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.

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    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.

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    nearby

    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.

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    nearby

    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.

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    nearby

     
     

    Northern
    Maine

    This tranquil area offers
    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.

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    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.

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    nearby