What are water trails? marked routes along rivers, lakes, and coastlines for boating including: signs and route markers; maps and promotion of water routes; facilities for parking, boat ramps or docks, and places to camp and picnic; state programs for water trails.

• Why water trails are better than land trails: A totally unbiased analysis by a kayaker with a disability
• Water Trail Toolbox: Planning a Water Trail from Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network
• CT: Connecticut River Water Trail
• NE: River Recreation Management Plan for the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge - canoeing and floating (pdf 894 kb).
• OR: Water trail plan Willamette River (pdf 892 kb)
• PA: Water Trails Partnership reports on Developing Water Trails in Pennsylvania
• PA: Recommendations on Developing Water Trails in Pennsylvania
• WI: Milwaukee Urban Water Trail Gap Analysis Study: improving existing water access (pdf 1.5 mb)

• 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail through northeastern U.S. and Canada
• Water trails join land routes as National Recreation Trails
• MD: Janes Island State Park: 30 miles of water trails dissect a 2,900 acre Chesapeake Bay island
• NY: New York City Water Trail connects rivers, bays, creeks, inlets and ocean in the five boroughs
• NY: Chemung Basin River Trail Partnership
• OR: Siuslaw Water Trail runs 30 miles along the North Fork and Siuslaw Rivers between Mapleton and the Pacific Ocean

Designated National Recreation Trails:

• Apalachicola River Paddling Trail System (FL)
• Cascadia Marine Trail (WA)
• Congaree River Blue Trail (SC)
• Delaware River Water Trail (NJ)
• Milwaukee Urban Water Trail (WI)
• Potomac River Water Trail (DC, MD, VA, WV)
• Schuylkill River Water Trail (PA)
• Susquehanna River Water Trail (PA)