Slip your canoe into the Kettle, then hold onto your shorts and prepare to get wet on one of the best white water rivers in the Midwest. Oh, sure, the Kettle has a few quiet stretches, where you can watch the ferns, birch, maple, basswood and pines slip past. But make sure to check out maps and water levels beforehand. Some of the rapids are downright dangerous for all but experienced white-water paddlers. Your reward awaits: The rocky cliffs along the Banning and Lower Kettle rapids are awesome.

Runner-up: Snake River