A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to Kentucky

by Sehlinger, Bob; Molloy, Johnny

• ISBN13: 9780897325653
• ISBN10: 0897325656
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-10
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Pr

Summary

With approximately 54,000 miles of streams and rivers, Kentucky has more miles of running water than any state except Alaska. Wet your paddling blade and whet your paddling appetite with the authority on paddling the waterways of Kentucky—A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Kentucky. Researched and written by veteran outdoor writers and paddlers Bob Sehlinger and Johnny Molloy, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Kentucky is as vital to enjoying Kentucky’s waterways as the boat itself. From the coal fields of Eastern Kentucky to Kentucky’s western border along the Mighty Mississippi, this redesigned and completely updated guide to paddling the creeks, rivers, and coastal waterways of the Bluegrass State covers thousands of miles of paddling that range in difficulty from scenic floats down the Cumberland to whitewater runs of the Russell Fork. New maps, new river profiles, completely updated contact information, at-a-glance data that includes class, length, time, gauge, level, gradient, volume, and ratings for solitude and scenery make this guide an indispensable river companion.

Author Biography

A native of Kentucky, Bob Sehlinger has led canoeing trips throughout eastern North America and is the former president of the Eastern Professional River Outfitters Association. He is the creator of the Unofficial Guide travel series and a recipient of the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for journalistic excellence. Founder and publisher of Menasha Ridge Press, Sehlinger lives in Birmingham, Alabama, where he enjoys mountain biking and playing the drums.

Johnny Molloy is an outdoor writer based in Johnson City, Tennessee. He has averaged over 100 nights in the wild per year since the early 1980's, backpacking and canoe camping throughout the country. He has written numerous hiking and tent camping guides for the southeastern states, Wisconsin and Colorado.

