Kayaking is likely one of the hottest and thrilling out of doors actions in the US, and there are many nice areas for kayaking. Among the finest locations for kayaking is in a nationwide park. With its stunning lakes and rivers, numerous ecosystems, and placing pure landscapes, a nationwide park is ideal for paddling and exploring. Beneath, you’ll uncover ten nice locations for nationwide park kayaking.
Glacier Nationwide Park (West Glacier, Montana)
Whether or not you’re an skilled kayaker or a newbie trying to find a brand new journey, Glacier National Park affords a number of the finest kayaking within the nation. Montana’s Glacier Nationwide Park has over 700 lakes. Lake McDonald is likely one of the finest locations for kayaking at Glacier Nationwide Park. It’s the largest and deepest lake within the park. The gorgeous clear turquoise glacier water is calm, and the views are merely breathtaking. Different lakes nice for kayaking embody Two Medication Lake, St. Mary Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake.
For those who didn’t convey your kayak, don’t worry! You possibly can head to Apgar Boat Leases or Glacier Outfitters close to the park’s west entrance. They’ll present all of the gear you want to begin your Glacier Nationwide Park kayaking journey!
Everglades Nationwide Park (Homestead, Florida)
Kayaking within the Everglades is an thrilling and distinctive expertise. With its winding rivers, serene mangrove forests, and crystal-clear waters, the Everglades affords a large number of breathtaking vistas which are good for exploring by kayak. Moreover, as a result of the Everglades is house to numerous species of marine life, there’s additionally an countless array of wildlife to find on the water.
Places to kayak within the Everglades embody Sandfly Island Loop, Turner River, Midway Creek, 9 Mile Pond, Noble Hammock, Hell’s Bay, Florida Bay, Bear Lake, Mud Lake Loop, and West Lake. Within the park, you’ll be able to hire kayaks from Gulf Coast Canoe and Kayak Leases and Flamingo Canoe and Kayak Leases. Everglades Nationwide Park is roughly an hour’s drive from Miami, Florida.
As well as, there’s entry to launch a kayak from Gulf Coast Canoe/Kayak Launch, with parking for kayak trailers out there onsite. You possibly can’t again up on to the water, but it surely’s only a quick distance to hold your kayak to the water.
Biscayne Nationwide Park (Homestead, Florida)
For those who’re in search of an thrilling and scenic technique to expertise the pure fantastic thing about Biscayne Nationwide Park, then kayaking is a should. The park affords excellent kayaking alternatives, from calm inland water kayaking to the tougher open ocean kayaking. With its abundance of gorgeous wildlife, spectacular coral reefs, and spectacular geological options, Biscayne Nationwide Park is really a kayaker’s paradise.
For those who’re an skilled kayaker, you’ll be able to take the 7-mile route throughout Biscayne Bay to the Boca Chita or Elliot Keys. You’re more likely to see stingrays and jellyfish at Jones Lagoon. Hurricane Creek affords wonderful kayaking and snorkeling. Be sure you convey your kayak or discover a close by rental firm, as Biscayne National Park doesn’t provide kayak leases.
Channel Islands Nationwide Park (California)
Kayaking is a well-liked technique to discover the gorgeous fantastic thing about Channel Islands Nationwide Park. With its pristine shoreline, numerous marine life, and picturesque islands, this huge park affords an array of kayaking experiences for each rookies and seasoned paddlers.
For these new to ocean kayaking, the waters round Anacapa Island provide mild however stunning surroundings. And for extra skilled kayakers in search of pleasure, thrilling channels and coves with crystalline waters present wonderful alternatives for recognizing wildlife and exploring hidden caves alongside the shoreline.
The most well-liked spot for kayaking is Scorpion Seashore on East Santa Cruz Island. Nonetheless, skilled kayakers could wish to enterprise to San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands. Be sure you convey a kayak, because the island doesn’t present kayak leases.
Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park (Seward, Alaska)
Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park is likely one of the most beautiful and numerous areas in all of Alaska. Its shimmering glaciers, majestic mountains, and plentiful marine wildlife present an ideal setting for an adventurous kayaking journey.
You possibly can select quite a few routes relying in your pursuits and talent stage, and the park’s guided excursions provide a good way to discover safely and with skilled steerage. A guided tour is extremely really useful for rookies as situations on the water are recognized to vary quickly with wind or storms.
Isle Royale Nationwide Park (Houghton, Michigan)
Isle Royale Nationwide Park affords a number of the finest paddling alternatives within the nation. Its untouched shoreline, calm waters, and plentiful wildlife make it a perfect place for kayakers of all talent ranges to discover.
