Recreational activities on rivers at national parks are as varied as the places themselves. Rivers offer places to walk along the bank, boat or paddle, wade in the current, fish, or just sit and relax. These parks provide ideal places to get out on the water, whether you prefer flat water or rapids. National parks provide countless ways to experience our country's great waterways and explore its heritage. Today, many of us lead fast-paced, high stress lives, making the need for places to relax, refresh, and renew that much more important. Our river parks are here for you to enjoy –whether you are seeking quiet contemplation or high adventure.
Paddle Sports and Boating
Boating or paddling a river can be a relaxing way to explore the scenery and see wildlife, or it can be an adrenaline-filled adventure –it's up to you! On a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard, you can access areas that are too narrow or shallow for larger boats and see wildlife that would be scared away by a motorized vessel. Paddling thus gives you the best of both worlds –you can enjoy the scenery above the waves and peer down through clear water at the marine world below.
You don't need to own a boat to experience these possibilities; many parks offer boat rentals and boat tours. If you do own a vessel, be sure to check with individual parks before heading out. Some parks require a permit to operate a vessel in certain areas. Certain parks restrict or prohibit personal watercrafts due to resource protection or safety concerns.
Safely Enjoy Your Parks
Swimming in open, natural waters is very different from swimming in pools. Natural waters can change in depth unexpectedly, going from shallow-to-deep in just a few steps. Natural waters can also have swift currents, waterfalls, cold temperatures, and underwater hazards such as trees and boulders. Distances between shorelines can also be very deceiving. Weather can change very quickly. Every park with natural water has set rules on swimming. In some parks, wading or swimming is allowed and in others it is prohibited, or not allowed, because of the hazards around, on, or in the water.
Swimming
Many national parks across the nation offer great opportunities for swimming, and safety is essential for all ages when enjoying this activity. If the park you are thinking about visiting has lifeguards, make sure you swim when and where the lifeguard is present. If you are at a park without lifeguards, be sure you are completely qualified to be swimming there, and use the buddy system. Some parks have swimming locations that are particularly susceptible to changing environmental and weather conditions –in places like this, use sound judgment before entering the water, and stay alert.
Boating
When you are boating, weather, water, and wind conditions can change quickly, so being prepared for these unstable weather conditions is essential. Safety is a top priority for boating in any national park. To learn more about safe boating, visit these resources:
In addition, most individual park sites offer more locally specific information on boating safety. To learn more about boating safety at a certain national park, visit that park's website or contact its staff for more information.
Paddling
If you are paddling, be aware of what conditions are expected in the park. In rivers with rapids, paddling can be a high-risk activity that should not be undertaken alone, or by any novice, first-time, or inexperienced paddler. Check the safety rules for any national park site you plan to visit and experience through paddling. Make sure to choose a form of paddling that is appropriate to your experience level –flat water vs the varied classed rapids –so that you can have the best possible experience exploring your national parks with rivers.
Read this before you go: Water Safety in National Parks
Find a River in Your Backyard
Discover interactive maps, paddling and access information, and local managers for rivers in the United States using the National Rivers Project Explorer developed by the River Management Society.
River Recreation in Your National Park
The images below provide the name of a national park and the river recreation activity(s) allowed in the park. Always check park rules, regulations and safety advisories before taking part in any river recreation activity.
