Love paddling a canoe or kayak? Wisconsin has dozens of water trails just for you

If you live in Wisconsin and enjoy paddling a canoe or kayak, you're never far from a great boating trip.

The problem is choosing where to go. There are so many options. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the state has more than 15,000 lakes, 43,000 miles of river and 800 miles of Great Lakes shorelines.

You can narrow down your choices by checking out the DNR's water trails webpage at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/watertrails. But even then, you've got more than 30 choices.

"The growth of water trails can only be a good thing," said Darren Bush, the owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports, which presents the annual Canoecopia paddlesports expo in Madison, in an email interview.

One of the biggest impediments for people to get involved in paddling sports "is giving people places to go," Bush said.

Here are seven of Wisconsin's water trails that give paddlers great places to go.

Two Great Lakes means two special water trails

The Lake Michigan State Water Trail in Wisconsin is only about a third of the Lake Michigan Water Trail, which totals about 1,600 miles of shoreline along four states, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The Badger state segment includes Green Bay, Door County and the southeast portion of the state. It's a gorgeous stretch, of course, but not without its challenges. According to the Department of Natural Resources, "the potential for significant off-shore distances, cold water, high winds and tall waves create hazards that should not be taken lightly."

The same warning holds true for the Wisconsin segment Lake Superior Water Trail. This waterway features more than 400 miles of shoreline from Superior to the Montreal River along the border of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This gem includes the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a sea kayaker's paradise. Not to be missed, a cruise to the Apostle Islands sea caves.

The Wisconsin River features top-notch paddling

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is the "longest free-flowing stretch of river in the Midwest," according the riverway's DNR website. It encompasses 45,000 acres and runs 92 miles from Prairie du Sac to the confluence with the Mississippi River. Overnight camping on the river's islands and sandbars is a popular activity for many paddlers. For people who like to camp with more amenities, paddles can set up tents at two state parks, Wyalusing and Tower Hill.

The river's newest water trail is the Great Pinery Heritage Waterway. It's starts to the north at Hat Rapids Dam in Oneida County and runs 108 miles south to the Lake DuBay Dam in Portage County. With heritage in its name, this water trail pays homage to those who have been drawn to the river for hundreds of years. Signs posted at the water trail's 35 landings delve into the past, including information about native Ojibwa culture, early European explorers and the lumberjacks who worked in the woods and used the river to float logs downstream.

For a city experience, try the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail

The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail is a project of Milwaukee Riverkeeper, which works to protect and improve the Milwaukee region's water quality. The trail offers an alternative way to enjoy the city, providing paddling information about the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers. There are physical and online maps, which guide people to access points, list portages and hazards and suggest resting sites. The project also includes information about history, cultural and natural points of interest that can be enjoyed from the water.

Plan a 'wild and scenic' paddling trip on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway includes the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers in northwest Wisconsin, along the Minnesota border. It's more than 200 miles long, described as one of the "least developed" areas in the Upper Midwest by the National Park Service. The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway was established in 1968 as one of eight significant rivers protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. In 1972, the lower portion of the St. Croix River, from Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, south to the confluence with the Mississippi River, was added to the system.

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest has more than 70 designated canoe campsites

Many paddlers compare the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest with Minnesota's famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area. While the BWAC is in a class by itself for wilderness paddlers, Northern Highland does offer significant canoeing and kayaking opportunities with more than 900 lakes and more than 300 miles of rivers and streams (many which prohibit motors). Forest staffers suggest six overnight paddle trips, and the entire property boasts more than 70 designated canoe campsites.

Keith Uhlig is a regional features reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin based in Wausau. Contact him at 715-845-0651 or [email protected]. Follow him at @UhligK on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram or on Facebook.