One of many nice issues about paddling in Isle Royale is that the distances between totally different elements of the park are comparatively quick. This makes it straightforward to plan day journeys or multi-day adventures alongside totally different elements of the shoreline. The park can be house to plentiful wildlife, together with deer, moose, otters, foxes, bald eagles, and quite a few fish species.
When visiting, you’ll need an ocean kayak, as leisure kayaks are not really useful in these waters. And also you’ll should take a ferry to move your kayak to Isle Royal National Park.
Huge Bend Nationwide Park (Texas)
Big Bend National Park is one in every of North America’s most gorgeous and numerous pure landscapes. With towering mountains, sweeping sizzling deserts, and picturesque sunsets at each flip, it actually is a paradise for nature lovers and out of doors fans.
Huge Bend Nationwide Park additionally affords a number of the finest kayaking alternatives for individuals who take pleasure in being on the water. The peaceable and calm waters of the huge Rio Grande River wind by canyons flanked by majestic limestone cliffs on both aspect. As well as, a number of smaller creeks present quieter routes the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in a peaceable paddle in solitude.
Canyons nice for kayaking at Big Bend National Park embody Boquillas Canyon, Mariscal Canyon, the Decrease Canyons, Santa Elena Canyon, Scorching Springs, and San Vicente Canyon.
Grand Teton Nationwide Park (Loop Moose, Wyoming)
Kayaking is likely one of the finest methods to expertise the sweetness and variety of Grand Teton Nationwide Park in Wyoming. With its wealthy turquoise waters, towering peaks, and peaceable glacial lakes, this park is really a delight for kayakers.
Whether or not you’re an skilled kayaker or simply beginning out, there are a number of totally different routes to select from throughout the park. Every affords breathtaking views and loads of alternatives for wildlife recognizing. Jackson Lake is a superb spot to launch an inflatable kayak and benefit from the stunning mountain views.
Kayaking by Grand Teton National Park will permit you to see the long-lasting Tetons up shut and private like by no means earlier than – a very unforgettable expertise!
Voyageurs Nationwide Park (Worldwide Falls, Minnesota)
Voyageurs Nationwide Park is an enormous and untouched wilderness space famend for its gorgeous lakes, rocky shorelines, and plentiful wildlife. However additionally it is a superb vacation spot for kayakers, providing many alternatives to discover the serene waters of this iconic northern park.
Voyageurs Nationwide Park gives numerous backcountry kayaking choices for nature lovers, from quiet coves that are perfect for rookies simply getting their toes moist to winding portages difficult superior paddlers.
As a consequence of a problem with invasive species, you aren’t permitted to convey your private kayak. As an alternative, you’ll be able to hire a kayak from a Voyageurs Nationwide Park-approved enterprise corresponding to Voyageurs Outfitters or Wet Lake Aquatics.
Acadia Nationwide Park (Bar Harbor, Maine)
Acadia Nationwide Park is the right vacation spot in the event you’re in search of an unforgettable nationwide park kayaking journey. This implausible park is world-renowned for its gorgeous shoreline, majestic mountain vistas, and plentiful leisure alternatives. One of the well-liked actions at Acadia is kayaking, and for a great cause – with over 100 miles of shoreline to discover, there’s loads of stunning surroundings to absorb from the water. With crystal-clear water, breathtaking panoramas, and a number of the finest wildlife viewing on the East Coast, Acadia National Park kayaking is a very distinctive expertise.
Ponds and lakes at Acadia Nationwide Park are nice for kayaking and embody Lengthy Pond, Eagle Lake, Echo Lake, and Jordan Pond. However in the event you’re in search of ocean kayaking, you’ll wish to head to Mount Desert Island.
U.S. Nationwide Park Kayaking
Kayaking is well-liked in lots of the nation’s stunning nationwide parks. Whether or not you take pleasure in exploring hidden coves and quiet inlets or tackling the crashing waves of a storm-tossed sea, there are many choices for knowledgeable kayakers and people simply getting began.
Be sure you select a park with the proper situations to your talent stage and expertise. With correct preparation and planning, anybody can take pleasure in nationwide park kayaking!
Alexandrea Sumuel is a nationally syndicated journey author and founding father of the Wander With Alex journey weblog. Her work has appeared on MSN, YAHOO!, Euronews, and FOX, ABC, and NBC associates throughout the US.
Alex travels to expertise, eat, discover, and sometimes escape! She collaborates with locations, trip property administration corporations, and hospitality know-how corporations to offer her readers with unique insights and data.
