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Arkansas Recreational River, Colorado
and Salmon rivers, Missouri’s Eleven
Point River, California’s Feather River,
Oregon’s Rogue River, Wisconsin’s
Wolf River, Minnesota’s St. Croix River
and the Rio Grande River, which flows
through both New Mexico and Texas.
This year, our National Wild and
Scenic River System joins the trails
act in celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Today there are 13,000 miles along
208 rivers—across 40 states and ter-
ritories—with special designation that
protects their wild and scenic character.
The numbers sound impressive, but it is
important to note that this constitutes
just slightly more than one-third of one
percent of all the nation’s rivers. Many
more miles of waterways remain eli-
gible for this special designation.
These rivers named above are
managed by four federal agencies:
the National Park Service, the U.S.
Forest Service, the Bureau of Land
Management and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. River managers are
charged with protecting river flow,
water quality and the remarkably out-
standing values associated with the
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designated rivers, including recreation,
fish, wildlife, history, culture, scenery
and geology. These rivers are deeply
entwined with the exploration, settle-
ment and history of the United States.
At the same time, they are an important
part of our conservation legacy for pres-
ent and future generations.
In honor of this anniversary year,
river managers invite tour operators and
travelers to #MakeYourSplash by expe-
riencing one of the wild and scenic riv-
ers. For those who would like to float or
paddle down a river, there are numerous
authorized companies that offer half-,
full- and multi-day options depending
on the river and its flow. “Soft” trips are
suitable for a family adventure, while
others offer challenging whitewater
experiences, and still others provide the
thrill of a jet boat ride.
Many visitors seek the world-class
fly-fishing opportunities wild and
scenic rivers provide. Experienced
anglers can seek their own special fish-
ing hole along the bank, while those
new to the sport can hire the services
of an authorized outfitter and guide.
Imagine fishing Oregon’s internation-
ally renowned McKenzie River from a
famous drift boat with expert help from
a long-time local. Some instead seek a
quiet riverside picnic, a hike or a bike
ride along a river corridor trail, and oth-
ers want a chance to birdwatch or do
some plein air painting.
How do you get started? Visit rivers.
gov to learn more about the National
Wild and Scenic River System and locate
a river near you. Follow the links to the
managing agency for specific information
on features, seasons, access, visitor facili-
ties and authorized commercial services.
Then visit recreation.gov to plan your
trip, make campground reservations
and explore other opportunities avail-
able in the area. You can celebrate this
important anniversary while you help
keep these wild and scenic rivers free-
flowing forever!
Bonnie Lippitt is program manager for
interpretation, tourism and visitor ser-
vices for the U.S. Forest Service and the
U.S. Bureau of Land Management in the
Pacific Northwest region.