Gorgeous Pictures of Wild and Scenic Rivers

One of the eight rivers originally designated by the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Salmon River’s steep change in altitude—its 100-mile Middle Fork drops over 3,000 feet—takes it through a variety of habitats. Abundant wildlife includes bighorn sheep, elk, bears, cougars, and wolves, as well as one of the nation’s best fly fisheries, and advanced class white water rapids are popular with adventurers.

Springing from two forks in the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the Tuolumne River wanders through alpine meadows and scenic canyons, including some world-class whitewater rafting. Archaeological and historical sites dot the river’s length.

Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, this two mile-stretch of Río de la Mina cascades over boulders to form rapids and pools, including La Mina Falls.

All 44 miles of Tinayguk River lie within the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park. A haven for caribou—and predators like grizzlies and wolves—as well as over a hundred species of bird, the river is given the Inupiat name for “moose.”

Stemming from 10,000-foot-high alpine glaciers, the Tlikakila River is located entirely within Lake Clark National Park. Accessible only by plane or boat, the park’s unspoiled wilderness shelters abundant wildlife, including black bears, mountain sheep, and salmon.

Running through the rugged plateaus of eastern Tennessee, the Obed River provides boaters with whitewater gorges and climbers with sandstone cliffs.

Fossil Creek’s abundant spring-fed waters, unusual in this desert state, nourish a host of native fish that have flourished since the 2005 decommissioning of a hydropower plant. Minerals in the water give its pools a rich blue-green color, making the river popular with tourists.

Flowing through Glacier National Park, the Flathead River offers prime boating through some of the most pristine landscapes of the Rocky Mountains.

This 10-mile stretch of the Bluestone River winds through a diversity of Appalachian Mountain habitats. Picturesque and popular, the Bluestone River was chosen to represent the entire Wild and Scenic River System for its 40th anniversary year.

This 20-mile section of the Red River flows through sandstone cliffs and unique wildflowers, as well as a host of historic and archaeological sites. Though the waters are only navigable by canoe or kayak after floods in the spring or fall, the Red River is perennially popular with climbers and hikers.