Basic Water Trail Navigation

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.

The distance between access sites and streamflow, as well as signage, determine the course of a trip. Unlike land-based trails, though, rivers with a flow or current permit only one-way travel for most users, and a trip usually consists of at least one downstream take-out, located within a reasonable distance from the put-in.

The average distance between access sites varies greatly—shorter spans generally allow more and varied types of users to paddle safely. Longer trips require the endurance of more experienced canoers and kayakers.

Also, permanent obstacles, such as dams; temporary obstacles, such as construction projects and logjams; hazards, such as water control facilities and locks; and the contingency for safe exit from the waterway in emergencies must all be considered to safely navigate water trails. Some or all of these hazards should not preclude paddling, however, they do limit trail use to better-equipped and more experienced users.