Flat water. Whitewater. Tranquil pools and rising tides. All this and more abounds in the National Park System's water world.
Though often described as "more than 84 million acres" of landscape, the system also embraces endless miles of streams, lakeshore, and ocean front. It's a watery landscape you can explore for half-a-day, or for the rest of your life.
Run with the Atlantic Ocean tides down Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, or use them to reach the Ten Thousand Islands area of Everglades National Park. Venture into the Pacific Northwest to explore Ross Lake at North Cascades National Park, as Peter Wise did for his story about exploring Ross Lake by sea kayak, or head to Olympic National Park, where the demolition of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams has opened up more than 70 miles of river for paddlers.
You can retrace the past, as Bryan Hansel did for his story about paddling from Voyageurs National Park to Grand Portage National Monument. Curious about private Colorado River trips through Grand Canyon National Park? Joe Miczulski shares his trip of a lifetime. Cast your eyes beyond U.S. borders, as Jameson Clifton does, and you'll find an amazing paddle in New Zealand at Fiordland National Park.
Beyond the park units with their waterborne adventures, there are more than a dozen water trails overseen by the National Park Service worth dipping a paddle into.
Our 2nd Annual Essential Guide to Paddling the Parks is bigger, and better, than last year's first edition. Along with the feature stories mentioned above, the guide includes safe boating tips from the National Safe Boating Council as well as a rundown on the 18 trails in the National Water Trails System. National Parks Conservation Association staff provide an overview of the fun that can be had paddling in the parks, as well as the work being done to keep park waters healthy.
You can add this digital guide to your national park library for just $1.99.
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