River Recreation in National Parks
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Acadia National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Swimming
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Alagnak Wild River
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Boating, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Amistad National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Swimming
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Anacostia Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Sailing, Scuba Diving
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Assateague Island National Seashore
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddling, Shellfishing, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Surf Fishing, Surfing, Swimming
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Big Bend National Park
Paddling
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Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing
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Big Cypress National Park
Boating, Paddling
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Biscayne National Park
Boating, Canoeing, Diving, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Snorkeling
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Big South Fork NRRA
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Swimming
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Big Thicket National Preserve
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddling,
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Blackstone River Valley NHP & NHC
Boating, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Bluestone National Scenic River
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Buffalo National River
Canoeing, Floating, Kayaking, Fishing, Paddling
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Canoeing, Crabbing, Fishing, Kayaking, Kiteboarding, Paddling, Snorkeling, Surfing, Swimming, Windsurfing
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Captain John Smith Chesapeake Trail
Boating, Paddling
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Cape Lookout National Seashore
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Swimming, Windsurfing
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Canaveral National Seashore
Fishing, Paddling
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Canyonlands National Park
Boating, Paddling
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Chattahoochee River NRA
Fishing, Floating, Paddling
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Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP
Paddling
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Chicasaw National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Swimming
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Channel Islands National Park
Boating, Diving, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Snorkeling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Surfing
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Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Congaree National Park
Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Crater Lake National Park
Boating, Paddling,
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Curecanti National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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De Soto National Monument
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Delaware Water Gap NRA
Boating, Fishing, Swimming
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Dinosaur National Monument
Paddling, River Rafting
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Dry Tortugas National Park
Boating, Diving, Fishing, Paddling, Snorkeling, Swimming
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Ebey's Landing NHR
Boating, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Everglades National Park
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Slough Slogging
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Fire Island National Seashore
Boating, Fishing, Swimming
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Fort Sumter National Monument
Boating
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Gates of the Arctic National Park
Paddling
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Gauley River National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Whitewater Rafting
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Glacier National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, River Camping, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Glacier Bay National Park
Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Swimming
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Grand Canyon National Park
Boating, Paddling, Smoothwater Rafting, Whitewater Rafting
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Great Falls Park
Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Grand Tetons National Park
Boating, Fishing, Floating, Paddling
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Hopewell Culture NHP
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Swimming
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Isle Royale National Park
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Scuba Diving
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Katmia National Park & Preserve
Boating, Fishing
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Katahdin Woods & Waters NM
Fishing, Paddling
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Kenai Fjords National Park
Boating, Kayaking, Paddling
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Knife River Indian Villages NHS
Paddling
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Kobuk Valley National Park
Boating, Fishing, Floating, Paddling
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Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, River Rafting, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Scuba Diving, Swimming
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Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Boating, Fishing
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Lassen Volcano National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Swimming
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Little River Canyon National Preserve
Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River
Boating, Fishing
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LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Mammoth Cave National Park
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Riverside Camping, Swimming
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Mississippi River NRRA
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Paddling
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Missouri National Recreational River
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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National Mall & Memorial Parks
Boating, Fishing
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New River Gorge National River
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-UP Paddleboarding, Whitewater Rafting
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Niobrara National Scenic River
Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Tubing
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Noatak National Preserve
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Rafting
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Obed Wild & Scenic River
Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Rafting
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Olympic National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Oregon Caves National Monument
Boating
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Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Canoeing, Fishing, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Padre Island National Seashore
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling,
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Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Boating, Diving, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Swimming
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Piscataway Park
Boating, Fishing
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Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Boating, Paddling
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Point Reyes National Seashore
Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Boating
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Redwood National & State Parks
Kayaking. Paddling
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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
Boating, Canoeing, Floating, Kayaking, Paddling
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Rock Creek Park
Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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St. Croix Island Historic Site
Paddling
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San Francisco Maritime NHP
Boating, Sailing
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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Scuba Diving, Swimming, Tubing
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Theodore Roosevelt Island
Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Timucuan Ecological Preserve
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling
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Upper Delaware River
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Swimming
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Virgin Islands Coral Reef NM
Boating, Paddling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Virgin Islands National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Snorkeling, Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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Voyageurs National Park
Boating, Paddling
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Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Kayaking, Paddling, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Swimming, Water Skiing
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Wrangell - St Elias National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Sea Kayaking
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Yellowstone National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling
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Yosemite National Park
Boating, Fishing, Paddling, Rafting, Swimming
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Yukon-Charley River National Preserve
Boating, Fishing, Floating, Paddling
Last updated: September 13, 2022