Choose Your Own Way

Adventures along America’s Rivers and Trails

Trying to #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque and feeling overwhelmed with all the fantastic options that our national trails and rivers provide?

Have no fear; we’re here to help you find your way and choose your own outdoor adventure! Whether you love being near urban centers or escaping into the wilderness, or prefer grabbing your paddle or lacing up your hiking boots, there’s a path for you. Find your trail or river below!

Finding Your River Wilderness

If your wandering heart seeks beautiful wilderness, then the Westfield River is the place for you. With 78 miles designated as a national and wild scenic river, this winding waterway encompasses an abundance of biodiversity, including many rare and endangered species.

The river provides a home to diverse riverine fish communities, such as the brook trout and slimy sculpin, and spawning habitat for migratory fish, such as the American shad. Freshwater anglers will delight in the ample opportunity for sport, while explorers can paddle through one of the most intact river systems in Southern New England, riding rapids through one of the largest roadless wilderness areas remaining in Massachusetts.

Following the Promise of a Better Tomorrow

Curious about how the American people spread out beyond the East Coast colonies? In the mid-1800s, one of the most significant mass migrations in American history occurred as people traveled west at the promises of fields of gold and fertile farmlands.

You can follow the footsteps of the over 250,000 emigrants who took the arduous 2,400-mile trek towards the Pacific Ocean. Luckily, you can travel the trail across ten states in the comfort of your car instead of a covered wagon when you follow the California National Historic Trail today. On your journey west, you will find hundreds of museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites, as well as the remaining trail ruts and traces of that landmark migration.

A Little Something for Everyone

Looking for a scenic trail where you can do a little bit of everything while exploring the outdoors and learning about history? Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in the Mid-Atlantic region can give you just that! If you’re an avid outdoors person, there are opportunities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, camping, and even paddling world-class whitewater rapids.

More of a history buff? Learn more about the Civil Rights Movement or the Civil War and even visit a ship graveyard in between outdoor walks and picnics. If what you’re looking for is a little bit of everything in one place, then this trail is worth checking out.

Honoring the Cherokee People

Are you interested in learning more about Native American history? Trail of Tears National Historic Trail may be the trail for you. Running through nine states, this trail tells the story of a dark period of racial injustice and intolerance in the 1830s and commemorates the determination and stories of the Cherokee people.

You can follow the path that more than 16,000 Cherokee people took across nine states when they were forcibly moved from their homes in the southern Appalachian Mountains to present-day Oklahoma. Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to stop and explore major cities such as Memphis and Nashville or rest in any number of camping areas.

631 Miles of River Variety

Looking to paddle down the longest river trail in a single state, experiencing everything from urban paddling to wild and idyllic solitude? Look no further than the Alabama Scenic River Trail! This trail runs from the northeast to the southwest corners of the state and provides endless ways to enjoy its many resources.

The trail follows the 631 miles of river, giving visitors the opportunity to paddle down calm waters or take on some Class IV rapids. Boaters and paddlers may see beautiful blooming mountain laurels or hundreds of bird species during migration season. History buffs can float by Military Bridge, a road created by Andrew Jackson’s army as a means to reach New Orleans to engage the British army. With over 100 access points and almost 100 overnight campsites, you can’t go wrong with this water trail.

Rivers and trails that span hundreds or thousands of miles mean almost as many ways to enjoy them. Adventure awaits anyone who takes advantage of these incredible historic and scenic areas. Though the choices are limitless, you can’t go wrong. So choose a trail or river, then choose how you’ll explore them next time you #FindYourPark!