Corkscrew, and Jawbone are rites of passage for southeastern paddlers.

Dam-release urban whitewater through the heart of Columbia — the Saluda delivers Class II–IV rapids minutes from the State House. Lake Murray Dam releases create reliable flows through a surprisingly wild corridor between the capital city's neighborhoods.

The longest free-flowing blackwater river in North America — 206 miles of tea-colored water through ancient cypress-tupelo swamps, Spanish moss, and Lowcountry plantation landscapes. The Edisto is South Carolina's premier multi-day canoe trail.

A wide Piedmont river flowing 150 miles from the North Carolina border through upstate South Carolina to Columbia, where it merges with the Saluda to form the Congaree. Rocky shoals, Class I–II rapids, and the famous Broad River shoals near Columbia make this a year-round paddling destination.

Born at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers in downtown Columbia, the Congaree flows 50 miles past Congaree National Park — home to the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Champion trees, oxbow lakes, and spectacular biodiversity define this national treasure.

An upstate South Carolina Piedmont gem — 80 miles of gentle flow through Anderson and Laurens counties with rocky shoals, wooded banks, and a quiet rural character. The Little River offers accessible Class I–II paddling through a landscape of old farms, hardwood forests, and red clay bluffs.

A pristine blackwater river flowing 140 miles from Lake Waccamaw in North Carolina through the heart of South Carolina's Grand Strand hinterland to Winyah Bay. Ancient cypress-tupelo swamps, Spanish moss, and the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge create a Lowcountry paddling experience rivaling the Edisto.

An upstate Piedmont river flowing 65 miles through Spartanburg and Union counties past historic textile mill ruins and rocky shoals. The Tyger offers a unique blend of natural beauty and industrial archaeology — crumbling mill dams and stone foundations line a river that has largely returned to a wild state. Designated an SC Scenic River, the North Tyger through Spartanburg County holds the best mill-ruin paddling before the river joins the Broad downstream.

The Chattooga River is the deep South's most legendary whitewater — a free-flowing National Wild & Scenic River forming the border between South Carolina and Georgia through the Sumter and Chattahoochee National Forests. Made famous by the 1972 film 'Deliverance,' the Chattooga delivers every level of whitewater from the committing Class IV–V of Section IV to the intermediate Class II–III of Section III.

The Enoree River flows 87 miles through the upstate South Carolina Piedmont past historic mill sites and through long reaches of Sumter National Forest. A quiet Class I river with forested banks, deep pools, and solid bass and panfish fishing, the Enoree is one of the lesser-known but most scenic paddling rivers in the South Carolina upcountry.

The Lynches River is one of South Carolina's premier blackwater paddling rivers, flowing 175 miles through cypress swamps and bottomland hardwood forest from the sandhills to the Pee Dee. Tannin-stained black water, Spanish moss, and an abundance of wildlife — including alligators in the lower river — make the Lynches a quintessential lowcountry paddling experience.

The Wateree River is South Carolina's most productive big-water fishery — 75 miles of wide, slow-moving water below Lake Wateree Dam supporting trophy striped bass, blue catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass. The river is an important kayak fishing destination and offers unique paddling past Revolutionary War-era historic sites and bottomland hardwood forests.

The Pee Dee River is the largest river system entirely within South Carolina by drainage area, flowing from the North Carolina Piedmont through the lowcountry to Winyah Bay. The river supports trophy catfish, striped bass, and redbreast sunfish populations, and the broad lowcountry reaches offer unique multi-day paddling past cypress swamps and Revolutionary War-era plantations.

The Black River of South Carolina is one of the finest blackwater rivers in the Southeast — 150 miles of tannin-stained water flowing through ancient bald cypress swamps, bottomland hardwoods, and remote Lowcountry wilderness. In 2023 Congress designated 70 miles as a National Wild & Scenic River, protecting one of the most ecologically significant blackwater systems in North America.

The Lumber River flows from North Carolina's Drowning Creek across the state line into South Carolina before joining the Little Pee Dee. Designated a National Wild & Scenic River in North Carolina (1998), the Lumber offers an outstanding multi-state blackwater paddle through cypress swamps, longleaf pine savannas, and Lumbee tribal homelands.

Nebraska's crown jewel — a National Scenic River carving through the Sandhills with over 200 waterfalls and springs feeding the main stem. Fossil beds dating back 10 million years line the canyon walls. One of the most biodiverse river corridors on the Great Plains.

The most remote river in Nebraska — a crystal-clear, spring-fed stream winding through the heart of the Sandhills. Fed entirely by the Ogallala Aquifer, the Dismal runs cold and clear year-round with visibility exceeding 15 feet. Access requires crossing private ranch land by permission only.

The highway of the Great Plains — a mile-wide, inch-deep braided river that hosts the largest wildlife spectacle in North America each spring: 500,000 Sandhill Cranes staging along an 80-mile stretch near Grand Island. Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail, and the Transcontinental Railroad all followed the Platte corridor.

A crystal-clear, spring-fed Sandhills stream flowing through one of Nebraska's most remote landscapes. The Calamus runs cold and transparent year-round, fed by the Ogallala Aquifer, with visibility rivaling the Dismal. Below Calamus Reservoir, the tailwater supports excellent brown trout fishing in an unlikely prairie setting.

A wide, braided prairie river winding through central Nebraska farmland. The Loup's shallow, sand-bottomed channels shift constantly, creating a dynamic landscape of sandbars, islands, and cottonwood galleries. Named for the Pawnee ('Loup' — French for 'wolf'), the river is a living remnant of the Great Plains waterscape.

