Black Canyon, below Lake Mead, is a great choice for early- or late-season paddling trips/NPS

Has anyone not heard that the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park is one of the best places on Earth to paddle or float? Or that the New River Gorge National River has one of the best one-day whitewater paddles in the National Park System?

If you’ve heard of those, and other iconic paddling spots in the park system, perhaps you are looking for something new, and not so thick with other boats that you’ll slap each other’s paddles. Let us offer you some suggestions, in no specific order.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, New York & Pennsylvania

Running for a bit more than 73 miles along the Pennsylvania- New York border, this is the longest undammed river in the Northeast. Plan your paddling strategically and you can enjoy a multi-day trip, with nights spent in riverside campgrounds. Don’t forget to check out the Zane Grey Museum and the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History. The boating season runs from mid-April through October most years.

Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia

Sure, it’s just 10.5 miles in length, but this bucolic river is perfect for young families and paddlers just breaking into the sport. Grab your canoe, rubber ducky, or sit-on-top kayak and this river will reveal some Appalachian beauty. Gaze carefully into the surrounding forests and you might glimpse Louisiana waterthrushes, scarlet tanagers, or perhaps even wild turkeys. The paddling season is short, so check the river level (304-466- 0156) before heading to the put-in.

Rivers in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska are best for experienced paddlers comfortable traveling in bear country/NPS

Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama  

Though there’s only about 10 miles of water to paddle, each mile is rife with potent Class V rapids. Beginning and novice paddlers should observe them from the riverbanks, though, and not from their boat’s cockpits. Impress your friends when you return home by telling them that you paddled what is considered to be the nation’s longest mountaintop river. For information on suitable river levels for paddling, check out American Whitewater’s page on the river. And for current water levels, check out this USGS page.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Black Canyon Water Trail, Arizona/Nevada

Though most paddlers who head to Lake Mead more than likely have their eyes on the reservoir, the river that flows out of Hoover Dam is a great late fall destination, when it’s not blazing hot! One of the country’s National Water Trails, Black Canyon, stretches 30 miles and flows by sandy beaches, caves, and even hot springs. History here is rich, from the stories behind Hoover Dam to the mining history of Eldorado Canyon and those of steamboats chugging up the rapids.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Decidedly not for the novice, Gates of the Arctic is a pristine wilderness experience. But, it can be deadly if you don’t have the right paddling and survival skills. If you are an old hand, though, venturing onto one of the six rivers tied to this 7.5-million-acre park won’t disappoint. If forested landscapes are important, choose the Kobuk River, as it flows through “one of largest continuous forested areas in the Park and Preserve.”

New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey

The country’s very first national reserve has great canoeing along the Great Egg Harbor River. This stream rolls placidly along for 55 miles before it empties into the Atlantic Ocean not far from Atlantic City. Surrounded by the largely intact Pinelands of south Jersey, during the Revolutionary War this river and its tributaries provided privateers with safe haven.

Glacier National Park, North Fork Flathead River, Montana

Though administratively overseen by the Flathead National Forest, this wilderness river on Glacier’s southwestern border has a number of campsites you can reserve for overnight trips of two-three days. One of those camps is within Glacier, which also allows you to camp elsewhere in the park along the river. Obtain a copy of the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River Float Guide to help plan your paddle, and don’t forget an overnight backcountry camping permit from the park. The 60 miles of river feature rapids from Class I-III under normal conditions. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River along the park’s south boundary draws rafters as well for one-day floats.

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Water was key to this nation’s founding, as rivers, canals, and other waterways provided somewhat easy access for moving raw materials and merchandize. Today you can paddle many of these same routes. The Potomac Heritage Trail accesses hundreds of miles of paddling. Choose your section carefully, though, for while some stretches are placid and perfect for canoeing, other sections feature cataracts and demand advanced whitewater skills, with others in between. One multi-day trip suggested by the National Park Service runs 28 miles along the Potomac River from Town Creek to Little Orleans in Maryland.

Great Egg Harbor River takes you through New Jersey's famed Pinelands./NPS