Exploring national parks on water trails

If you've never paddled a kayak or canoe you have likely missed many scenic and pristine areas of our national parks that are accessible only by water.

And by paddling, instead of using a motor, you will be less apt to frighten away birds and wildlife, often enabling intimate close up views from their eye level.

Water trails, or blueways, are networks of points along the water that paddlers can access using human-powered boats. Water trails also provide pleasant physical exercise and recreation, and promote environmental awareness.

The National Park Service has helped communities create water trails nationwide for over a decade. This year, the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program is partnering with state and local governments and other organizations to work on improving and creating water trails in roughly thirty states. You can find out more about these efforts at the watertrails page of the NPS website.

Even if you don't yet have a kayak or canoe, often local providers will have boat rentals available for use on the park's waterways, and will a few simple instructions, you are good to go.