Northeast Nebraska's family paddling river — 290 miles from the edge of the Sandhills to the Platte. The Elkhorn is wide, gentle, and sandy-bottomed with excellent sandbars for camping and swimming. Growing popularity as a multi-day canoe trail through rolling agricultural prairie.

A 420-mile prairie canyon river cutting through southwestern Nebraska's rolling plains. The Republican carves surprisingly deep valleys through the loess hills, creating a hidden landscape of cottonwood-lined canyons and limestone bluffs. Rarely paddled and virtually unknown outside the region.

One of Nebraska's clearest rivers — the Middle Loup flows crystal-clear from the heart of the Sandhills, fed entirely by Ogallala Aquifer springs. The consistent spring flow maintains remarkable water clarity year-round, with visibility exceeding 10 feet. A Sandhills treasure for paddlers seeking solitude and pristine water.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail follows this 59-mile reach of cold, clear tailwater below Fort Randall Dam. The dam-released water creates world-class walleye and paddlefish habitat. Wide sandbars, cottonwood galleries, and virtually no development make this one of the most pristine stretches of the Missouri anywhere.

South Dakota's eastern gem — the Big Sioux flows through Palisades State Park, where Sioux quartzite cliffs rise 50 feet above the river in a dramatic pink-and-red gorge. The quartzite is 1.7 billion years old, among the oldest exposed rock in North America. Excellent urban paddling through Sioux Falls.

A 295-mile prairie odyssey from the Black Hills to the Missouri — the Cheyenne flows through the heart of Badlands National Park and the Pine Ridge Reservation. Remote, wild, and rarely paddled, this is South Dakota's great undiscovered river expedition. Sediment-laden and braided in the Badlands, clearer below the Wall.

A Black Hills jewel cascading through Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway — one of the most dramatic canyon drives in America. Spearfish Creek drops over limestone ledges through a 1,000-foot-deep canyon lined with spruce, birch, and ponderosa pine. Bridal Veil and Roughlock Falls punctuate the run.

Rapid City's backyard trout stream — a clear, cold tailwater below Pactola Reservoir flowing through the Black Hills and directly through downtown Rapid City. The urban greenway section offers surprisingly wild paddling with brown trout rising within sight of downtown restaurants.

The longest unnavigable river in America — or so the old joke goes. The James meanders 710 miles from North Dakota to the Missouri, making it one of the longest tributaries in the country. In reality, the James is navigable for much of its length and offers classic Great Plains prairie paddling through endless grassland.

A remote prairie expedition through the Badlands and Pine Ridge Reservation — the White River flows 507 miles through some of the most isolated landscape in the Lower 48. Sediment-laden water cuts through Badlands formations and vast Lakota grasslands. Rarely paddled, deeply wild.

Southeast South Dakota's hidden gem — the Vermillion River winds through rolling prairie past Spirit Mound, where Lewis and Clark hiked in 1804 expecting to find 'little devils.' The river offers gentle paddling through a pastoral landscape of farms, woodlands, and tallgrass remnants near the University of South Dakota.

The river that made Theodore Roosevelt a conservationist — winding 560 miles through the painted Badlands of western North Dakota. The Little Missouri carved the dramatic buttes, hoodoos, and coulees of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Remote, unpredictable, and stunningly beautiful.

North Dakota's most scenic paddling river — 325 miles through tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and the Sheyenne National Grassland. The National Scenic Byway parallels the river through one of the last intact tallgrass prairie ecosystems in the northern Great Plains.

The Lewis and Clark route through the heart of North Dakota — 80 miles of free-flowing Missouri River from Garrison Dam to Bismarck. The Knife River Indian Villages, where Sacagawea joined the expedition, sit along this reach. Cold tailwater below the dam supports excellent walleye and northern pike fishing.

Home to North Dakota's only gorge — the Pembina River carves a dramatic 150-foot-deep wooded valley through the otherwise flat Drift Prairie. The Pembina Gorge is the largest contiguous tract of woodland in the state, an unexpected oasis of hardwood forest, wildflowers, and wildlife in the far northeast corner.

A prairie river flowing 180 miles from Dickinson to Mandan, where it joins the Missouri at the site of historic Fort Abraham Lincoln. The Heart winds through rolling grassland with cottonwood-lined banks, passing through the agricultural heartland of western North Dakota. Below Dickinson Dam, reliable tailwater flows support good fishing.

A small prairie river with outsized history — the Knife River flows past the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, where Sacagawea lived before joining Lewis and Clark. The river's flint-bearing banks gave it its name and made it a center of indigenous tool-making for thousands of years.

A remote prairie river flowing through the Standing Rock Reservation — the Cannonball is named for the perfectly round sandstone concretions found along its banks, which early explorers mistook for cannonballs. One of the most isolated paddling experiences in North Dakota, through vast grasslands with virtually no development. The 140-mile river cuts from narrow headwaters in Slope County east across the prairie to the Missouri confluence through Standing Rock.

Paddling through the last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystem on earth. The Flint Hills are the only place where the original Great Plains grassland survives intact — four million acres of unplowed bluestem prairie stretching to every horizon. Spring burns turn the hills black, then impossibly green within weeks.

The longest prairie river in America — 170 miles from Junction City to Kansas City. The Kaw flows through Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas, and Topeka, the state capital. An underappreciated urban paddling corridor with surprising wildlife and growing recreational access.

A hidden gem of the Flint Hills — the Fall River winds through scenic tallgrass prairie with limestone ledges, gentle riffles, and excellent fishing below Fall River Reservoir. One of the best small-river paddling experiences in Kansas, with reliable tailwater flows and virtually no crowds.

