This year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which protects more than 12,000 miles of pristine waterways. Here are four places where you and your family can relish the natural beauty of our nation’s rivers.
1. Middle Fork of the Salmon, Idaho
Find your way to Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness and commit to an unplugged week on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Float, fish and splash through 100 miles of spectacular scenery. Relish the fresh air of morning as your crew delivers hot coffee or cocoa to your luxury tent. Later, warm up in a hot spring, dine on organic, seasonal specialties and plan for the next day’s adventure.
Contact: www.far-away.com
2. Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas
This Wild and Scenic River forms the southern boundary of this 800,000-acre playground. It’s the only park in the United States that hosts a complete mountain range — the Chisos. With older children in tow, soak in the park’s scenery as well as the warm water offered by a resident hot spring. On the northern riverbank, steamy water fills the foundation of an old bathhouse, creating a popular natural hot tub. Nearby, look for painted pictographs on the cliff walls as you enjoy a one-mile loop hike past historic buildings and the area where various Indian groups lived and traveled.
Contact: VisitBigBend.com.
3. The Rogue River, Ore.
Float through 40 miles of scenic Southwestern Oregon and you’ll explore the same rugged country that drew Native Americans, trappers and prospectors for centuries. Stay in the raft or up the ante by running the rapids in an inflatable kayak. Designated a “Wild & Scenic” wilderness area, you and your family will paddle through the Siskiyou Mountains and the Rogue River National Forest.
