National Water Trails: The Outdoor Adventure You Need
To “whet” your appetite for exploring the region by waterway, we've rounded up eight National Water Trails in the South — from Louisiana all the way up to the Chesapeake Bay corridor in Maryland.
When we think of trails, we imagine hiking and climbing — putting miles and pressing worries behind us. But our National Trails System transcends solitary walks and paths carved into mountainsides. President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Trails System Act in 1968, and 18 major national scenic, historic, and connector trails have been added since, along with 1,341 recreational trails that promise adventure and inspiration. They wind through National Parks Service sites, National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests, and grasslands in all 50 states. Some can be traversed on foot, by car, on bikes, and even snowmobiles — but there are water trails ideal for boaters and paddlers, too!
In 2012, new legislation established a National Water Trail System under the National Trails System Act. And during the summer, let’s be honest, there are many days when floating, gliding, paddling, rowing, and swimming will be our preferred modes of adventure. So, to “whet” your appetite for exploring the South by waterway, here are eight recommendations — from Louisiana to the Chesapeake Bay corridor in Maryland. Within miles of each are camping and other lodging options, so you can plan for a day on the water or a multi-stop trip.
Alabama Scenic River Trail
Alabama Scenic River Trail is, at 631 miles long, the longest self-contained water trail within one U.S. state. More than 5,300 miles of streams branch from the core trail, a connection between the Alabama and Coosa Rivers that runs the length of the state and preserves a historic trading route. Watercraft, especially kayaks, canoes, and powered boats, are the way to go here.
Because the trail is vast, a network of Trail Angels has broken the state into 10 districts, with volunteers in each who can assist with trip planning and itinerary building — from procuring essential outfitting and gear to determining a route. Visit this page to explore routes and individual waterways and link to a list of outfitters throughout the state.
The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail
The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail within the Mississippi River Basin offers 135 miles of scenic paddling across four Louisiana parishes and 10 cities. Per NRT, this trail is accessible from several state highways as well as Interstate 10, and each town it flows through has floating docks for launching kayaks and canoes.
The Teche Project is an education and conservancy organization that preserves essential trail history. The Bayou Teche was the center of the cypress industry at the turn of the century, and its name and narrative originated from the Chitimacha people; “teche” means snake, and the Teche waterway emulates the snake that was considered an enemy of the Chitimacha and then felled in place. Per the Teche Project, the Bayou Teche ends in the Atchafalaya Basin, once “an essential source of food, timber, and fur, a refuge for escaped slaves and a natural resource for enterprising Cajuns and Creoles.” The Teche Project also publishes useful trail maps and a paddle planner.
Chattahoochee River National Water Trail
The Chattahoochee River National Water Trail is part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which is in Atlanta’s suburban backyard. This trail was the first designated “national water trail” in 2012. It runs 48 miles, and its many peaceful, slack corridors make floating via raft, canoe, or kayak a tranquil prospect.
The National Park Service links to suggested outfitters, as does the Georgia River Network. Within the National Recreation Area, both rangers and visitor’s stations can offer interpretation of biodiversity and other natural features as well as cultural history. Per the NRT, “signage is present at trailheads, mile markers are visible on the river, and geographic signage is on bridges and crossings.”
The Green and Nolin Rivers Blueway
The Green and Nolin Rivers Blueway flows 29 miles through Mammoth Cave National Park and seven miles through the Nolin River Lake Tailwater Recreation Area in Kentucky. The National Park Service offers guidance for route planning between four river sites. Cave County Trails offers valuable information on each of the trail’s seven public access sites, including boat launches, camping suggestions, and other amenities.
Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the longest known cave system in the world, in addition to diverse hardwood forests, lush river valleys, and scenic bluffs. Per the NRT, the Green River, a branch of the Ohio River, dates before the earliest cave development. The Nolin River is a 104-mile-long tributary of the Green River. More than 80 species of fish, 50 species of mussels, and more than 1,300 species of flora thrive here.
The Ouachita Geo-Float Trail
Lake Ouachita is 13 miles northwest of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, in the Ouachita Mountains. The Ouachita Geo Float Trail comprises 12 stops and originally came about as a joint project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Arkansas Geologic Commission, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Stops include Whirlpool Rock, a 450-million-year-old sandstone formation, and a geologic material known as Submarine Slide. Folds, faults, mountains, valleys, formations, and viewpoints comprise the remaining stops, which are explained further here, courtesy of LakeOuachita.org. Per NRT, bright yellow buoys mark specific stops along the route. AllTrails estimates the trail is 13.1 miles, with 12 stops in about two hours.
The Potomac River Water Trail
The Potomac River Water Trail (PRWT) meanders through the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, from the Appalachian region to the west downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. It is another extensive trail, covering more than 300 miles, and a few conservancies offer ideas for ways to approach it. The National Park Service links to routes within the Chesapeake Bay corridor. The National Rivers Project links three Class I routes in Virginia and Maryland here, and Paddle the Potomac offers comprehensive maps and routes both for the National Water Trail and regionally.
Per NRT, the trail is “used by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation to provide experiences for at-risk youth, by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Sojourn (including scholarships for youth), by Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, and many others.”
The South Carolina Revolutionary Rivers Trail
The 60-mile South Carolina Revolutionary Rivers Trail flows from Lynches River County Park near Florence, South Carolina, to a confluence with the Great Pee Dee River, where one can paddle into the same cypress and tupelo forested swampland where Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion hid from the British, earning him the nickname ‘Swamp Fox.’ The Florence CVB has published guides for three self-directed tours.
The Tennessee River Blueway
The Tennessee River Blueway was formed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the 1930s. In 2002, it was designated a National Scenic River Trail, extending 48 miles west along the Tennessee River, from Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga through the Tennessee River Gorge. The 27,000-acre gorge is commonly called “the Grand Canyon of Tennessee.” Outdoor Chattanooga links to a Chattanooga Water Trails Map, a printable TVA Tennessee River Gorge Map, and a Tennessee River Gorge and Blueway Navigation Map. It also assesses the trail as accessible, giving it two of five points in terms of paddling difficulty.
Take a day trip or camp overnight at one of five designated (primitive) sites. Tennessee River Valley also offers a guide to access points for canoeing, kayaking, and camping, as well as this guide to day-long floats and paddles, while this map provides a starting point for camping and other amenities. This trail offers abundant opportunities for observing birds like great blue herons and bald eagles, other wildlife, striking and unforgettable geologic formations, and much flora and nature to soothe one into a state of tranquility.
For an even deeper dive into our National Trails System, visit The Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS). You can also begin planning with the National Recreation Trails (NRT) interactive map feature.
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Amy Beth Wright
Amy Beth is an essayist and freelance travel writer, with an emphasis on art, architecture, food, spirits, and public lands. She also contributes to Wine Enthusiast and Fodors Travel, and teaches writing to undergraduates at Purchase College in New York. Visit amybethwrites.com to read more of her work.