Whitewater
Kayaking & Rafting in
Kentucky
#1.
Red River: Upper Red River
to Lower Red River
Originating in Wolfe County,
the Red River flows northwest
through Powell County and
along the Estill–Clark
County line before emptying
into the Kentucky River
south of Winchester. During
the early 19...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Campton, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 66.9 miles
#2. Elkhorn Creek:
Forks of Elkhorn to Kentucky
River
Elkhorn Creek, with its
North and South Forks, flows
northwest, draining portions
of Jessamine, Fayette, Scott,
Woodford, and Franklin Counties
before emptying into the
Kentucky River north of
Frankfo...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Frankfort, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 17 miles
#3. Gasper River:
Bucksville to Barren River
The Gasper River is one
of western Kentucky’s
most beautiful rivers. It
is a tributary of the Barren
River and drains the area
between Russellville and
Bowling Green. Runnable
from mid-November to mid...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Bowling Green, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 34.8 miles
#4. Big South Fork
Gorge of the Cumberland
River (Tennessee): Burnt
Mill Bridge to Leatherwood
Ford
The Big South Fork Gorge
is part of the headwaters
of the Big South Fork of
the Cumberland River. Although
situated entirely in Tennessee,
it is worth including in
this guide because it is
a very popu...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
New Haven, TN - Whitewater
Paddling - 10.6 miles
#5. Big South Fork
Gorge of the Cumberland
River (Kentucky): Leatherwood
Ford to KY 97
Flowing out of Scott County
(TN), the Big South Fork
of the Cumberland River
flows north through McCreary
County (KY) before emptying
into Lake Cumberland. One
of the most popular canoe
camping runs i...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Whitley City, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 42.6 miles
#6. Rockcastle River:
Upper Rockcastle River to
Cumberland River Lake
The Rockcastle River originates
in Laurel County and drains
portions of Jackson, Rockcastle,
Laurel, and Pulaski Counties.
One of Kentucky's most popular
rivers, the Rockcastle offers
something for e...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Livingston, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 41.2 miles
#7. Harrods Creek
of Oldham and Jefferson
Counties: KY 53 to the Ohio
River
Harrods Creek originates
in western Henry County
and flows southwest through
Oldham and Jefferson Counties
before emptying into the
Ohio River in northeastern
Louisville....
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
La Grange, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 29.5 miles
#8. Boone Creek:
KY 418 to Kentucky River
Boone Creek is a small,
intense stream flowing over
a rock bed along the eastern
border of Fayette County.
Runnable only 10 or 12 days
a year, it just may be the
most singularly beautiful
run in the e...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to Kentucky"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Athens, KY - Whitewater
Paddling - 6.3 miles
#9. North Fork of
the Cumberland River: Harlan
to the mouth of the Laurel
River
Between Harlan and Pineville,
the North Fork flows over
a mud and gravel bed with
infrequent small shoals
and class I rapids and occasional
large rocks in evidence
in the stream and along
the banks. ...
From the guidebook "Appalachian
Whitewater: The Southern
States"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Harlan, KY - Whitewater
Paddling
#10. Big South Fork
of the Cumberland River:
Burnt Mill bridge, TN (on
Clear Fork River) to Lake
Cumberland, KY
The Big South Fork Gorge
is part of the headwaters
of the Big South Fork of
the Cumberland River. Consisting
of almost continuous Class
III and IV whitewater, the
Burnt Mill bridge (on Clear
Fork Rive...
From the guidebook "Appalachian
Whitewater: The Southern
States"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Helenwood, TN - Whitewater
Paddling
More whitewater
paddling and rafting in
Kentucky Running
the Rivers of North America