The heart of the Flint Hills — the Cottonwood River flows through some of the last unplowed tallgrass prairie on earth. Limestone ledges, spring-fed tributaries, and sweeping prairie views define this underappreciated Kansas gem. The river passes near the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and the historic town of Cottonwood Falls.

The longest river entirely within Kansas — 460 miles from Morris County to the Oklahoma border. The Neosho passes through Council Grove, where the Santa Fe Trail crossed the river and the last Kanza council was held. A historic river with good water trail development and growing paddling community.

A north-central Kansas prairie river flowing through the heart of wheat country. The Solomon winds through a pastoral landscape of rolling farmland, cottonwood galleries, and limestone bluffs. Below Waconda Lake and Glen Elder Reservoir, reliable tailwater flows create good fishing and paddling conditions.

A 540-mile journey from the high plains of western Kansas to Junction City, where it joins the Republican to form the Kansas River. The Smoky Hill passes near Castle Rock and Monument Rocks — dramatic chalk formations rising from the prairie. One of the great undiscovered expedition rivers of the Plains.

'Marsh of the Swans' — this French-named river flows through eastern Kansas, home to the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge and rich Civil War history. The river passes through some of Kansas's best remaining bottomland hardwood forest, with excellent birding and a haunting historical landscape. The 40-mile reach from Ottawa to Osawatomie crosses Bleeding Kansas country, with the National Wildlife Refuge corridor below offering the best wildlife viewing.

Oklahoma's most popular canoe river — 70 miles of Ozark foothill water flowing through Cherokee Nation territory. The Illinois draws over 300,000 paddlers annually, making it the most-visited river in the state. Class I–III rapids through limestone bluffs and hardwood forest.

Oklahoma's premier coldwater river — a 12-mile tailwater below Broken Bow Dam in Beavers Bend State Park. The dam releases maintain year-round temperatures below 60 degrees, supporting the only significant trout fishery in Oklahoma. Class I–III rapids through the Ouachita Mountains.

A rare spring-fed limestone creek in south-central Oklahoma — the Blue River is one of only two naturally reproducing trout streams in the state. Crystal-clear water flows over limestone ledges through the Arbuckle Mountains, creating an unexpected oasis on the southern Plains. Designated an Oklahoma Scenic River, the 30-mile stream runs from Connerville past the Blue River CCC Camp down through limestone pools to Milburn.

Deep in the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma — the Kiamichi is one of the most remote and pristine rivers in the state. Flowing through rugged, heavily forested terrain with no towns along its length, the Kiamichi offers true wilderness paddling in a region that feels more like the Ozarks than the Plains. The 120-mile river cuts from its most remote reach in Pushmataha County through Ouachita forest down to Hugo Lake.

The last free-flowing river in Oklahoma — the Glover has never been dammed, channelized, or significantly altered. This rare distinction makes it a living time capsule of what Oklahoma's rivers looked like before European settlement. Class I–III whitewater through the Ouachita Mountains, with exceptional biodiversity.

An Ozark foothill gem in northeastern Oklahoma — Baron Fork Creek flows past Natural Falls State Park and through the Cherokee Nation. Spring-fed tributaries maintain clear water and cool temperatures. The creek offers excellent Class I–II paddling through a scenic, forested corridor with easy access from Tahlequah.

Flowing through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve — the largest protected remnant of tallgrass prairie in the world, with 2,500 free-ranging bison. The Caney River offers a unique chance to paddle through a landscape that once covered 170 million acres of North America, now reduced to less than 4%.

A 575-mile prairie river crossing western Oklahoma from the Texas panhandle to the Red River. The Washita passes the Washita Battlefield National Historic Park, site of Custer's 1868 attack on a Cheyenne village. Wide, sandy, and slow-moving through rolling red-earth prairie, the Washita is a journey through the heart of Oklahoma's western heritage.

The Rio Grande through Big Bend National Park — 118 miles of desert canyon paddling along the U.S.–Mexico border. Santa Elena Canyon rises 1,500 feet from the river in sheer limestone walls. Mariscal Canyon is even more remote. One of the great multi-day desert river expeditions in North America.

The longest river in Texas — 840 miles from the Staked Plains to the Gulf of Mexico. The Possum Kingdom to Lake Whitney stretch through Palo Pinto County delivers scenic Hill Country paddling through limestone bluffs and quiet ranch country.

Spring-fed and crystal clear, the San Marcos emerges from the Edwards Aquifer at a constant 72 degrees. Glass-bottom boats have showcased the headsprings since the 1940s, and the river through San Marcos is one of the most accessible paddles in the Texas Hill Country.

The heart of Texas Hill Country — a spring-fed river flowing through limestone canyons, ancient cypress groves, and the self-proclaimed tubing capital of the world. Below Canyon Dam, the cold tailwater supports rainbow trout — the southernmost trout fishery in the central United States. Gruene and New Braunfels anchor a thriving river culture.

The most pristine river in Texas — a spring-fed limestone canyon so remote and undeveloped that it looks much as it did 10,000 years ago. The Devils River runs crystal clear through Val Verde County, fed entirely by springs from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer. Access is extremely limited, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department restricts daily launches to protect the fragile ecosystem.

The Colorado River through Austin is the heart of the Texas capital's outdoor culture. Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) offers flatwater paddling through the downtown skyline, while upstream stretches deliver gentle Class I–II riffles through Hill Country limestone. Barton Springs, fed by the Edwards Aquifer at 68 degrees year-round, anchors one of America's great urban swimming and paddling corridors.

A spring-fed Hill Country gem flowing over pink granite bedrock through ranch country between Mason and Llano. The Llano River is one of the clearest rivers in Texas — spring-fed tributaries maintain swimmable water year-round. Tubing, kayaking, and bass fishing are the primary draws on this laid-back Hill Country waterway.

