Kentucky River Rafting Guide

Setting out from beneath Cumberland Falls in Cumberland Falls State Park, Kentucky (Thomas Hall)

The pick of Kentucky's whitewater streams are mostly located in the eastern flank of the state where the Appalachian ridgeline becomes Kentucky's heavily wooded, hilly (ergo, stream-filled) Cumberland Plateau. Of course, there are plenty of playboating and flatwater opportunities throughout the state, but the main commercially run rivers are the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River (Class V+), Cumberland River (Class II-III), and Elkhorn Creek (Class II-III). All rivers are located within an hour or two of urban enclaves like Lexington, Louisville, or Knoxville, though note that the Russell Fork is one of the country's most daring drops so prior is Class IV experience is mandatory. Like other rivers in the region, the water's at its peak May to October, offering a nice respite from the summer heat as well as an ideal perch from which to enjoy the state's late-season fall foliage.

Rafting Rivers in Kentucky