USA National Wild & Scenic Rivers System List

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The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created in 1968 to preserve certain rivers in their free-flowing condition and protect their outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the system includes more than 200 rivers and river segments across the United States, representing over 13,000 miles of waterways. These rivers are designated as Wild, Scenic, or Recreational depending on their level of development and accessibility, but all are protected from dam construction and other major alterations that could harm their character. Managed by several federal agencies including the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the system safeguards some of the nation’s most beautiful rivers while allowing visitors to enjoy activities such as paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Click the top of any column to sort the table by that attribute.
Name State Agency Est.
Alagnak River Alaska NPS 1980
Alatna River Alaska NPS 1980
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Maine State 1970
Allegheny River Pennsylvania USFS 1992
Amargosa River California BLM 2009
American River (Lower) California State 1981
American River, North Fork California BLM, USFS 1978
Andreafsky River Alaska FWS 1980
Aniakchak River Alaska NPS 1980
Au Sable River Michigan USFS 1984
Battle Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Bautista Creek California USFS 2009
Bear Creek Michigan USFS 1992
Beaver Creek Alaska BLM, FWS 1980
Big and Little Darby Creeks Ohio State 1994
Big Jacks Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Big Marsh Creek Oregon USFS 1988
Big Piney Creek Arkansas USFS 1992
Big Sur River California USFS 1992
Birch Creek Alaska BLM 1980
Black Butte California USFS 2006
Black Creek Mississippi USFS 1986
Black River Michigan USFS 1992
Bluestone River West Virginia NPS 1988
Bruneau River Idaho BLM 2009
Bruneau River, West Fork Idaho BLM 2009
Buffalo River Arkansas USFS 1992
Cache la Poudre River Colorado NPS, USFS 1986
Carp River Michigan USFS 1992
Charley River Alaska NPS 1980
Chattooga River GA, NC, SC USFS 1974
Chetco River Oregon USFS 1988
Chilikadrotna River Alaska NPS 1980
Clackamas River Oregon USFS 1988
Clackamas River, South Fork Oregon USFS 2009
Clarion River Pennsylvania USFS 1996
Clearwater River, Middle Fork Idaho USFS 1968
Collawash River Oregon USFS 2009
Cossatot River Arkansas ACoE, State, USFS 1992
Cottonwood Creek (CA) California BLM, USFS 2009
Cottonwood Creek (ID) Idaho BLM 2009
Crescent Creek Oregon USFS 1988
Crooked River Oregon BLM 1988
Crooked River, North Fork Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Deep Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Delaware River NJ, NY, PA NPS 1978
Delta River Alaska BLM 1980
Deschutes River Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Dickshooter Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Donner und Blitzen River Oregon BLM 1988
Duncan Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Eagle Creek Oregon USFS 1988
Eagle Creek Oregon USFS 2009
East Rosebud Creek Montana USFS 2018
Eel River California BLM, IR, State, USFS 1981
Eightmile River Connecticut Local, NPS 2008
Eleven Point River Missouri USFS 1968
Elk River Oregon USFS 1988
Elkhorn Creek Oregon BLM, USFS 1996
Farmington River, West Branch Connecticut Local, NPS, State 1994
Feather River California USFS 1968
Fifteenmile Creek Oregon USFS 2009
Fish Creek Oregon USFS 2009
Flathead River Montana NPS, USFS 1976
Fortymile River Alaska BLM 1980
Fossil Creek Arizona USFS 2009
Fuller Mill Creek California USFS 2009
Grande Ronde River Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Great Egg Harbor River New Jersey NPS 1992
Gulkana River Alaska BLM 1980
Hood River, East Fork Oregon USFS 2009
Hood River, Middle Fork Oregon USFS 2009
Horsepasture River North Carolina USFS 1986
Hurricane Creek Arkansas USFS 1992
Illabot Creek Washington USFS 2014
Illinois River Oregon USFS 1984
Imnaha River Oregon USFS 1988
Indian River Michigan USFS 1992
Ivishak River Alaska FWS 1980
Jarbridge River Idaho BLM 2009
Jemez River, East Fork New Mexico USFS 1990
John Day River Oregon BLM 1988
John Day River, North Fork Oregon USFS 1988
John Day River, South Fork Oregon BLM 1988
John River Alaska NPS 1980
Joseph Creek Oregon USFS 1988
Kern River California NPS, USFS 1987
Kings River California NPS, USFS 1987
Klamath River California, Oregon BLM, IR, NPS, State, USFS 1981
Klickitat River Washington USFS 1986
Kobuk River Alaska NPS 1980
Koyukuk River, North Fork Alaska NPS 1980
Lamprey River New Hampshire Local, NPS 1996
