Places to Canoe in Kentucky

Paddling at Mammoth Caves

• A glance at a map of Kentucky reveals Mammoth Cave National Park sitting almost dead center. The 52,000-acre park is home to 25 miles of the Green River as well as 6 miles of its tributary, the Nolin River, both of which are broad, slow-moving and easily navigable. The section of Green River that flows through the park is a designated Kentucky Wild River, a status that protects it from development and man-made obstructions. The Green River provides paddlers with easy passage and unbroken views of pristine forest with no significant rapids or challenges, aside from the occasional sandbar or fallen tree. The river can, however, become swift and dangerous during the spring flooding season. With a current Kentucky fishing license, you can cast a line for the river's abundant populations of bass, bluegill, crappie and catfish. Camping is allowed on the banks within the boundaries of the national park. Green River Canoeing Inc. provides guided canoe trips through the park.

Land Between the Lakes

• Western Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area lies -- as its name implies -- between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, two massive reservoirs formed by the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, respectively. The meandering shorelines of both reservoirs harbor dozens of sheltered bays and coves that are perfect for canoeing. Several launch ramps throughout Land Between the Lakes provide access, and you can rent a canoe or kayak at the Woodlands Nature Station or the Energy Lake Campground. The two lakes have a combined surface area of 220,000 acres. Several additional canoeing options exist just outside Land Between the Lakes, including the Little River, which winds through pristine hardwood forest before spilling into Lake Barkley, and a gently rolling section of the Cumberland River with views of hilly meadows and farmland.

Down the Cumberland

• The Cumberland River passes through Kentucky twice, first flowing through the eastern part of the state, interrupted briefly by Wolf Creek Dam at Lake Cumberland, and then looping through Tennessee before reentering western Kentucky at Lake Barkley. The portion in eastern Kentucky is a widely varied stream, and can be divided into two portions -- above Lake Cumberland and below. Above the lake, the Cumberland River mostly runs through Daniel Boone National Forest, and the area between Cumberland Falls and Lake Cumberland leans toward the wild side, with intense currents, boulder-strewn banks and Class II to Class III rapids well-suited to whitewater kayaking, but dangerous for canoes. Those in search of gentle currents for canoeing can find it in abundance below the Wolf Creek Dam, where the river flows gently toward the Tennessee line. Half a dozen access points provide places to launch a canoe in this section, including one just a few hundred yards downstream from the dam.

Warren County Blueways

• Southern Kentucky's Warren County is crisscrossed by canoe routes, including sections of the Barren River, Drakes Creek, Gasper River and Green River. The Barren River bisects the entire county from east to west, making it a good place to start. Don't let its name fool you. The Barren River flows through dense forest and rich farmland on either side of the City of Bowling Green, eventually meeting up with the Green River several miles downstream of its exit from Mammoth Cave National Park. Dozens of parks, boat ramps and bridge access sites provide places to launch a canoe on both rivers, along with the nearby Gasper River and Drake's Creek. The Southcentral Kentucky Rivers Blueways Project helps maintain and promote the canoeing routes through each of these rivers, and its website provides a wealth of information, including maps showing access point locations.