Cruised by both amateur and professional boaters each year, The Great Circle Loop is a 6,000-mile uninterrupted water route that circles throughout the eastern United States. Boaters can travel the route using any type of water vessel, including a rowboat, powerboat, or motor yacht. Comprised of several smaller river and waterway segments, the loop stretches from the Canadian Heritage Canals to the southernmost point in Florida.
Overall, the Great Circle Loop has three major sections, which should be completed at different times of year when local weather conditions are ideal. In spring, cruisers generally take the route that follows the East Coast, stretching from the bottom of Florida to New York. The summer segment can be traveled either through New York or along the St. Lawrence River in Canada before crossing through the Great Lakes. In winter, boaters follow the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers southward to the Gulf of Mexico before connecting with the starting point in southern Florida.