Things to do / Travel Guide
Kayak your cares away; in Central Kentucky and Tennessee the water can withstand just about any excursion or exploit you might have in mind. Lakes in the region provide a paddler's paradise, and with canoe and kayak rentals on or near just about every waterway, you can explore their coves, rocky shorelines, and tributaries at your leisure. Laurel River Lake and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky, Dale Hollow Lake, which spans the Kentucky-Tennessee border, and J. Priest Percy Lake and Center Hill Lake in Tennessee are all great kayaking or paddling choices. While kayaking is best from spring-fall, locals claim that quiet and remote winter canoeing is a not-to-be-missed adventure. The leaf-barren trees reveal wide, sweeping views of the countryside, the water turns a deep winter green, and just after newly fallen snow, or an ice storm, the sound of silence is magnificent.
Kayaking and Paddling in Central Kentucky
- Though you will see horses rather than elk, Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky's most popular canoeing waterway, offers over 100 miles of navigable waters. On this “queen of Bluegrass streams” you will drift past old mills and historic buildings, paddle under one of Kentucky's covered bridges, and enjoy pleasant views of idyllic horse farms. The South Fork of Elkhorn (near Frankfort) is a particularly recommended windy, twisty, 15-mile stretch from Fishers Mill Road to Schoolhouse Road.
- Rockcastle River is another of Kentucky's great canoeing sites. From late-fall until midsummer vacationers can enjoy the river's upper sections, which span about 17 miles from State Road 490 to State Road 80. Nestled in the heart of Daniel Boone National Forest, you will enjoy views of hardwoods, steep banks, pleasantly swift currents, and, if you're lucky, spot deer and wild turkey.
- Laurel River Lake has over 190 miles of cliff-lined shores and quiet coves and is widely considered one of the most scenic lakes in Kentucky.
The lake's location inside the Daniel Boone National Forest along with its proximity to I-75 (just 20 minutes away) makes Laurel River Lake a state favorite for paddling around.
Lake Cumberland is about an hour south of Lexington and is one of the 10 largest man-made lakes in the country. This massive lake has over 1,200 miles of shoreline and has numerous places to launch from, but be advised that motor boats and ski boats are also permitted on the lake. Nearby eclectic, rural towns and Civil War history sites add to this lake's “natural” charm.
Kayaking and Paddling on the Kentucky-Tennessee Border
- Dale Hollow Lake straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border and shares the wealth on both sides. The lake is known for its world-class fishing, cabins, and great hiking trails and though it is open to boats of all kinds, there are plenty of quiet nooks and crannies along the lake's shore for kayakers and paddlers to enjoy.
Kayaking and Paddling in Central Tennessee
- Do you wish to see whitewater without having to navigate it? One of Tennessee's most dramatic paddles is a four-mile roundtrip excursion from Cave Hollow to Burgess Falls on Center Hill Lake. Great blue heron, whitetail deer, and king fisher can be spotted along the shoreline, but if the outstanding wildlife observation is not enough to convince you, wait for the punch line of this short excursion: you will find yourself at the base of the 130-foot roaring-rushing-frothing Burgess Falls.
- J. Percy Priest Lake, in Antioch, is lesser-known but pleasantly park-lined with many trees. Though it is just a few miles from downtown, it remains surrounded by natural beauty. The Long Hunter State Park shares its border and provides beautiful, rural scenery as you paddle along the banks.
- Perhaps the river with the biggest name in the region, Big South Fork National River, is a certain kind of paradise for the kayaker who loves wet and wild adventure travel. While most of the river is treacherous whitewater, the stretch between Peters Bridge and Brewster Bridge provides a relatively calm paddle suitable for paddlers of all levels. You will watch wild turkey, ducks, geese, and other waterfowl frolicking along high, tree-lined banks, but keep an eye out for water snakes - they are prevalent in this area. If you mind your business, they will do the same. To find out about the best access points for Big South Fork National River, ask a park ranger who will be glad to point them out to you.
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