Mountains have them, municipalities have them, so why shouldn’t waterways have trails that keep you on a chosen route? Luckily, there are such things. They’re called water trails, and the trend is gaining momentum like a tandem canoe after a couple of well-orchestrated strokes. Here are five top ones to set your sights on:

Suwannee River Trail, Fla.: Running through six state parks, the 170-mile-long Suwannee River Trail divides Florida’s panhandle from the rest of the state. Extending from the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center Park to the Gulf of Mexico, it’s perfect for canoeists and sea kayakers of all strokes. You’ll paddle its black, tannin-filled waters past three river camps spaced between eight access points, each with restrooms, showers and campsites. You’ll also retrace the wake of the 16th century Timuccuan people who used to live along the river’s banks. While they named it Suwani, meaning “Echo River,” you won’t resist creating echoes of your own as you belt out “Old Folks at Home,” the state song of Florida, to the cadence of your strokes (rumor has it that no one’s ever paddled the Suwannee without breaking out into song). Info: http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/ 

Maine Island Trail: For some of the most pristine paddling on the planet, sink your claws into the Maine Island Trail, the country’s first water trail. Established in 1988, the Maine Trail established the paddling precedent for all others in its wake. The 350-mile-long waterway extends from Cape Porpoise Harbor on the west to Machias Bay on the east, with its namesake Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) the largest of its kind on the continent. Camp at one of 150 island and mainland sites along the route, each accessible by kayak, sailboat or other watercraft. Campsites on state land are free, while those on private islands are available with MITA membership ($45/year individual; $65/year family). July, August and September typically offer the best weather, with September offering the bonus of lobster-red leaves. Info: www.mita.org. 

Cascadia Marine Trail: If the Maine trail has an equivalent out West, it’s the Cascadia Marine Trail, which stretches more than 140 miles through Puget Sound from just outside Olympia, Wash., to the Canadian Border. Since 1993, thousands of paddlers have traversed this inland sea trail, which was recently designated as one of 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. More than 50 campsites are accessible from a variety of public and private launch sites and shoreline trailheads; some are free, others require nominal fees and reservations, and still others are self-service pay as you go. Wherever you stay, expect a whale of a good time. Info: www.wwta.org/trails/CMT. 

Lake Superior Water Trail: Sea kayak the world’s largest freshwater lake on the Lake Superior Water Trail, which extends from the St. Louis to the Pigeon River. The trail’s concept was born in 1991, with legislature making the trail official two years later. Maintained through a partnership of more than 100 individuals, families, businesses and organizations, the trail is open to all non-motorized craft, with new campsites added each year. Groups of six can camp at official water trail sites, available for free on a first-come first-served basis, or you can pay $7 per night to bed down – and enjoy a fire whose flames match the reds and yellows of nearby Pictured Rocks National Seashore – at any number of state park campsites en route. Info: www.dnr.state.mn.us/kayaking/lswt/index.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: When discussing natural scenery, there’s sometimes a bit of snobbishness put forth by residents of the West. But that’s OK--it means fewer people tramping around the Midwest’s favorite scenic places--like Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore along Lake Superior's southern edge. Climbing anywhere from 50 to 600 feet straight up from the lake's lapping waves, the fifteen miles of sandstone cliffs present a spectacular pallet of colors, which pour down the rock face like spilled cans of paint. The official Lake Shore boundaries actually extend along 40 miles of coastline and include miles of sand beaches, small sea caves and arches, and some equally impressive towering sand dunes. You can dart out for a day paddle or take longer if you like and camp in the backcountry. Outfitters: Northern Waters Adventures (906) 387-2323; Northwest Passage (800) RECREATE