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Water trails are recreational corridors and routes on rivers and lakes that provide a unique experience for canoeists and kayakers and provide adequate access points that can be used for planning your trips at various lengths and difficulty.
A water trail may also provide access to riverside campgrounds, primitive campsites, amenities such as shelters and restrooms in city, county or state parks. A water trail will have a detailed map showing access points and river mileage and may even provide information on history and area culture, wildlife viewing opportunities and more. They can help re-connect Iowans to their history, heritage, geology and wildlife.
A water trail promotes an ethic of caring that makes us more aware of our surroundings and environment and can be thought of as educational venues.
Whether they are used for relaxation, health and fitness, education or just for spending time with family, water trails provide in-state destinations for recreational river users that can even help boost local economies.
Back to topDeveloping Water Trails in Iowa
Back to topIowa's State Water Trails Plan
The state water trails plan documents the historic and present day importance of Iowa's navigable waters. The plan focuses on the types of activities people are participating in on Iowa's rivers along with outlining different things to take into consideration when planning a new water trail.
- Introduction and Vision
- Water Trail Context and Plan Goals
- Existing Iowa Water Trails
- Strategy and Plan of Action
- Appendices
Economic Studies
The statewide plan supported two surveys on rivers and on-water recreation. A report on the Survey of Liveries (Iowa Canoe, Kayak, and Innertube) is available, as is statewide river corridor use survey conducted by ISU's Center for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Back to topCurrent Water Trail Plans
Learn more about current water trail plans across the state.
| Water trail | County/counties impacted |
|---|---|
| Cedar River and Black Hawk Creek | Black Hawk County |
| West Fork Des Moines | Emmet County |
| Iowa River | Johnson and Louisa Counties |
| Lower Des Moines River | Van Buren County |
| West Nishnabotna River | Pottawattamie County |
| West Nishnabotna River | Shelby County |
| Maquoketa River | Delaware County |
| South Skunk River | Story County |