The National Park offers a wide range of canoeing and kayaking possibilities, depending on whether you want  a relaxing, quiet paddle or the thrill of wild, white water rapids.

You can paddle a kayak, a canoe or even a coracle! A gentle place to start is the Brecon and Monmouth Canal where the lack of current and shelter from the wind makes an easy start. If open water is your choice, head for Llangorse Lake . Expect to pay for launching. Two locations on rivers in the National Park have year-round  access - on the Usk at Brecon Promenade and on the Wye at Hay on Wye. Both are gentle paddles at low water, but be cautious if the rivers are high (browny red coloured water is a  sign) when the rivers are definitely not for beginners.You can hire a canoe or be guided ,  or join a club if you live locally. If you need equipment, the main high street shops providing canoeing gear are Crickhowell Adventure Gear in Brecon and Crickhowell and PSM Outdoors in Hay on Wye.

For experienced paddlers in winter and in spate, opportunities abound from Grade 1 (easy) up to Grade 6 (extremely hard). See where to go or visit Canoe Wales on line guide or the UK rivers on-line guide.  Whitewater canoeists can get an idea of what height the rivers are  by visiting the Wye and Usk Foundation website who have arranged some access on the River Wye and River Usk in the winter and during spate - they have webcams on the river guages. Find out whether it's worth the journey before you travel! You can also find out where arranged access points exist from the website. The Environment Agency also have their river gauge readings on line for many rivers in the area

Don't forget that our waterways are home to a wide variey of wildlife - While you're out paddling, enjoy looking out for wildlife and help it to survive and flourish in the National Park. See our Conservation page for how to help. You can even join our 'Boating for Wildlife' campaign and leave the Park better than you find it! Help stop the spread of invasive species by following the Check , Clean Dry routine with your boat and kit.