Table of Contents

Map List	ix
Acknowledgments	xii
Introduction	1	(1)
The Drainages of Kentucky	2	(2)
Kentucky Wild Rivers System	4	(2)
Rating River Difficulty	6	(1)
American Whitewater River Classification System	7	(1)
Using River Gauges	8	(1)
Water Lever Sites	8	(1)
Hazards and Safety	9	(1)
Winter Paddling	9	(1)
Cold-Weather Survival	10	(1)
Paddler Information	11	(1)
Rating the Paddler	11	(4)
Knowing Your Rights on the River	15	(1)
Environmental Concerns	16	(1)
Using This Guide	17	(2)
Map Legend	19	(2)
part One STREAMS OF THE EASTERN COAL FIELDS
Russell Fork	21	(4)
Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy Fork	25	(5)
Johns Creek	30	(2)
Little Sandy River	32	(4)
Tygarts Creek	36	(2)
part Two THE LICKING RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES
North Fork of the Licking River	38	(2)
Middle Fork of the Licking River	40	(6)
Hinkston Creek	46	(2)
Stoner Creek	48	(2)
South Fork of the Licking River	50	(3)
Licking River	53	(3)
part Three THE KENTUCKY RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES
North Fork of the Kentucky River	56	(8)
Middle Fork of the Kentucky River	64	(4)
Red Bird River	68	(2)
South Fork of the Kentucky River	70	(3)
Kentucky River below the Forks	73	(13)
Red River	86	(6)
Four Mile Creek	92	(2)
Lower Howard's Creek	94	(2)
Boone Creek	96	(2)
Hickman Creek	98	(4)
Jessamine Creek	102	(2)
Dix River	104	(2)
Hanging Fork of the Dix River	106	(2)
Gilbert Creek	108	(2)
Benson Creek	110	(3)
South Fork of Elkhorn Creek	113	(1)
North Fork of Elkhorn Creek	114	(2)
Elkhorn Creek	116	(2)
Eagle Creek	118	(2)
part Four CREEK DRAINAGES OF MADISON COUNTY
Calloway Creek	120	(2)
Muddy Creek	122	(3)
West Fork/Main Stem of Otter Creek	125	(2)
East Prong of Otter Creek	127	(3)
Silver Creek	130	(3)
Tates Creek	133	(2)
part Five THE CUMBERLAND RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES
Poor Fork of the Cumberland River	135	(2)
North Fork of the Cumberland River	137	(8)
Laurel River	145	(2)
Rockcastle River	147	(6)
Buck Creek	153	(2)
Big South Fork Gorge of the Cumberland River (Tennessee)	155	(2)
Big South Fork of the Cumberland River (Kentucky)	157	(3)
Little South Fork of the Cumberland River	160	(2)
Rock Creek	162	(2)
Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee Border	164	(2)
part Six THE SALT RIVER SYSTEM OF THE WESTERN BLUEGRASS
Salt River	166	(4)
Plum Creek	170	(2)
Floyds Fork of the Salt River	172	(3)
Rolling Fork of the Salt River	175	(2)
Beech Fork of the Rolling Fork of the Salt River	177	(2)
part Seven HEADWATERS OF THE GREEN RIVER
Green River	179	(7)
Russell Creek	186	(2)
Barren River	188	(4)
Drakes Creek	192	(3)
Gasper River	195	(2)
Little Barren River	197	(3)
Nolin River	200	(4)
part Eight STREAMS OF THE WESTERN COAL FIELDS
Tradewater River	204	(2)
Pond River	206	(2)
Panther Creek	208	(2)
Rough River	210	(4)
Mud River	214	(2)
Green River from Houchins Ferry to the Ohio River	216	(5)
Part Nine STREAMS OF LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
Cumberland River north of Lake Barkley	221	(2)
Tennessee River north of Kentucky Lake	223	(1)
Muddy Fork of the Little River	224	(2)
Little River	226	(1)
Land Between the Lakes Paddle Route	227	(5)
part Ten STREAMS OF THE JACKSON PURCHASE
Bayou du Chien	232	(2)
Obion Creek	234	(2)
Mayfield Creek	236	(2)
Clarks River	238	(2)
part Eleven WATERS OF SPECIAL MENTION
Ballard Wildlife Management Area	240	(2)
Red River of Logan County	242	(2)
Harrods Creek of Oldham and Jefferson Counties	244	(2)
Little Kentucky River	246	(1)
Other Paddling Streams	246	(3)
Appendices
Appendix A: American Whitewater Safety Code	249	(7)
Appendix B: Outfitters	256	(2)
Appendix C: Clubs	258	(11)
Appendix D: Glossary	269
Index	261	(6)
About the Authors	267

Excerpts

This section of the river flows through the Daniel Boone National Forest. It is extremely remote and makes a good canoe-camping run at moderate water levels (500-1100 cfs) and a fair whitewater run at higher levels (1100-1900). This section has been designated as a Kentucky Wild and Scenic River.

As the river passes Williamsburg, rock replaces the muddy bottom found in upper sections of the river, and it continues to widen in places to almost 200-feet across. The gradient also increases, creating some mild whitewater (Class II), with boulders in the stream and some shoals spanning the entire width of the river. The current runs swift and continuously, with very few pools. Boulders line the banks in increasing numbers and some flat, accessible terraces have been carved along the streamside.

As the Cumberland begins to enter the deep gorge that will carry it over the falls and beyond to lake Cumberland, exposed rock palisades become visible on the right. About one mile upstream of the falls, the river curves sharply to the left and the KY 90 bridge becomes visible downstream. Move to the right of the river for the take-out on the upstream side of the bridge (at the picnic ground and parking lot). Failure to move promptly to the right can have tragic consequences for the unlucky or inexperienced.

One of the larger shoals (Class II) of this section is situated across the entire river just upstream of the take-out. If you run the shoals on the left, and fill up or capsize, you will find yourself in the main current heading for the entrance rapids to Cumberland Falls several hundred yards downstream. If you run the shoals on the right and take water or turn over, you will be in much slower current. Except at excessive levels (1900 cfs or higher), you will be washed into the bank as the river narrows near the bridge, or alternately, swept downstream past the bridge into a huge eddy that forms along the bank near the visitor's parking lot.

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Excerpted from A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to Kentucky by Bob Sehlinger, Johnny Molloy
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.