Swanson River and the many lakes around it are popular places for trips in light canoes and kayaks. Two canoe trails involve lakes and streams rated Class I (easy) on the
International Scale of River Difficulty. The Swan Lake Route of includes 30 lakes with
portages of up to . The Swanson River Route, long, crosses 40 lakes and requires portages of up to a mile. The portages, which may cross swampy ground, vary from easy to difficult. In addition to boggy terrain, hazards include wind-driven waves, mosquitoes, and a dearth of good campsites. It is possible to float the Swanson River itself from the outlet at Gene Lake to the North Kenai Road bridge. A shorter float goes by river from Gene Lake to Swanson River Landing near Swan Lake Road and the Rainbow Lake Campground. ==See also==