Best Midwest Rivers For Floating And Tubing Day Trips

A short distance east of Minneapolis, but across the border in Wisconsin, the Apple River offers a great introduction to the low-impact, high-relaxation world of tubing. Campgrounds are also offered at many of the tubing facilities on the river. River's Edge is a company in New Richmond that offers campsites on the Apple River, and even cabins that are air-conditioned! Of course, River's Edge also rents out tubes and more for merrymaking on the water. 

With more than 3 miles of water to float along, travelers can zone out and take in the scenery, and children as young as five can join in the activity. For a group outing, consider renting a 500-gallon tank (normally used to hold drinking water for cattle) that can hold up to six people and comes with paddles and even a bench to sit down on. Close by, in Somerset, Apple River Family Campground has a similar offering, where tubing trips can last up to 150 minutes as you glide along serene waters flanked by trees.

Book a tube or kayak with Chippewa River Outfitters, and soon you'll appreciate the simple things in life. Not to be confused with the Chippewa River in Wisconsin, the gentle flow of this Michigan river will help you forget all your worries. Without any waves or even the slightest hint of turbulent water, a trip down this river will be stress-free, as you quietly glide along at about 4 mph (the average speed of a brisk walk). The operator can even arrange for a trip that stretches into the afternoon, for groups that want to make a full-day event out of the excursion. 

This float spot is about two-and-a-half hours northwest of Detroit and can be easily arranged as a day trip. The river itself is a shade over 90 miles in length and works its way through a variety of environments, including parcels of farmland, different towns and cities, and also through tranquil, natural spaces of woods, where the sounds of birds chirping might be the only thing you'll hear.

Enjoy Iowa's rural splendor along the Maquoketa River, part of a water trail that has a rich variety of landscapes along the way. While gently rumbling along the Maquoketa, tubers and kayakers will find themselves looking at cliffs made of limestone (a remnant of geological processes from millions of years ago), forests filled with grand oak trees, and tracts of farmland and urban sprawl. During a float, when there is nobody around and the rocks and trees look like they might have done for millennia, the trip can feel like a voyage back in time, to an era where life was more connected to nature. 

There is plenty of wildlife to observe along the river, and visitors might hear birds before seeing them, particularly of woodpeckers that live in the woods along the banks. One of the most scenic parts of the river is at Backbone Lake, where the spires of limestone above the water are breathtaking; for an added thrill, you can hike the trail above the cliffs.

The Namekagon River is part of the St. Croix Scenic National Riverway, which straddles both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Namekagon is a gentle waterway in Wisconsin that promises lazy trips in glorious environments. The lower part of the river, sandwiched between the towns of Danbury and Trego, are some of the calmest, with hypnotically serene waters and no chutes, slides, or rapids to contend with. Floats here can easily be full-day affairs as the river carries you to areas that feel like the great wilderness, with no modern development in sight.

That said, the imprint of humankind will be evident along the way. At one point, the river slices beneath a state highway. Fishermen prize this stretch of the river for the chance to catch bass and walleye, and some also enjoy spying the painted turtles that hang out from their riverside perch. Paddlers will be able to see wetlands, towering bluffs, and soaring pine trees that sometimes offer patches of shade at the edges of the river.

Set within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, the Platte River has some placid places to cool off on a sweltering days. Locals laud the chance to escape daily life with a float down a waterway that is clean, clear, generally shallow, and easy to navigate, not disturbed by rocky patches or rapids of any sort. There are long and short trips here, and one particularly easy option that requires minimal effort — a loop, of sorts, between the Platte River Picnic area to Kittendorf Landing near Loon Lake, a section that takes about an hour to gently glide along. 

For a longer excursion, consider putting your flotation device in the water at Fish Weir, also close to Loon Lake. This will bring you almost all the way to the mouth of the river, where it empties into Lake Michigan. It's an exciting way to trace the final part of the river's life.

In the southeast of Minnesota, Root River has no real rapids, making it a smart choice for families with young kids who want to enjoy a relaxing float. Its flow is constant — gentle enough so as not to disturb anyone riding it, but strong enough to ensure that the scenery renews itself regularly. A number of springs inject new sources of water into the river as its works its way past lofty rock formations that support hickory and oak trees. In other parts, the view transforms into dairy farms and hills that rise and fall along the horizon. 

The waters are nutrient-rich, home to bass, sunfish, and more, with colder parts also populated with trout. Birds are commonplace, and hawks and bald eagles co-exist alongside herons and ducks. Other land creatures that might be spotted during a foray along the Root River include foxes, deer, coyotes, woodchucks, and, for the lucky, the timber rattlesnake sometimes makes an appearance along the river's edge.

Enjoy peace and quiet along the Tippecanoe River that is nestled in Indiana, but easily reached from Chicago. The scenery adds to the experience, with wildflowers and trees lining the side of the river as it cuts through the plains in the north of Indiana. Riverside Rentals welcomes scores of visitors each year for float trips on this water retreat. 

Canoe and kayak journeys can range from half a mile, which takes about three hours and is best suited for beginners, to the more intense 12-mile voyage, lasting six hours and pitched to those who really know their way around a paddle. For the truly committed, Riverside Rentals also sells overnight packages, with two days and 24 miles on the river. Tubers don't need to burn as many calories, and tubing trips last about three hours. For the most relaxation, consider sliding into the elongated rocket tube, which is easier to sit in than the standard circular vessel.

Southwest of Chicago and an offshoot of the Illinois River, Vermilion River has plenty of bumps and thrills. Rapids here aren't necessarily a gentle ride, but rather a series of splashy adrenaline jolts. This is a great alternative for visitors that have had their fill of lazy floats and want to up the ante with a little bit of excitement in their aquatic adventures. Vermillion River Rafting takes adults and children out on a section of river where virtually no human-made structures come into view, allowing them to picture themselves as pioneering explorers in the deep wilds. 

On a trip, adventurers will explore almost 10 miles of the river and tackle 14 series of rapids, some at a Class III (defined as moderate difficulty, high and choppy waves, and clear but narrow passages). That said, the overall experience isn't steeped in terror. Younger kids, or anyone who prefers calm floating trips, can still partake in the exploits. The river itself, which extends for more than 100 miles in total, is also a big hit with anglers. Pools, overhanging trees, and river holes provide the perfect spots where you can set up equipment and patiently wait to make a catch.