USA TODAY 10Best
Explore unexpected waterways: 10 urban kayaking destinations in the United States
Best Urban Kayaking Spot (2023)
Urban kayaking spots provide a fun and active way to explore cities from a new perspective, while also allowing you to enjoy the outdoors. To find the top spots for city paddling, we asked a panel of experts for their nominations, then readers voted for their favorites. These are the 10 best urban kayaking spots in the United States for 2023.
- Willamette River - Portland, Oregon
- James River - Richmond, Virginia
- Lady Bird Lake - Austin, Texas
- Mississippi River - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Oklahoma River - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Chicago River - Chicago, Illinois
- Milwaukee Urban Water Trail - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Roanoke River - Roanoke, Virginia
- Sacramento River - Redding, California
- Cuyahoga River - Cleveland, Ohio
Photo courtesy of iStock / LynnMarie
No. 10:
Several outfitters offer kayak rentals for leisurely tours along the Willamette River through the heart of Downtown Portland. Paddle around Ross Island to spot blue herons, bald eagles and osprey, or stop for a swim at Poet’s Beach.
Photo courtesy of Visit Richmond VA
No. 9:
The Richmond region has no shortage of great kayaking spots, perhaps none as popular as the James River. From Huguenot Flatwater Park, paddlers can head downstream to Williams Island or upstream to Bosher’s Dam.
Photo courtesy of iStock / RoschetzkyIstockPhoto
No. 8:
This human-made reservoir on the Colorado River sits in downtown Austin, attracting paddlers nearly every day of the week. Eight access points make it easy to put in or take out, and the city skyline is visible from just about anywhere. During the summer, it’s possible to kayak to Congress Avenue Bridge to see Austin’s bat colony take flight as the sun sets.
Photo courtesy of Krivit Photography
No. 7:
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, one of the best places to kayak is actually the Mississippi River. Minneapolis has its own self-serve kayak sharing system known as Paddle Share, which lets you reserve a kayak and pick it up at a station on the water.
Photo courtesy of iStock / DenisTangneyJr
No. 6:
The seven-mile stretch of the North Canadian River that flows through Oklahoma City is officially known as the Oklahoma River. Paddlers can enjoy a series of river lakes that are surrounded by scenic landscaped areas and trails.
Photo courtesy of E+ / Mlenny
No. 5:
Grab a paddle and launch a kayak in the Chicago River to take a magnificent tour through a canyon of skyscrapers. Visitors can rent kayaks for their own self-guided paddle or opt for a tour to learn more about the architecture on display.
Photo courtesy of VISIT Milwaukee
No. 4:
Kayak the urban portions of Milwaukee's three rivers – the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic – on the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail. You'll paddle through parts of county parks systems, which offer a glimpse of wildlife, including deer, river otters, turtles, an abundance of birds and over 40 species of fish. You can also sightsee along the way, floating past such attractions as the Milwaukee RiverWalk, the Pabst Theater, the Harley Davidson Musem and more.
Photo courtesy of Creative Dog Media - Visit VBR
No. 3:
Roanoke sits in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, making it an excellent base for outdoor recreation. The 45-mile Roanoke River Blueway offers easy paddling for much of its length, with the exception of some Class II rapids near the gorge.
Photo courtesy of Visit Redding
No. 2:
As California's longest river, the Sacramento River provides plenty of paddling opportunities, especially in Redding, dubbed as the "Unofficial Captial of Kayaking" by Time Magazine. Set up a rental and a book a tour with Headwaters Adventure Company to get the most out of your kayaking experience.
Photo courtesy of Ron Skinner
No. 1:
The Cuyahoga River runs through the heart of Cleveland, providing a popular spot for all sorts of water recreation. The Cuyahoga River Water Trail features five segments along the 85-mile river. The last segment comprises 20 miles of the river as it passes through Cleveland and into Lake Erie.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is... Read More
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Deborah Fallows
Deborah Fallows is a writer and a linguist. She is the co-author with her husband, James Fallows, of the national best-selling book, Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America, published in May, 2018. Our Towns, the HBO documentary based on the book was released in April, 2021. They recently launched the Our Towns Civic Foundation to support renewal efforts of communities across America. Deb has written extensively on language, culture, travel, and China for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times and The Washington Monthly. Her previous book, Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language, is based on her 3-year experience living and working in China.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of Read More
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Nicky Omohundro
Nicky Omohundro is the founder and editor of LittleFamilyAdventure.com, the popular family travel & lifestyle website that inspires families to leave no child left inside. Since 2013 LFA has been providing inspiration to get families outdoors, eat well, and travel everywhere from their own backyard to around the world. Always up for a family adventure, she has traveled to 37 states and 6 countries to zip-line through a Costa Rican rainforest, see Finland’s Northern Lights, and go camping throughout the US. Nicky is the co-founder of Tourism WorX a travel consultancy group. Connect with her Twitter and Instagram.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
