Rockcastle River in Kentucky

Trip Overview

Boats taken: Dagger Crossfire kayak and Noah AeroQuatic kayak
Temperature: 65 degrees
Stream Gage at Billows: 350 CFS
Put in: I75 bridge- Take Out: 1956 bridge at Billows
Length 10.6 miles- Time: 6 hours

Jimmy, my 18 year old son, and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and the "just right" water conditions to try out the two used kayaks we had just purchased. The kayaks are older white water boats and we used this opportunity to get used to the boats before trying more some class II and III streams. We put-in under the I75 bridge. The water and weather was beautiful. We spent a big part of the day just being lazy.

It seemed we did as much floating with the current as paddling. This was the most enjoyable trip of the many I have taken down this section of the Rockcastle. This section of the Rockcastle is beautiful.

Accommodations:

Lots of motels in London and Mount Vernon. Camp Ground at Levi Jackson State Park and Holly Bay Camp Ground in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Fees:

none required

Directions:

From US25 turn off on small road across from Rockcastle River Trading Post. Drive to Interstate Bridge (1-2 miles).

Resources:

There is a good write-up in "Canoeing and Kayaking in Kentucky"