Here are a few things to consider before heading out on the water.

Read more: Frequently Asked Paddling Questions

Knowing where you are and where you're going on a waterway is very different than navigating a city street, highway, or sidewalk and more complicated than simply following signs.

Read more: Basic Water Trail Navigation

Knowing water levels and streamflow data permits you to plan safe trips that match your ability and the condition of the water.

Read more: Determining Water Levels and Streamflows

These tips, excerpted from the March 2000 Canoe and Kayak Magazine, should get you well on your way to creating the water trail of your dreams:

Read more: Tips for Creating a Water Trail

The simplest definition of a water trail is a series of access sites along a waterway, tied together by signs at each site to form a trail.

Read more: Water Trail Signage

Water trails provide a unique opportunity for local governments and advocacy groups to work together toward a common goal.

Read more: Developing Intergovernmental Agreements for Water Trails