GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted July 2nd,
2016
Great Waterways for Rafting, Kayaking,
Tubing and Canoeing
Happy Camper Blog
Summertime is a great time to explore
America’s beautiful waterways. Whether it’s a leisurely float down a peaceful
river that’s calling out to you or you can’t wait to experience the
heart-pounding thrill of navigating whitewater rapids, there’s a destination
that’s right for you. Here are a few great
picks:
Mendocino, California
The Big River stretches for more than 40
miles and is the longest undeveloped estuary in northern California. Those
who come to kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board in the gentle tidal flows
of this river are treated to views of a wide variety of wildlife as well as
coastal redwoods, marshes and riparian forests. The river’s headwaters are
located 30 miles inland in the Mendocino Range, and it meets the Pacific just
south of the picturesque town of
Mendocino.
Moab,
Utah
Utah’s scenic Colorado
Riverway is well known for its colorful red cliffs, sandstone spires and
magnificent canyons. The area’s rafting adventures run the gamut from “mild
to wild,” ranging from family-friendly trips through the gentler Class 2
rapids of the Fisher Towers section of the Colorado River to the
adrenaline-infused experience of navigating the Class 4 rapids in Westwater
or Cataract Canyons. There are also segments of the Colorado that are calm
enough for canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Equipment rentals and
guided river trips are readily available from the area’s many
outfitters.
Branson,
Missouri
Kayakers have a couple of choices here. Lake
Taneycomo has a gentle current that helps move kayaks along, while the calm,
smooth waters of Table Rock Lake are also easy to navigate, but don’t have a
current. Table Rock is better suited for those who want to go kayak fishing,
though, since the calm waters make it easier to maintain a steady position.
Stand-up paddle boarding is another popular way to explore both
lakes.
Chattanooga,
Tennessee
The region around Chattanooga is a paddler’s
paradise, offering everything from flat water canoeing, kayaking and stand up
paddle boarding on the Tennessee River Blueway system to white water kayaking
and rafting on two of the nation’s most scenic whitewater streams, the Ocoee
and Hiwasssee. The area’s commercial outfitters also offer Class 1 and 2
tubing trips for adults and kids.
Northern
Maine
numerous spots for paddlers of all experience levels to put in their
watercraft and take off on a scenic adventure. Paddlers can head to
Millinocket Stream for an easy, one-hour trip or to Ambajejus Lake to
paddle along the shoreline or out to an inhabited island to picnic
or enjoy a swim. The Upper and Lower Togue Ponds are among the most scenic
waterways, offering paddlers spectacular views of Mount Katahdin as they
glide along.
Cumberland Island,
Georgia
Designated as a National Wilderness Area,
Cumberland Island is the southernmost barrier island on the Georgia coast.
Its beautiful natural setting features a maritime forest with live oaks
draped with Spanish moss, and the island is home to over 200 species of birds
as well as many other forms of wildlife, including dolphins, armadillos and
wild horses. Since the sea kayaking available here requires an understanding
of tidal patterns on the open ocean, it is better suited for experienced
kayakers.
