Iowa is blessed with a variety of rivers, creeks, and lakes offering a number of different types of experiences for beginner to expert paddler. 18,000 miles of navigable streams await exploration by curious paddlers from across the state. The Iowa DNR wants you to enjoy, appreciate, and respect Iowa's rivers. We hope you find this site very useful.
What is a Water Trail?
Water Trails are recreational corridors and routes on rivers and lakes that provide a unique experience all water users. Water trails help re-connect Iowans to their waterways’ history, heritage, geology, fisheries, and wildlife. Water trails provide adequate access and can include amenities like riverside camping, wild spaces, picnic areas, and restrooms, and watercraft rentals provided by local, state, and federal partners. Coordinated signage and mapping systems guide users toward the types of experiences they seek, ranging from a highly social first-time river experience lasting a few hours to multi-day adventures.
Water trail partners at the local level are encouraged to steward the natural and economic values of their waterways to help boost local economies and give Iowans outdoor experiences just out their back doors. Iowa DNR water trails staff lead through setting standards for planning requirements, providing funding and technical assistance, and maintaining the framework of the overall system.
Do you often bring others out on the water in canoes or kayaks?
Want to improve your skills to better demonstrate to others how to paddle efficiently, elegantly, and safely? These intensive courses follow the American Canoe Association’s “Intro” and “Moving Water” curriculum, and are targeted to those who teach others paddling skills, from lakes to rivers. These courses will be instrumental for students who plan to enroll in an ACA instructor certification course. Class sizes are limited, and they fill up fast, so don’t delay and sign up today!
2024 Iowa DNR Canoe and Kayak Schools