The Medina River flows through Bandera — the self-proclaimed Cowboy Capital of the World — and the western Hill Country. Above Medina Lake, the river runs clear and cold over limestone bedrock through cypress-lined canyons. A classic small Hill Country river with swimming holes, tubing runs, and a laid-back ranch-country atmosphere.

The Frio (Spanish for 'cold') is a spring-fed Hill Country river renowned for its crystal-clear swimming holes and towering bald cypress trees. Garner State Park — one of the most popular state parks in Texas — anchors the best paddling stretch. The Frio runs cold even in August, drawing families from San Antonio and across South Texas.

The shortest navigable river in Texas — and one of the shortest in the world — the Comal flows just 3 miles from its massive Edwards Aquifer springs through downtown New Braunfels to the Guadalupe River. Crystal-clear 72-degree water, a constant spring flow, and easy tubing through a charming German-heritage town make this one of the most visited waterways in the state.

A spring-fed Hill Country stream flowing through the ranch country between Blanco and San Marcos. The Blanco offers clear, gentle paddling over limestone bedrock with cypress-lined banks, swimming holes, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Blanco State Park provides easy access to the best upper stretch.

A spring-fed river flowing from the rugged Edwards Plateau through remote ranch country to the Gulf of Mexico at Corpus Christi Bay. The upper Nueces through Real and Uvalde counties offers some of the most scenic and least-visited paddling in the Texas Hill Country — crystal-clear water, canyon walls, and almost zero development.

The Sabine River forms much of the Texas-Louisiana border and flows 510 miles from the Blackland Prairie to the Gulf of Mexico. The upper Sabine through Hunt and Van Zandt counties offers easy paddling through bottomland hardwood forests, while the lower river passes through the vast Sabine National Wildlife Refuge and cypress-tupelo swamps near the coast.

The Truckee flows from Lake Tahoe across the Sierra Nevada front into the Great Basin, ending at Pyramid Lake — one of the few rivers in the American West that terminates in a desert lake rather than the sea. Popular whitewater run through Reno with Class II–III rapids during spring snowmelt.

The East Fork of the Carson River descends from the Sierra Nevada through Markleeville Canyon into the Carson Valley. The upper canyon delivers technical Class II–III whitewater in a dramatic volcanic gorge; the lower river meanders through cottonwood-lined ranch country below Gardnerville.

The longest river entirely within Nevada, flowing 290 miles across the Great Basin before vanishing into the Humboldt Sink. The Humboldt was the lifeline of the California and Oregon Trails — tens of thousands of emigrants followed its course westward through the desert.

An Eastern Sierra desert river flowing from the Sierra Nevada to Walker Lake, one of the few terminal lakes in North America. The Walker supports Lahontan cutthroat trout — Nevada's state fish — and offers gentle paddling through a dramatic sagebrush-and-cottonwood corridor.

A premier Western fly-fishing destination known for trophy brown trout. The East Walker below Bridgeport Reservoir is a tailwater that produces some of the largest brown trout in the Great Basin. Cold, clear water through sagebrush desert makes this a wade-fishing paradise.

One of the most remote rivers in the lower 48 states, flowing through the Jarbidge Wilderness in northeastern Nevada. The Jarbidge supports native bull trout and Lahontan cutthroat in a pristine mountain canyon accessible only by long dirt roads. A true wilderness experience.

A remote desert canyon whitewater run through one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in the American West. The Bruneau carves 800-foot rhyolite walls through the Owyhee Desert — Class III-IV rapids in a setting that rivals any slot canyon in the Southwest. Permit required; season is narrow spring snowmelt window.

The river that caught fire and helped launch the modern environmental movement. The Cuyahoga winds through Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Ohio's only national park — offering gentle Class I–II paddling through forested gorges minutes from Cleveland and Akron.

Widely regarded as the best canoe river in Ohio. The Mohican cuts through sandstone gorges in Mohican State Park, delivering Class I–III rapids through old-growth hemlock forest. The Clear Fork and Black Fork merge to form the Mohican proper — all three branches offer excellent paddling.

Ohio's first National Scenic River and one of the finest Midwestern paddling corridors. The Little Miami flows 105 miles from its headwaters near Springfield through limestone gorges and forested bottomlands to the Ohio River near Cincinnati. The parallel Little Miami Scenic Trail (78 miles paved) makes bike-and-paddle trips easy.

Northeast Ohio's best whitewater river — the Grand carves through a dramatic shale gorge in the upper reaches before widening into a scenic corridor flowing north to Lake Erie. Ohio Scenic River designated, with Class II–III ledge drops in the gorge section near Harpersfield.

The Hocking River flows through the heart of Ohio's Hocking Hills region — Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, and Cedar Falls country — before winding through the college town of Athens. A gentle Class I–II float through forested Appalachian foothills, ideal for scenic paddling and multi-day trips.

A state-designated scenic river winding through the sandstone gorges and wooded hills of north-central Ohio. The Vermilion offers gentle Class I–II paddling through a surprisingly rugged landscape, with shale cliffs, hemlock groves, and excellent smallmouth bass fishing. The river empties into Lake Erie at the charming harbor town of Vermilion.

Ohio's only river with consistent spring-fed flow year-round. The Mad River emerges from glacial aquifers near Urbana and maintains cold, clear water even through summer drought — making it one of the best trout streams in the Midwest. Gentle Class I–II paddling through pastoral western Ohio farmland with surprisingly wild riparian corridors.

A 130-mile journey through Ohio's canal era history. The Tuscarawas River parallels the Ohio & Erie Canal towpath through the rolling hills of east-central Ohio, passing the restored German Separatist village of Zoar, Civil War-era towns, and the remnants of America's canal-building age. Gentle Class I flatwater paddling with deep historical resonance.

