Things to do

Paddling in national parks

The National Park Service lists 78 things to do tagged “Paddling” in 33 parks and sites. Buffalo National River has the most (21). Each listing links to the NPS page with details. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

Showing 78 of 78 listings.

ListingParkTime neededSeasonNotes
A Paddler’s ParadiseOzark National Scenic Riverways—Year-round—
About River SafetyOzark National Scenic Riverways—Year-round—
Black Canyon National Water TrailLake Mead National Recreation Area4-8 HoursYear-roundFee
Boating, Paddling, and WindsurfingPadre Island National Seashore—Year-roundFee
Canoeing & Kayaking at Lake Roosevelt NRALake Roosevelt National Recreation Area—Year-roundFee
Dennison Ferry to Green River FerryMammoth Cave National Park150-240 MinutesSummer—
Easy: Paddle from Buckingham to Long EddyUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River3-5 HoursYear-round—
Easy: Paddle from Narrowsburg to Ten Mile RiverUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River2-3 HoursYear-round—
Exciting: Paddle from Lackawaxen to SparrowbushUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River8-10 HoursYear-round—
Float the Niobrara RiverNiobrara National Scenic River1-8 HoursSpring, Summer, FallFee
Float the Platte and Crystal RiversSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore2-3 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Float the Rio GrandeBig Bend National Park, Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River———
Green River Ferry to Houchin FerryMammoth Cave National Park4-6 HoursSummer—
Hanford: Paddle the Hanford ReachManhattan Project National Historical Park4-6 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Houchin Ferry to BrownsvilleMammoth Cave National Park90-120 MinutesSummer—
Kayak Drakes Estero and Estero de LimantourPoint Reyes National Seashore1-8 HoursWinter, Summer, Fall—
Kayak the Erie CanalFort Stanwix National Monument—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Kayak to the IslandCumberland Island National Seashore—Year-roundReservation, Fee
Moderate: Paddle from Ten Mile River to LackawaxenUpper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River2-4 HoursYear-round—
Nolin River Dam to Houchin FerryMammoth Cave National Park4-6 HoursSummer—
Oak Ridge: Explore Haw Ridge ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park1-6 HoursYear-round—
Paddle & Visit an Archeological MuseumCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail—Year-round—
Paddle and Fish Loon LakeSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore30 MinutesYear-round—
Paddle Boxley to PoncaBuffalo National River2-3 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Buffalo National River with Your PetBuffalo National River—Year-round—
Paddle Eagle LakeAcadia National Park———
Paddle Echo LakeAcadia National Park———
Paddle Erbie to OzarkBuffalo National River3-4 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Hasty to CarverBuffalo National River2-3 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Jacks Fork RiverOzark National Scenic Riverways—Year-round—
Paddle Jordan PondAcadia National Park———
Paddle Kyles Landing to ErbieBuffalo National River3-4 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Leonardtown to Colton's PointCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail1-2 DaysSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle Long PondAcadia National Park———
Paddle Mattaponi CreekCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail2 HoursYear-roundReservation
Paddle Ozark to PruittBuffalo National River1-2 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Ponca to Steel CreekBuffalo National River1-3 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Pruitt to HastyBuffalo National River3-5 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Savage River ReservoirPotomac Heritage National Scenic Trail1-2 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle Steel Creek to Kyles LandingBuffalo National River4-6 HoursYear-round—
Paddle the Anacostia Water TrailAnacostia Park, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail1-6 Hours——
Paddle the Baltimore BluewayCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail1-6 Hours——
Paddle the East Branch of the Penobscot River (From Lunksoos Boat Launch to Big Seboeis)Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument3-5 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle the Lower Current RiverOzark National Scenic Riverways—Year-round—
Paddle the Middle PotomacChesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail2-4 DaysYear-round—
Paddle the MNRRMissouri National Recreational River—Year-roundFee
Paddle the Nanticoke Water TrailCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail—Year-round—
Paddle the Patuxent River Water TrailCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail———
Paddle the Potomac RiverCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail———
Paddle the Sassafras River Water TrailCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail———
Paddle the SusquehannaCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay—Spring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle the Upper Current RiverOzark National Scenic Riverways—Year-round—
Paddle Through a Cypress SloughBig Thicket National Preserve4-6 HoursYear-round—
Paddle through Blind Ash BayVoyageurs National Park1-2 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle to Loggerhead KeyDry Tortugas National Park———
Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation AreaCaptain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Chesapeake Bay2 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Tobin HarborIsle Royale National Park3-6 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddle Village CreekBig Thicket National Preserve2-6 HoursYear-round—
Paddle Washington CreekIsle Royale National Park1-3 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddling Baker Ford to Tyler BendBuffalo National River2 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Carver to Mt. HerseyBuffalo National River4 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Dillards Ferry to Buffalo PointBuffalo National River1-2 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Dillards Ferry to Rush LandingBuffalo National River4-6 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Gilbert to South MaumeeBuffalo National River6 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Grinder's Ferry to GilbertBuffalo National River2 HoursYear-round—
Paddling in Gulf IslandsGulf Islands National Seashore1-8 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Lake Michigan and Waterways at Indiana DunesIndiana Dunes National Park—Year-roundReservation, Fee
Paddling Mt. Hersey to WoolumBuffalo National River4 HoursYear-round—
Paddling North Maumee to Spring CreekBuffalo National River2-4 HoursYear-round—
Paddling on Whiskeytown LakeWhiskeytown National Recreation Area—Year-roundReservation
Paddling Rush Landing to the White RiverBuffalo National River2-5 DaysYear-round—
Paddling Spring Creek to Dillards FerryBuffalo National River2-4 HoursYear-round—
Paddling the BlackstoneBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park1-4 HoursSpring, Summer, Fall—
Paddling The RiverwaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway2-120 HoursYear-round—
Paddling Tyler Bend to Grinder's FerryBuffalo National River1 HourYear-round—
Paddling Woolum to Baker FordBuffalo National River5 HoursYear-round—
Planning Your River TripMammoth Cave National Park—Summer—
River Safety and RegulationsMammoth Cave National Park—Summer—

Parks with the most paddling listings

Other activities

HikingSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingMuseum ExhibitsFront-Country HikingGuided ToursJunior Ranger ProgramScenic DrivingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPicnickingBikingBackcountry HikingBackcountry CampingPark FilmHands-OnArts and CultureSelf-Guided Tours - AutoStargazing

Sources

  • National Park Service Data API — things to do (developer.nps.gov), snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Listings, seasons and fees can change; confirm on nps.gov. The NPS does not endorse this site.