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7 of U.S.A.’s Best Thru-Paddles

REI Staff|

Every now and then we get the urge to load up our canoes or kayaks and escape civilization for a few days or weeks. Who doesn’t, right? The map below highlights a handful of our favorite places to paddle far away from it all.

Thru-Paddles

Willamette River, Oregon

This accessible National Water Trail passes through meadows, parks, farms and cities.

Favorite section: Corvallis to Molalla River State Park

Length: 98 miles

Thru-Paddles

Missouri River, Montana

The upper Wild and Scenic stretch runs alongside breathtaking white cliffs.

Favorite section: Fort Benton to the James Kipp Recreation Area

Length: 150 miles

Thru-Paddles

Boundary Waters, Minnesota

A million acres of stunning lakes, streams, cliffs, islands, forests and beaches.

Favorite trip: The Border Route (Crane Lake to Lake Superior)

Length: 200 miles

Thru-Paddles

Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Maine

Remote and scenic paddle through Maine’s North Woods.

Favorite section: Chamberlain Lake to the town of Allagash

Length: 93 miles

Thru-Paddles

Everglades National Park, Florida

A subtropical wilderness of mangroves, coves, isles and sandy beaches.

Favorite route: The Wilderness Waterway from Everglades City to Flamingo

Length: 99 miles

Thru-Paddles

Sabine River, Texas and Louisiana

Lower stretch flows through gorgeous pine forests and has white sand beaches.

Favorite section: Toledo Bend Dam to U.S. Highway 190

Length: 50 miles

Thru-Paddle

Green River, Utah

Cuts through deep and colorful desert canyons.

Favorite section: Green River, Utah to the Colorado River

Length: 123 miles

Thru-Paddle

Have a favorite place to paddle? Please share in the comments below.
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16 Comments

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  2. Andrew Niedbala

    Definitely check it the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin! Just went up there for a trip and it was a challenge on Superior but amazing sights and rock formations (even sea caves).

    Reply
  3. Spk-fan

    Metaline falls to boundary dam. Very scenic views, rugged cliffs, two caves and big waterfall at the end… Perfect!

    Reply
  4. Rachel Prescott

    Where can we get more information about #7 The Green River float? I’d love to do this float!!

    Reply
    • Tom Almy

      www.paddling.net has a “Places to Paddle” resource where folks post trip reports. Also on the forums you’ll find people to discuss it with that have done it. They will be a great resource.

      Reply
  6. Rhonda Lynn Rigg Barrett

    The Little Miami River in Ohio is both a Federal and State Scenic River. I paddle it by myself during normal conditions and it passes by several canoe liveries between Bellbrook and the Ohio River so stopping for breaks isn’t a problem. Several people have paddled the length with camping shore side with permission by property owners. There is a a huge blockage on the river that requires portaging south of Rt. 35 in Beavercreek but before the river access at the Narrows Reserve.

    Reply
    • SockWater

      You dont need permision from property owners. This is a Supreme Court ruling. Even rivers that are physically navigable only by canoe, kayak, and raft are still legally navigable. (The courts have also ruled that commercial recreational river trips qualify as commerce). Because they are legally navigable, such rivers are held in trust for the public by the states, for navigation, recreation, and fisheries. The land along them is public land up to the ordinary high water mark (which can be quite a distance from the water–it’s the land where the vegetation and soil show the effects of water.) The public can use this land for walking, fishing, resting, camping, and other non-destructive visits

      Reply
  8. Eagle05

    Chattahoochee River. From Helen, GA to Chattahoochee, FL. 430 miles long. I prefer upper section to Rays on The River just south of I-285 bridge.

    Reply
  9. sailor376

    I’ve done two of your suggested routes, one, the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in central Montana, twice.

    On that route I do suggest,,, rather than paddle the 20 miles from Fort Benton to Loma, put in at the Tiber Dam, Lake Elwell of the Marias River.

    Spend the first night in the Sanford park Campground and begin your ‘Breaks’ adventure paddling the 80 miles to Loma, Montana (stop at Ma’s in Loma for dinner and pie),, in lieu of the 20 miles from Fort Benton. Bring lots, and lots, and lots of film. (or its modern electronic equal.) 210 plus miles of modest current, , no portages, paddling and hiking heaven. Don’t do it quick, do it slow,, lots of stops for side hikes.

    This summer I am intending the entire Green River.

    Reply
    • Dean Unick

      This is now 8 years later, same paddler, In 2016, a few months after the comment I began in Green River, WY on the Green River,, and finished in Lake Havasu City, AZ, 1300 miles and 11 weeks. Since then, all of it a second time in chunks,, some of it 3 times,, up to 5 times for the Desolation/Gray Canyons. I am hoping for the Yellowstone River this summer. (the whole thing)
      And,, I have a near encyclopedic memory for where the best restaurants, stores, and dive bars are along the way.
      This being REI My highest recommendations for Bending Branches Arrow paddles. Arrow. Yes you can spend more,, BB has some lovely paddles,, but there is NOTHING better. I have paddles with 6 to 10 thousand miles on them. REI stocks them.
      Canoe? Clipper Canoe out of Abbottsford, BC

      Reply
  10. sportlis87

    As a newcomer to the thru-paddling world, how do you all plan for trips like these in terms of vehicles? Do you have a vehicle waiting at the end and then drive one to the start? Or do you have rental/shuttle options available? I’m trying to plan some longer trips for the next year, and trying to work out the details. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • sailor376

      I hope this gets to you ‘sportlis87’.

      I have done some long trips. Twice in Montana 150, and 210 miles, and last summer I did the Green and Colorado Rivers, from Green River, Wyoming, to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. 1,200+ miles. Considering another long trip this summer.

      I have used many times the two vehicle shuffle,,advance one vehicle to the takeout with your partner, partners, and use that to retrieve the truck or trailer. I have used shuttle services,, talk to the local outfitters, they will know who is driving. Annnd I have very successfully used auto rental companies. Have proper and safe foam or fixed transport blocks that can be used on a rental vehicle. Lake Havasu, was nearing 1,000 miles back to Wyoming with the canoe on top. That same car rental company allowed my truck to sit in their long term lot for the summer. But all options are on the table. I’ve checked out bus, train, and plane to get back to my vehicle.

      Bow seat is still open for this summer if you are interested.

      Reply
  11. babyowl53

    Favorite paddle is Alaska’s Inside Passage from Skagway to Ketchikan. Approx. 450-500 miles. Side trip to Glacier Bay National Park at must.

    Reply
  12. SockWater

    Why is the mississipi not on here? Or the arkansas to mississippi, etc????? I paddled the arkansas from muskogee, ok to the mississippi down to new orleans. Over 2 thousand miles. This is like listing thru-hikes without listing the AT, PCT and CDT.

    Reply