A scenic gem flowing through the rolling hills of Knox County and the charming town of Mount Vernon. The Kokosing is one of Ohio's healthiest smallmouth bass streams — clear water over gravel riffles, wooded banks, and a pastoral landscape that feels far from any city. The Kokosing Gap Trail parallels the river for easy bike-and-paddle trips.

A scenic river flowing from the rural farmland of Delaware County through the heart of Columbus. The Olentangy has been transformed by dam removals and greenway development into one of Ohio's best urban paddling corridors. The Olentangy Trail (13 miles paved) connects parks, Ohio State University, and downtown Columbus along the riverbank.

The river that built Columbus — the Scioto flows 231 miles through the center of the state capital and some of Ohio's most productive farmland. Downtown Columbus has invested heavily in riverfront development, and the Scioto Mile and Scioto Audubon Metro Park offer accessible urban paddling. South of the city, the river widens into a quiet agricultural corridor to the Ohio River.

The largest river by volume flowing into the Great Lakes — the Maumee drains a vast agricultural watershed across northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana before emptying into Lake Erie at Toledo. The river offers big-water flatwater paddling through the Great Black Swamp region. The annual walleye run below the rapids in Maumee and Perrysburg draws anglers from across the Midwest.

A scenic northeast Ohio river flowing through the shale gorges and wooded ravines of Geauga and Lake counties to Lake Erie at Eastlake. The Chagrin offers reliable Class I–II paddling through surprisingly wild terrain close to Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Fall steelhead runs draw fly anglers from across the Midwest to the lower river.

Indiana's namesake whitewater river — the Whitewater flows through the rolling hill country of southeastern Indiana before joining the Great Miami at the Ohio border. Class I–III rapids through limestone ledges make this the best technical paddling in Indiana. The upper Brookville-to-Metamora reach runs through canal country with gentler Class I–II water, while the Metamora-to-Harrison section holds the river's best whitewater.

Indiana's most scenic canoe river, flowing through covered bridge country in Parke and Montgomery counties. Sugar Creek passes sandstone bluffs, natural arches, and more covered bridges than any other river in the state. Turkey Run and Shades state parks bracket the best paddling stretch.

Indiana's first designated Natural and Scenic River. The Blue River flows through the karst landscape of southern Indiana's Crawford and Harrison counties — spring-fed, clear, and winding past limestone bluffs, caves, and hardwood forests. One of the most pristine streams in the Midwest.

The longest tributary of the Wabash and one of Indiana's finest paddling rivers. The Tippecanoe winds 190 miles through northern Indiana lake country, past sandbars and forested bluffs. Famous in American history for the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe that launched William Henry Harrison's presidency.

A scenic southern Indiana river flowing through forested hills and farmland. The Muscatatuck offers gentle paddling past limestone bluffs and through the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge — one of the oldest refuges in the Midwest. The 15-mile Vernon-to-North-Vernon reach holds the best limestone bluff scenery before the river widens toward its confluence with the White River.

A quiet Wabash tributary winding through northeastern Indiana farmland and forest. The Eel offers peaceful paddling with good smallmouth bass fishing and a surprisingly wild corridor through one of the more developed parts of the state. The 103-mile river begins as a narrow, wooded stream in Allen County and broadens through North Manchester and Logansport before reaching the Wabash.

The best whitewater in Indiana outside the Whitewater River. Wildcat Creek drops through rocky riffles and small ledges in the hill country between Kokomo and Lafayette. Class I-II rapids over limestone make this a favorite of Hoosier paddlers looking for moving water.

The only whitewater river in Illinois. The Vermilion cuts through sandstone canyons near Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks — Class I–III rapids through forested gorges in an otherwise flat state. A genuine surprise for Midwestern paddlers.

An ancient cypress swamp in southern Illinois — the Cache River Natural Area contains 1,000-year-old bald cypress trees and is a National Natural Landmark. Flatwater paddling through a landscape that looks more like Louisiana than the Midwest. One of the most ecologically significant wetlands in the interior United States.

The best paddling river near Chicago. The Kankakee flows through Kankakee River State Park where sandstone canyons, waterfalls, and Class I–II rapids create a surprisingly scenic experience just 60 miles south of the city. Once called the Everglades of the North before 19th-century draining destroyed the vast marshes.

The Fox River flows 115 miles through the western Chicago suburbs, offering accessible flatwater paddling through a chain of riverside parks, historic mill towns, and preserved natural areas. Despite its suburban setting, the Fox maintains surprisingly scenic stretches with bald eagles, great blue herons, and wooded bluffs between Elgin and Yorkville. The St. Charles-to-Yorkville reach is the scenic centerpiece of the Illinois State Water Trail, while dam portages punctuate the mill-town corridor from Elgin to St. Charles.

The Des Plaines River flows through the western Chicago suburbs and the vast forest preserves of Cook and Will counties. Once heavily polluted, decades of restoration have revived the river into a viable urban paddling corridor. The Des Plaines River Trail and surrounding forest preserves offer green refuge in one of the most densely populated areas of the Midwest.

The Mackinaw is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Illinois — never dammed along its entire 130-mile length. Flowing through the heart of the central Illinois prairie, the Mackinaw offers gentle riffles over sand and gravel, wooded bottomlands, and a wild character that belies its location in the state's most productive farmland. The wooded corridor from Congerville to Mackinaw holds the best scenery before the river widens on its run to the Illinois River at Pekin.

