The Elkhorn Creek
The Elkhorn Creek is approximately 124 miles long. The South Fork begins southeast of Lexington and runs to the west, up through Midway, and on to Frankfort. The North Fork runs from the northeast of Lexington, through Georgetown, and then to Frankfort. From here, at The Forks of Elkhorn, the main stem of the creek runs north, 21 miles, to the Kentucky River. This main stem section is where all of our regularly scheduled, unguided trips are located.
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From the Forks, the creek runs for 7 miles through a swift and challenging Class II-III whitewater gorge with exposed limestone bluffs sometimes reaching 200 feet. Almost continuous rapids, riffles and ledges dominate this section along with a mandatory portage around a dam. Depending on the water level, this stretch is great for intermediate to advanced paddlers.
Downstream of the whitewater section, the Elkhorn continues as an easy Class I+ stream running through a beautiful and intimate wooded valley for the next 14 miles before emptying into the Kentucky River. Throughout this stretch, long gentle pools are separated by riffles and small but exciting rapids. Perfect for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and at certain water levels, rafting. This "lower section", as it is sometimes called, is great for paddlers of all skill levels.
Considered by many to be the best place to paddle in Kentucky, the Elkhorn Creek valley is full of wildlife, breathtaking scenery, outstanding fishing and easy to challenging water. Paddle it once and you can't wait to come back.