The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System is diverse, from the places rivers are located to the people who protect them; explore river stories in the videos below. Interested in finding training videos about managing wild and scenic rivers? Visit our Training Resources.
If you know of others, please pass them along to us at rivers@fws.gov.
The River Wild was filmed on several rivers — the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Rogue River just outside the town of Medford, Oregon; and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Montana all had some footage shot. However, the big rafting action scenes took place on Montana’s Kootenai River. Permission to film in this region was granted for the very first time by the Kootenai Indians who hold this ground to be sacred. There was one caveat to the film crew receiving permission to film here: the actual location where shooting took place was never to be disclosed to the public.
Hang on tight for a suspense-filled action-thriller starring Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in a stunning performance that will take your breath away! Streep portrays a former river guide who arranges a white-water rafting trip to celebrate her son's birthday and salvage her shaky marriage. Her skills and courage are soon put to the test when three mysterious strangers threaten to turn their vacation into a living hell. Also starring Kevin Bacon and David Strathairn, this "pulse-pounding thrill ride" (Rolling Stone Magazine) explodes with action, suspense and unforgettable storytelling from the director of L.A. Confidential.
By the 1960s, decades of dam construction had taken a toll on our nation’s rivers. Thousands of miles of fish habitat and rapids, and acres of riverside forests and farmland were buried by dams and reservoirs. Pollution, logging, and harmful development degraded the health of rivers nationwide. There was sufficient concern over the loss of free-flowing rivers that Congress intervened and passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This webinar will examine the history of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, how it protects rivers, and dispel common misconceptions. Tune in to learn:
The excitement of fly fishing is not in the casting, it's in the challenge to make a connection. When you connect with that particular fish you've been trying to catch, the mood changes from quiet and calm to a spectacular dance that's electric to experience.
How Is the Lower St. Croix Riverway Protected? In 1972, the lower St. Croix River became one of our country’s few national Wild and Scenic Rivers. Minnesota and Wisconsin adopted zoning standards for a strip of land along the St. Croix River’s shores. This Riverway overlay zone consists of building restrictions intended to preserve the wild and scenic character of the Lower St. Croix Wild and Scenic River. The riverway regulations are designed to protect water quality, provide habitat for birds, fish, and wildlife, and maintain a relatively unspoiled view for the millions of visitors drawn to the Riverway.
The St. Croix River Association's (SCRA) Land program helps preserve the natural beauty of the Lower St. Croix Riverway through partnerships with local governments, landowners, and realtors. SCRA provides education about the unique protections in the Riverway and vital resources to encourage consistency and transparency of land-use decisions throughout the river corridor. Where Is the Riverway Boundary? The Riverway Boundary spans 52 miles from Taylor’s Falls/St. Croix Falls to Prescott/Hayward. On average, the boundary extends a quarter-mile out from the river’s edge. However, in some places, the boundary is wide, and in other places, the boundary can be very narrow.
The St. Croix River Association works throughout the watershed to protect and enhance this National Park that flows through its heart. Experience the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway through the eyes of the people whose lives have been touched by the river in this video, created with the help of SCRA members and volunteers and the creative talents of Don't Blink.
Ya sea que quieras remar, pescar o pasar tiempo con tu familia, los ríos silvestres y escénicos de los Estados Unidos son el lugar perfecto para ti. Sigue a una familia mientras reman, pescan y juegan en el Silvestre y Escénico Low River, donde el tiempo con la familia y los espacios exteriores son uno y lo mismo. Como la madre del video dice: “Estar juntos en familia en espacios abiertos realmente nos ayuda a tener cercanía entre nosotros.”
Los ríos representan muchos valores intrínsecos y tangibles. Los ríos silvestres y escénicos proveen agua para los peces y la vida silvestre, preservan la historia y cultura, crean espacios para la recreación pública y la prosperidad económica, y mantienen las llanuras aluviales para comunidades.