Abraham Lincoln's river — the Sangamon flows through the heart of Lincoln Country in central Illinois, passing the sites where young Lincoln flatboated, practiced law, and entered politics. The river offers easy flatwater paddling through wooded bottomlands and the restored prairies of Sangchris Lake State Park and surrounding conservation areas.

A hidden gem in the driftless region of northwest Illinois — the Apple River flows through the unglaciated hills of Jo Daviess County, offering Class I–II riffles through wooded bluffs and scenic ravines. Apple River Canyon State Park anchors the best paddling stretch. The surrounding landscape of steep-sided valleys and cold-water springs is unlike anything else in Illinois.

The Androscoggin flows through the White Mountains in a broad valley of exceptional beauty. The Thirteen Mile Woods section is one of New England's premier wilderness canoe trips — moose, eagles, and unbroken boreal forest. Below Errol, Class II–III whitewater adds excitement through Pontook Reservoir to Milan.

The most popular canoe river in New England. The Saco flows from Crawford Notch through the Mount Washington Valley, offering sandy beaches, warm summer swimming, and gentle Class I–III rapids through the White Mountains. Multi-day camping trips on river sandbars are a New England rite of passage.

The Pemigewasset flows from the Franconia Notch through the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. Class I–III whitewater through forested granite gorges with views of the Franconia Ridge. The Pemi merges with the Winnipesaukee to form the Merrimack — New England's greatest industrial river.

The longest river in New England forms the entire western border of New Hampshire. The Connecticut flows 270 miles along the NH/VT boundary through pastoral valley farmland, covered bridges, and Dartmouth College country. Class I–II paddling with big water volume and sweeping mountain views make this the premier multi-day canoe trip in northern New England.

New Hampshire's great central river flows 117 miles from Franklin through Concord and Manchester to the Massachusetts border. The Merrimack powered America's textile revolution and has since recovered into one of southern New Hampshire's best paddling corridors — Class I–II water through the state capital and the largest city in northern New England.

A White Mountain gem flowing alongside the Kancamagus Highway — one of America's most scenic drives. The Swift River delivers Class I–III whitewater through pristine mountain forest with swimming holes, covered bridges, and granite gorges. Rocky Gorge and Lower Falls are iconic New Hampshire destinations.

A compact White Mountain whitewater run through the covered bridge village of Jackson, New Hampshire. The Ellis River delivers Class II–III rapids through granite-walled channels with views of Wildcat Mountain and the Presidential Range. Historic covered bridges span the river at several points — Jackson's Honeymoon Bridge is one of the most photographed in New England.

Central New Hampshire's classic canoe river flows 80 miles through covered bridge country from Jaffrey to the Merrimack. The Contoocook passes through quintessential New England — white steepled churches, stone walls, and eight covered bridges including the last remaining Contoocook Railroad Bridge. Gentle Class I–II water perfect for family paddling.

Vermont's premier dam-release whitewater classic. The West River below Ball Mountain Dam delivers powerful Class II–IV rapids during scheduled fall releases that draw paddlers from across the Northeast. The annual West River Race is one of the oldest whitewater competitions in America.

Vermont's best all-around paddling river. The Lamoille flows 85 miles from the Green Mountains to Lake Champlain through quintessential Vermont — covered bridges, dairy farms, and forested gorges. The Fairfax Gorge section delivers Class III whitewater in a spectacular setting.

Vermont's best all-around paddling river, flowing 55 miles through the Green Mountain foothills past covered bridges, hill farms, and classic New England villages. The White River delivers everything from gentle Class I floats to pushy Class III whitewater depending on section and flow.

Vermont's most dynamic river flows 90 miles from Cabot through Montpelier and the Green Mountains to Lake Champlain at Burlington. The Winooski carves through dramatic gorges with Class I–III rapids, passing the state capital and Vermont's largest city. The river's recovery from severe industrial pollution is one of New England's great environmental success stories.

The legendary Battenkill is America's most storied fly fishing river — home to Orvis headquarters in Manchester, Vermont since 1856. Crystal-clear water flows through covered bridges, marble quarry country, and the Taconic Mountains. Class I–II paddling through pastoral Vermont at its finest, with wild brown and brook trout visible in the gin-clear water.

Northern Vermont's great canoe river flows 80 miles through the Northeast Kingdom and into Lake Champlain. The Missisquoi winds through remote dairy country, covered bridges, and the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge — one of the finest birding destinations in New England. Class I–II water with a genuine sense of northern wilderness.

A Green Mountain classic flowing through the Mad River Valley — home to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas. The Mad River delivers Class I–III whitewater through covered bridges and ski country. Warren and Waitsfield anchor a valley that's equal parts ski culture and river tradition. The annual Mad Dash canoe race is a spring institution.

Vermont's longest river at 112 miles, flowing north through the Champlain Valley from Dorset to Lake Champlain at Ferrisburgh. Otter Creek is the quintessential Vermont flatwater paddle — gentle Class I current through dairy farms, covered bridges, and the historic marble city of Rutland. The creek's extensive wetlands support exceptional wildlife habitat.

Western Connecticut's premier paddling river. The Housatonic flows through the Litchfield Hills with Class I–III rapids, covered bridges, and the dramatic Bull's Bridge gorge — one of New England's most iconic whitewater runs. The upper river in Massachusetts is flat and pastoral; the Connecticut sections deliver the action.

The upper Farmington is Connecticut's only National Wild and Scenic River — 14 miles of dam-release whitewater and world-class fly fishing through the Farmington Valley. The Tariffville Gorge section delivers Class III rapids minutes from Hartford, making it the most accessible serious paddling in the state.

The longest river in New England at 410 miles, flowing from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound. The Connecticut River defines the state that bears its name, offering broad Class I–II paddling through tidelands, riverside farms, and historic river towns from Hartford to the sea.