Little Beaver River Ohio State 1975
Little Deschutes River Oregon USFS 1988
Little Jacks Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Little Miami River Ohio State 1973
Little Missouri River Arkansas USFS 1992
Lostine River Oregon USFS 1988
Loxahatchee River Florida State 1985
Lumber River North Carolina State 1998
Malheur River Oregon USFS 1988
Malheur River, North Fork Oregon USFS 1988
Manistee River Michigan USFS 1992
Maurice River New Jersey NPS 1993
McKenzie River Oregon USFS 1988
Merced River California BLM, NPS, USFS 1987
Metolius River Oregon USFS 1988
Minam River Oregon USFS 1988
Missisquoi & Trout Rivers Vermont Local, NPS 2014
Missouri River MT, NE, SD BLM, NPS 1976
Mulberry River Arkansas USFS 1992
Mulchatna River Alaska NPS 1980
Musconetcong River New Jersey NPS 2006
New River North Carolina State 1976
Niobrara River Nebraska FWS, NPS 1991
Noatak River Alaska NPS 1980
North Powder River Oregon USFS 1988
North Sylamore Creek Arkansas USFS 1992
North Umpqua River Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Nowitna River Alaska FWS 1980
Obed River Tennessee NPS 1976
Ontonagon River Michigan USFS 1992
Owens River Headwaters California USFS 2009
Owyhee River (ID) Idaho BLM 2009
Owyhee River (OR) Oregon BLM 1984
Owyhee River, North Fork Idaho BLM 2009
Owyhee River, North Fork Oregon BLM 1988
Owyhee River, South Fork Idaho BLM 2009
Paint River Michigan USFS 1992
Palm Canyon Creek California USFS 2009
Pecos River New Mexico USFS 1990
Pere Marquette River Michigan USFS 1978
Pine River Michigan USFS 1992
Piru Creek California USFS 2009
Powder River Oregon BLM 1988
Pratt River Washington USFS 2014
Presque Isle River Michigan USFS 1992
Quartzville Creek Oregon BLM 1988
Rapid River Idaho USFS 1975
Red Canyon Idaho BLM 2009
Red River Kentucky USFS 1993
Richland Creek Arkansas USFS 1992
Rio Chama New Mexico BLM, USFS 1988
Rio de la Mina Puerto Rico USFS 2002
Rio Grande New Mexico, Texas BLM, USFS 1968
Rio Icacos Puerto Rico USFS 2002
Rio Mameyes Puerto Rico USFS 2002
River Styx Oregon NPS 2014
Roaring River Oregon USFS 1988
Roaring River, South Fork Oregon USFS 2009
Rogue River Oregon BLM, USFS 1968
Rogue River (Upper) Oregon USFS 1988
Saint Joe River Idaho USFS 1978
Saline Bayou Louisiana USFS 1986
Salmon River (AK) Alaska NPS 1980
Salmon River (ID) Idaho USFS 1980
Salmon River (OR) Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Salmon River, Middle Fork Idaho USFS 1968
San Jacinto River, North Fork California USFS 2009
Sandy River Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
Selawik River Alaska FWS 1980
Sespe Creek California USFS 1992
Sheenjek River Alaska FWS 1980
Sheep Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River Alabama USFS 1988
Sisquoc River California USFS 1992
Skagit River Washington USFS 1978
Smith River California State, USFS 1981
Smith River, North Fork Oregon USFS 1988
Snake River Idaho, Oregon USFS 1975
Snake River Headwaters Wyoming NPS, USFS 2009
Snoqualmie River, Middle Fork Washington USFS 2014
Sprague River, North Fork Oregon USFS 1988
Squaw Creek Oregon USFS 1988
St. Croix River Minnesota, Wisconsin NPS 1968
Sturgeon River (Hiawatha NF) Michigan USFS 1992
Sturgeon River (Ottawa NF) Michigan USFS 1992
Sudbury, Assabet, & Concord Creeks Massachusetts Local, NPS, State 1999
Sycan River Oregon USFS 1988
Tahquamenon River, East Branch Michigan USFS 1992
Taunton River Massachusetts NPS 2009
Tinayguk River Alaska NPS 1980
Tlikakila River Alaska NPS 1980
Trinity River California BLM, IR, State, USFS 1981
Tuolumne River California BLM, NPS, USFS 1984
Unalakleet River Alaska BLM 1980
Verde River Arizona USFS 1984
Vermilion River, Middle Fork Illinois State 1989
Virgin River Utah BLM, NPS 2009
Wallowa River Oregon BLM, State 1996
Wekiva River Florida NPS, State 2000
Wenaha River Oregon USFS 1988
West Little Owyhee River Oregon BLM 1988
Westfield River Massachusetts State 1993
White Clay Creek Delaware, Pennsylvania Local, NPS 2000
White River Oregon BLM, USFS 1988
White Salmon River Washington USFS 1986
Whitefish River Michigan USFS 1992
Wickahoney Creek Idaho BLM 2009
Wildcat River New Hampshire USFS 1988
Wildhorse and Kiger Creeks Oregon BLM 2000
Willamette River, North Fork Middle Fork Oregon USFS 1988
Wilson Creek North Carolina USFS 2000
Wind River Alaska FWS 1980
Wolf River Wisconsin NPS 1968
Yellow Dog River Michigan USFS 1992
Yellowstone River, Clarks Fork Wyoming USFS 1990
Zigzag River Oregon USFS 2009


ACoE: Army Corps of Engineers
BLM: Bureau of Land Management
FWS: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
IR: Indian Reservation
NPS: National Park Service
USFS: United States Forest Service