The Allegheny River islands were just beginning to show their spring green when I pushed off from the Tionesta access last April. Over 15 years of paddling Pennsylvania's waterways, I've watched the state's paddling culture transform from scattered enthusiasts to a thriving community connected by the PA Water Trails network. With more than 86,000 miles […]

Last summer in Milford Sound, my paddle blade sliced through water so still it mirrored the 5,000-foot cliffs above. A fur seal popped up next to my kayak, rolled onto its back, and stared at me like I'd invaded his living room. That's when it hit me – after paddling in 47 countries, I'd finally […]

Upstate New York holds more paddling diversity than almost any region on the East Coast. From the wild Adirondack wilderness to the glacier-carved Finger Lakes, the state offers over 7,500 lakes and 70,000 miles of rivers and streams waiting to be explored by kayak. Whether you're chasing whitewater thrills on scheduled release weekends or seeking […]

The first time I dipped my paddle into the tannin-stained waters of the Williams River, I had no idea West Virginia would become my paddling obsession. That was seven summers ago, and since then I've logged over 500 miles on Mountain State waterways - from the thundering rapids of the Gauley to the mirror-calm coves […]

Last March, I watched a manatee surface three feet from my kayak in the crystal-clear waters of Silver Springs. The gentle giant's whiskers broke the surface as it munched on eelgrass, completely unbothered by my presence. That moment – paddling through 72-degree spring water so clear I could count individual scales on bass swimming beneath […]

The morning mist was still clinging to the Rio Grande when I pushed off from the Orilla Verde launch last May. My buddy Jake had been pestering me for months about paddling New Mexico, swearing the Land of Enchantment had some of the best-kept kayaking secrets west of the Mississippi. Turns out, he was dead […]

The morning air was crisp as I pulled into the East Fork Lake boat ramp last April, kayak strapped to the roof, coffee in hand. Within minutes, an ODNR officer was checking registrations. The paddler next to me - a friendly guy with a brand new inflatable - got hit with a $150 fine because […]

With over 273 lakes scattered across the Lakes Region alone, plus countless rivers and 18 miles of Atlantic coastline, New Hampshire quietly holds some of the finest freshwater and saltwater paddling in the eastern United States. Whether you are searching for a tranquil morning paddle on glass-smooth water or an adrenaline-charged descent through Class III […]

There's something almost magical about dipping your paddle into South Florida waters at dawn. The sun hasn't burned off the morning mist yet, and suddenly a manatee surfaces beside you with a gentle exhale that sounds like a whale whispering secrets. That first encounter hooked me ten years ago, and I've been chasing those moments […]

Fifteen years ago, I stood at the edge of Walden Pond watching the morning mist rise as a great blue heron glided silently across the water. That first paddle in Massachusetts hooked me for life. Since then, I've explored nearly every navigable waterway from the Berkshire hills to Cape Cod's sandy shores, and brings more […]