Paddle travel is having a moment, with 43% of global travelers seeking to feel closer to the natural world. Searches for stays near U.S. national parks are up 35% heading into summer. One in 4 travelers now considers the pursuit of quieter hobbies reason enough to book a trip.

Boundary Waters, A Premier Destination

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota is the most visited wilderness area in the national system. Spanning more than one million acres along the U.S.-Canada border, the BWCAW contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, more than 2,000 designated campsites, and more than 1,000 lakes, the vast majority of which prohibit motorized boats.

Permits are available through Recreation.gov, while outfitters in Ely, Minnesota, can provide gear, food, and route-planning assistance. Late June offers long days and manageable water temperatures, with a great chance of spotting moose at dawn on the quieter interior lakes.

Maine’s Allagash for Guided Paddlers

Northern Maine’s Allagash Wilderness Waterway draws paddlers who want experienced guides on the water. Canoe the Wild, a Maine-licensed outfitter based in Weston, runs multi-day trips on the Allagash from late spring through fall, which the outfitter describes as prime time for moose sightings and wildlife photography.

The 92-mile waterway threads through lakes, ponds, and rivers deep in the north woods, with campsites spaced along the route. The trips include meals, gear, and transportation from Ashland and guided support on the water throughout.

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Stretching 740 miles from Old Forge, New York, to Fort Kent, Maine, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is the longest inland water trail in the United States and one of the least crowded. Paddlers can take on a single section, with the early stretches running through the Adirondack lakes, or plan a multi-week traverse through New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.