A hidden gem of central Connecticut — the Salmon River flows through Day Pond State Park and past the historic Comstock Covered Bridge, one of the last remaining covered bridges in the state. Class I–II paddling through surprisingly wild forest just 20 minutes from Hartford. The river supports Connecticut's best Atlantic salmon restoration efforts.

Central Connecticut's urban-to-wild river flows 38 miles from the Hanging Hills of Meriden past Sleeping Giant State Park to New Haven Harbor. The Quinnipiac has undergone a remarkable environmental recovery — once severely polluted, it now supports paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing through an increasingly green corridor. Sleeping Giant's traprock ridge towers above the river.

The gem of Connecticut's Quiet Corner — the Natchaug flows through Natchaug State Forest in eastern Connecticut with Class I–II rapids, swimming holes, and the legendary Diana Pool. The river's hemlock-shaded gorges and clean water make it feel more like northern New England than southern Connecticut.

A Litchfield Hills treasure flowing through Washington, Connecticut — one of New England's most picturesque towns. The Shepaug is best known for its wintering bald eagle population, one of the largest concentrations in the Northeast. Class I–II paddling through forested valleys with covered bridges and colonial-era stone walls.

Connecticut's premier nature paddle — the Bantam River flows from Bantam Lake through the White Memorial Conservation Center, the state's largest nature center and wildlife sanctuary. Gentle Class I water winds through marshes, beaver ponds, and old-growth forest. The White Memorial Foundation protects 4,000 acres of habitat along the river — birding, wildlife viewing, and solitude minutes from Litchfield village.

The best paddling in Rhode Island. The Wood River flows through Arcadia Management Area — the largest contiguous forest in the state — with Class I–II rapids over granite ledges, tea-colored water, and a surprising sense of wilderness for the nation's smallest state.

The Pawcatuck River forms the Rhode Island / Connecticut border, flowing from freshwater swamps to tidal estuary at Westerly. Gentle Class I–II paddling through diverse habitats — cedar swamp, deciduous forest, salt marsh. One of the most ecologically varied short river trips in New England.

The birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The Blackstone flows 48 miles from Worcester, MA to Narragansett Bay, past the historic Slater Mill where Samuel Slater launched American textile manufacturing in 1793. The Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor preserves this industrial landscape for paddlers and historians alike.

A tiny gem flowing through the Great Swamp — Rhode Island's largest freshwater wetland. The Chipuxet is a short but magical paddle through cedar swamp and marsh near the University of Rhode Island campus. Class I flatwater winds through habitat that supported the decisive Great Swamp Fight of King Philip's War in 1675.

A suburban escape in East Greenwich — the Hunt River is a small, clean stream flowing through surprisingly intact forest habitat in Kent County. Class I paddling through wooded corridors with occasional small dams and stone remnants of colonial-era mills. A peaceful half-day paddle that proves even Rhode Island's developed areas hide natural treasures.

Rhode Island's industrial heritage river flows 26 miles through Cranston and Warwick to Narragansett Bay. The Pawtuxet powered dozens of textile mills in the 19th century — many now converted to apartments and shops. Class I–II paddling past historic mill villages, stone dams, and an increasingly green urban corridor. The Gaspee Affair of 1772, when colonists burned a British revenue ship at the river's mouth, was a precursor to the American Revolution.

An urban-to-tidal paddle in East Providence — the Ten Mile River flows from Massachusetts through suburban Rhode Island to tidal waters at the Seekonk River. Class I flatwater through a recovering urban corridor with increasing wildlife as restoration efforts take hold. The tidal section offers views of the Providence skyline.

Providence's renaissance river — the Woonasquatucket flows 18 miles from North Smithfield through downtown Providence, where it meets the Moshassuck to form the Providence River at Waterplace Park. The famous WaterFire art installation illuminates the river on summer evenings. Once one of the most polluted rivers in New England, the Woonasquatucket's ongoing cleanup is a model of urban river revival.

Forty miles of the Delaware River through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area — the largest unit of the National Park System in the Northeast. Class I–III rapids through the dramatic Water Gap where the river cuts through the Appalachian Ridge. The most popular canoe destination within driving range of New York City.

Tea-colored cedar water through the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens — Wharton State Forest protects 115,000 acres of this unique ecosystem. The Mullica, Batsto, and Wading rivers wind through Atlantic white cedar swamps and pygmy pine forests. A landscape unlike anything else on the Eastern Seaboard.

The crown jewel of the New Jersey Pine Barrens — 51 miles of pristine cedar water flowing through Wharton State Forest to the Great Bay estuary. The Mullica is the largest river entirely within the Pinelands National Reserve, its tea-colored water filtered through ancient sand aquifers that produce some of the purest surface water on the East Coast.

Northwest New Jersey's finest canoe stream — the Paulins Kill flows 41 miles through rolling farmland and limestone spring country to the Delaware River. Spring-fed and unusually clear for a New Jersey river, the Paulins Kill supports wild brown trout in its upper reaches. Class I–II paddling through a pastoral landscape that feels more like Pennsylvania Dutch country than the Garden State.

Central New Jersey's great river flows 85 miles through the heart of the state from the Highlands to Raritan Bay. The Raritan is the longest river entirely within New Jersey and anchors one of the most ambitious urban canoe trail projects in the Northeast. Class I paddling through surprisingly green corridors past Revolutionary War sites, colonial villages, and recovering riparian habitat.

New Jersey's Wild and Scenic gem — the Maurice River flows 50 miles through Cumberland County to the Delaware Bay, passing through one of the most important shorebird staging areas in the Western Hemisphere. Each May, millions of shorebirds descend on Delaware Bay to feast on horseshoe crab eggs — the Maurice River corridor is ground zero for this spectacle. Class I paddling through pine-oak forest, salt marsh, and tidal estuary.

