The best river towns in the US
River towns across the States are so numerous that it’s hard to know which one to visit. They are often near to mountains, good-quality water and stunning scenery. The residents of these US river towns live there by their own choice, not by chance. In addition to their quality of life, there are plenty of active ways to spend time in the outdoors. Kayaking and whitewater rafting are perhaps the most popular sports that people who live in these towns love practicing. If you have never visited any of America’s river towns, here’s a list of the most charming examples that you can visit. You may even find yourself considering moving to one of them.
Salida, Colorado
Salida is a former mining town on the powerful Arkansas River in Colorado. The nation’s oldest whitewater festival, FIBArk, has been held in Salida every year since the 1950s. Rafts, kayaks, boogie boards, and even stand-up paddle boards can be seen during the famous festival. It also includes boating, music, and children’s attractions. If you visit Salida in winter, you can go skiing on nearby Monarch Mountain.
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a middle-sized town on the scenic Clark Fork River in Montana. The residents of Missoula enjoy a variety of outdoor sports like whitewater rafting, fly fishing, hiking, and biking. If you ever come to Missoula pay special attention to the farmers’ markets and the artisanal local breweries. As for wildlife spotting, the Rockies around Missoula are a perfect place to see white-tailed deer, bald eagles, ospreys, and the famous black bear.
Bend, Oregon
The wild Deschutes River flows from the beautiful forests of the Cascade Mountains to the sunny town of Bend in Oregon. An adventure paradise that offers outdoor opportunities for any taste. Although Bend is a river town, you can go rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, camping and even skiing on Bachelor Mountain. The High Desert Museum, located near Bend, is the perfect place for anybody who wants to learn more about the region’s wildlife, culture, art and natural resources.
Boise, Idaho
Boise is more of a city than a town located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho. There are 25 miles of biking and hiking trails along the river, maintained by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department. In the heart of the city, you can find 850 acres of natural areas and parks where locals enjoy kayaking, rafting, fishing, and tubing.
Kernville, California
Mount Whitney’s snow melt feeds the Kern River that runs through its namesake, the town of Kernville in the southern Sierra Nevada in California. If you ever come to Kernville and you want to try whitewater rafting, you’ll soon find out that you’re in the right place. The rapids vary from class I to V, so there’s something for everyone. Kernville is an important touristic spot for kayakers from all over the country but besides watersports, it offers rock climbing, mountain biking, as well as catch and release fishing.
Leavenworth, Washington
Who wouldn’t like to visit a Bavarian model town center in Chelan County in Washington? Only two hours from Seattle, Leavenworth is a unique river town in the US, located on the confluence of the Icicle and Wenatchee rivers. Icicle River offers mellow flows where you can practice stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing, while the white waters of Wenatchee River are perfect for rafting. After an exhausting day on the water, you can relax in one of the local wineries.
As you can see, there are many different river towns in the States that you can visit for rafting during the summer or go skiing in winter. It’s up to you to choose your favorite and start planning a trip. Good luck!
If you have any comments then please drop us a message on our Outdoor Revival Facebook page
If you have a good story to tell or blog let us know about it on our FB page, we’re also happy for article or review submissions, we’d love to hear from you.
We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it. Outdoor Revival – Reconnecting us all with the Outdoors.