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Southeast
By Mark Leger, GORP Editor
New Orleans, Louisiana
Paddling off the edge of the big easy
The bayou near New Orleans |
The Mississippi flows through the Great Plains in a determined, sinuous ribbon. When it hits the Louisiana delta, the long ribbon frays into a tangled network of rivers, bayous and vast wetlands. New Orleans rests at the very tip of the delta. The riverfront, which was formerly a warren of decaying warehouses and docks, has recently been spruced up, lined with hotels and sidewalks. You won't find a lot of small craft on the big river, but right outside of town is a wilderness of wetlands aching to be explored.
 Paddling Off the Edge of the Big Easy
Chattahoochee River: Atlanta
Sparkling through the bustle
L. J. DeCuir, a recent guest on GORP's forum, tells the story better than anyone."There are very few major urban centers in the entire world where you can fish for trout year around only minutes from downtown. The Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, Georgia is one of these places. With numerous wade and canoe/kayak access points along its length you can literally walk out of a business meeting and into the river in minutes."
Get the picture? The Chattahoochee runs lively and clean, giving Atlantans enviable possibilities for fun on the river. Besides fishing, canoeing and rafting is first rate. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area protects a goodly swatch of this river.
More on the Chattahoochee NRA
Louisville, Kentucky: Ohio River
A new front door
Louisville is the hometown of Tori Murden, the first American and the first woman to complete a west-to-east solo crossing of the Atlantic in a rowboat. Tori completed her crossing in December 1999. Could her inspiration partly have been the Ohio River itself, which runs through her hometown? Or perhaps it was the heroic efforts of the citizens of Louisville to reclaim their waterfront. Louisville was one of those cities that had allowed their riverfront to become a vast tire dump. Then a decade ago the people of Louisville wanted to go back to the river. The river itself was cleaner, thanks to conservation efforts upstream. Through perseverance, a linear park was created along the river, which includes a 13-mile river walk. Folks come down by the water to stroll, ride a bike, or just watch the river flow by. In the words of a local resident,"The river is our new front door. It's the first place we show off to out-of-town visitors."
Chicago, Illinois: Water Trails
Tall kayaking
 Chicago has the most renowned architecture of any U.S. city - and an opportunity to see it from the water in a sea kayak. True, you'll be dodging commercial watercraft instead of traffic. Call it extreme paddling, city-style. While you're tooling around, be sure to visit the Calumet River for some post-industrial anti-glamor. In fact, the entire area around Chicago offers some fine paddling. See Gary's article for the suggestions that will work for everybody from the rank beginner to the most experienced.
More on paddling in and near Chicago
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Mississippi River
Greenbelt on the mighty Mississip'
Minneapolis sprang up around St. Anthony Falls, the only true waterfall on the Mississippi. Not only did the falls stop navigation up the river, they provided a source of hydropower for flour milling. The flour mills are gone, but a greenbelt now surrounds the perimeter of downtown and Minnehaha Creek, providing an almost continuous parkland along both sides of the Mississippi River: You'll find several access points both in town and right outside. Paddlers have been known to run Minnehaha Creek, though fallen trees or accumulated debris can pose a hazard. Minneapolis has a long history of competitive rowing, which is usually a good sign for those seeking clean water and good access. Added bonus: all the lush, green area along rivers and creeks make Minneapolis one of the best cities for birdwatching.
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