New Jersey's Wild and Scenic trout stream — the Musconetcong flows 42 miles from Lake Hopatcong through the Highlands to the Delaware River. Class I–II paddling through forested gorges and farmland with one of New Jersey's finest wild trout populations. The Musconetcong is the poster child for New Jersey river conservation — designated Wild & Scenic in 2006 after decades of grassroots advocacy.

A Wild and Scenic river through the New Jersey Pine Barrens — the Great Egg Harbor flows 57 miles from Camden County to the Atlantic Ocean at Ocean City. Tea-colored water winds through Atlantic white cedar swamps, pitch pine forests, and tidal salt marsh. One of the cleanest rivers on the Eastern Seaboard, filtered through the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer that underlies the Pine Barrens.

Delaware's best paddling creek. The Brandywine flows through the rolling Wyeth country of the Brandywine Valley — Class I–III rapids over piedmont bedrock past historic du Pont estates, covered bridges, and the site of the Battle of Brandywine (1777). Andrew Wyeth painted these banks for six decades.

A tidal estuary flowing through the heart of Dover and the Dover Greenway. The St. Jones offers gentle flatwater paddling through salt marsh, tidal creeks, and wildlife refuges. Shorebirds, horseshoe crabs, and the annual red knot migration make this an ecological treasure of the Delaware Bay.

The Christina River flows through the heart of Wilmington to its confluence with the Brandywine, passing the historic mill district where the du Pont family built their gunpowder empire. The tidal lower river offers gentle urban paddling past First State Heritage Park and the revitalized Wilmington Riverfront.

A National Wild and Scenic River flowing through the piedmont of northern Delaware. White Clay Creek offers gentle Class I paddling through wooded valleys with excellent smallmouth bass fishing. One of the finest spring-fed creeks in the Mid-Atlantic.

A suburban creek with a wild heart — Red Clay Creek supports a surprising wild trout population in northern Delaware. Gentle riffles over piedmont bedrock through wooded suburban corridors make this an accessible close-to-home paddle and wade-fishing destination. The 8-mile Yorklyn-to-Ashland reach is the best wooded piedmont stretch before the creek passes through suburban parks toward Stanton.

The largest river on the Delmarva Peninsula, the Nanticoke flows through cypress swamps and tidal marshes to the Chesapeake Bay. Outstanding kayaking through pristine wetlands with excellent birding, fishing, and solitude on one of the least-developed rivers on the East Coast.

A quiet coastal plain river near Lewes and the Delaware Bay. The Broadkill winds through salt marsh and agricultural land before reaching the bay, offering gentle tidal paddling with excellent birding and access to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

The Upper Yough from Sang Run to Friendsville is the premier Class IV–V run in the Mid-Atlantic — 11 miles of continuous expert whitewater through a remote Appalachian gorge. Dam releases from Deep Creek Lake provide reliable flows. The mandatory portage around Swallow Falls and the 18-foot Meat Cleaver drop define this as serious paddling.

Class II–V whitewater within sight of the Washington Monument. The Potomac drops through Great Falls — a thundering 76-foot cascade — then through Mather Gorge in a setting that defies its location minutes from the capital. The most dramatic urban whitewater in America.

Site of the 1989 ICF Whitewater World Championships — the only time the Worlds have been held on a natural river channel in the United States. The Savage River delivers 5 miles of continuous expert Class IV–V whitewater through a remote Appalachian gorge in Garrett County, with dam releases from Savage River Reservoir providing scheduled flows.

Maryland's premier trout tailwater — Gunpowder Falls below Prettyboy Dam is a Gold Medal trout stream just 30 minutes from downtown Baltimore. Cold dam releases maintain year-round trout water in a surprisingly wild forested valley within the Baltimore metro area.

The longest river flowing entirely within Maryland, the Patuxent winds 115 miles from piedmont headwaters to the Chesapeake Bay. A major Chesapeake tributary with good paddling through surprisingly wild corridors between Baltimore and Washington, DC. The Patuxent River State Park marks the piedmont headwaters, with a forested corridor running down to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary before the river opens into its tidal estuary.

A scenic Potomac tributary flowing through Frederick County with Civil War history at every bend. The Monocacy offers gentle Class I paddling past Monocacy National Battlefield, where the 1864 battle delayed a Confederate advance on Washington, DC.

A limestone spring creek flowing through the Antietam National Battlefield — site of the bloodiest single day in American history. Antietam Creek offers gentle wade-fishing for wild trout in spring-fed water, with the battlefield's monuments visible from the stream. Designated a Maryland Scenic River, the 42-mile creek runs from limestone springs near Waynesboro through the battlefield's historic corridor down to the Potomac at Burnside Bridge.

New England's premier dam-release whitewater river. The Deerfield delivers Class II–IV rapids through the Berkshire Hills on scheduled releases from Fife Brook Dam — the most reliable whitewater in Massachusetts. The Dryway section pushes Class IV during high releases. Below Charlemont, the river mellows through covered-bridge farm country.

Massachusetts's first National Wild and Scenic River. The Westfield flows through the Berkshire foothills with Class I–III whitewater on multiple branches. The North Branch through Chesterfield Gorge is the signature section — a granite gorge with technical rapids in a state-managed forest.

Henry David Thoreau paddled this river in 1839 and wrote about it in his first book. The Concord flows 16 miles through the literary and revolutionary heart of Massachusetts — past Old North Bridge, Minuteman National Historical Park, and the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. A gentle flatwater paddle steeped in American history.