Resources
National Parks
National Forests
National Monuments
Wilderness Areas
Wildlife Refuges
Trails
Rivers
Lakes & Shores
Scenic Byways
Archaeology Sites
Recreation Areas
Worldwide Parks
Historic Sites
State Parks

Top Picks
Favorite National Parks
National Parks for Wildlife
Top 10 Fall Forests
Top 10 National Forests
More Park Top 10s

online favorites
PARKS


Wild and Scenic Rivers

National Wild and Scenic Rivers are America's free-flowing treasures. Protected under legislation in 1968, these streams let you enjoy a wild ride through class 5 rapids, a peaceful float casting for trout, or a brisk stroll along the bank.

Map
Far West
California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii
Southwest
Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada
Rocky Mountains
Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana
Midwest, Great Lakes and Central Plains
North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois
Mid-Atlantic
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont
Southeast
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas

For more paddling opportunities, try GORP Paddlesports.


About Wild and Scenic Rivers

Over 150 rivers are arranged regionally, with brief descriptions and milages. If a river's name is hyperlinked, click for more details on the river!

What's Wild, What's Scenic, and What's Recreational? Contrary to what you might think, these terms don't describe the character of the river. Wild doesn't mean it's a wicked and foamy stretch of whitewater, and scenic doesn't mean it's a pastoral float. Rather, it's all about accessibility.

Wild - this river is accessible only by trail, is undeveloped and generally is unpolluted.

Scenic - this river can be accessed by some roads but is mainly still a trail access river.

Recreational - this river has been developed along the shoreline and is easily accessible by roads, trails not necessary.



Top Trips

Road Trip Guides

National Park Guides

Hiking Guides

Today's Gear Guy

Gear Guides
[from Outside magazine]