Whether you want to paddle, fish or spend time together as a family, America’s wild and scenic rivers are the perfect place for you. Follow a family as they paddle, fish, and play in the Lower American Wild and Scenic River, where family time and outdoor time are one and the same. As the mother in the video says, “Being together as a family outside really helps us be closer together.” Rivers embody many values, intrinsic and tangible. Wild and Scenic Rivers provide water for fish and wildlife, preserve history and culture, create public recreation and economic prosperity, and maintain floodplains for communities.
The Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix national scenic riverway. This video is the latest in our St. Croix series. We paddle 50 miles from Cable WI. to Trego. Canoe camping along the way. I'll give a few campsite tours, river descriptions and show some beautiful scenery, fishing was good, and the company better.
Experience paddling the Namekagon River in 2015 with the St. Croix River Association. The Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, a National park. Video by Kyle Sanderson, 2015 Paddle Namekagon participant.
President Jimmy Carter, an unsung environmental hero, grew up in awe of nature’s wonder. But it wasn’t until he first paddled the Chattooga River’s Bull Sluice that he understood a wild river's power. In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, President Carter urges all Americans to protect more wild rivers.
It's your river. Make your splash! Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, which guides the management of more than 200 rivers in 40 states and Puerto Rico. BLM Alaska cares for six of these rivers, including the Gulkana Wild and Scenic River, which was recognized for its primitive character, abundant fish and wildlife, and its geologic, cultural, and recreational values.
Join the BLM Glennallen Field Office river crew as they journey down the Gulkana Wild and Scenic River in this video created by Media Intern Jeremy Gallman.
2015 was the 50-year anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ensures that designated rivers across the USA be protected from dams, over-development, and other obstructions that would keep them from flowing freely. John Williams takes you to several of the Northwest's Wild and Scenic Rivers to show you various accessible recreations.
Page Springs Campground is located at the base of Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon, just 3 miles from the town of Frenchglen. Thirty-six roomy campsites under cottonwood and juniper trees, and near the Donner and Blitzen River, welcome visitors year-round. The campground serves as the trailhead for two short hikes: the Blitzen River Trail meanders 4 miles up the river; and the Wilderness Nature Trail climbs gradually to the top of the bluff overlooking the valley floor and looping 1 mile.
The Wekiva River and its tributaries were designated as a National Wild and Scenic River System in October 2000. The Wekiva River, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, and Black Water Creek are included in this National Designation. The Wekiva River System is a Partnership Wild and Scenic River, managed by a consortium of local stakeholders called the Wekiva Wild and Scenic Management Committee.
Follow river paddler, author, and conservationist, Tim Palmer, through the enchanting waters of Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast, which has the highest concentration of National Wild & Scenic Rivers in the US. With just a canoe, a camera, and an old van, Tim finds his bliss and his calling on these rivers, and has found a way to share their beauty… while reflecting on the significance of national Wild & Scenic Rivers Act that protects beautiful rivers all across country. Produced in Partnership with US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and River Management Society.
On Utah's Wild and Scenic Green River, Adventure Scientists volunteers Lindsay Hunt and Sean Tropsa share why they love adventuring for science and what it's like to collect water quality data that will help protect Wild and Scenic rivers into the future. Learn more about our Wild and Scenic Rivers project and how you can volunteer at adventurescientists.org/rivers.
This quiet corner of eastern Oregon is home to incredible night skies, maze-like geological formations, and serenity. Immerse yourself into these high desert canyonlands and enjoy every segment of the 120 miles of congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River. Hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing, hunting, and boating are among the recreation opportunities that await you at the "Grand Canyon of Oregon."
Pristine. Free-flowing. Protected. Oregon’s Rogue River is one of the original eight rivers named in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. In 2018, America celebrated the 50th Anniversary of this landmark legislation which helped preserve our country’s most cherished waterways for all of us to enjoy.
A scenic video on the beauty and peace of Black Creek Wilderness, De Soto National Forest, Mississippi. In 1986, Congress included Black Creek in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, making it the first and only wild and scenic river in Mississippi. The De Soto National Forest is currently writing a plan about how Black Creek will be managed to protect and enhance its special features.