There's Something Incredible About These 11 Rivers In Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Published October 23, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Kentucky is known for its beautiful countryside, including rolling hills, lush forests, flowing rivers, and waterways. Each and every river in our state offers some special spot to sit a spell and bond with nature. Along the curving flow, one can always find a place to catch fish, or just absorb the serenity. Each and every one has tiny bits of history mixed in the dirt along the banks and water.
Rain, fog or sunshine, there’s something great about these 11 Kentucky rivers:
Despite being only 29 miles long, this rolling river serves as an actual border between Kentucky and West Virginia. It joins the Ohio near Catlettsville, but always maintains a slow, meandering flow. If a waterway could physically take a stroll, this would be the river to do it. It consistently has a slow, relaxing pace and encourages visitors to match it.
The famed Cumberland River runs 688 miles, flowing from the beautiful Appalachians. It's a favored vacation, camping, and fishing spot for many locals and visitors. Most of the river runs through gorgeous rural areas in Kentucky, making it a perfect spot to get away from it all.
Bearing the brunt of drainage from most of Central Kentucky, this 260 mile river is a tributary of the Ohio River. It travels through the Cumberland Mountains and coal mining country, plus it supplies drinking water to around 1/6th of the entire state. Not only is it extremely serene, it offers some great fishing to get the catch of the day.
We have all heard stories about the big Mississippi River, where river boats once reigned supreme. It runs over 2300 miles and has the largest drainage system in the US. In the case of this image, the big Mississippi decided it wanted a little more space.
The Green River is 384 miles of scenic beauty, which is obvious from the picture. It has been a popular place for fishing, boating, and camping for decades.
The Nolin is over 104 miles of beautiful scenery and great fishing. Edmondson is home of the dam that stopped the flow of the river, creating the Nolin River Lake. The opposite end eventually runs into the Green River.
Barren is a popular place to hang out, fish, do water sports, and just enjoy the beautiful Kentucky scenery. It flows over 135 miles before becoming part of Green River.
The Ohio River borders Kentucky from Indiana, Ohio, and part of Illinois. Though it is considered the most polluted river in the US, it's also one of the most widely used. It has some amazing river front parks and is a popular water way for boating, including the famed Belle of Louisville. Louisville's city lights bring the water to life with brilliant color at night.
Red River Gorge is a beautiful place that Kentuckians and tourists alike enjoy visiting. The Red River is a special part of the Gorge where we can all kayak, canoe, fish, swim, camp, and just enjoy the serenity of nature. There's no place quite like the Gorge anywhere in the US.
This 156 mile river is known to be a favored spot for both water sports and fishing. The scenic view from virtually any part of Rough River offers a relaxing environment to get away.
There are so many incredible rivers that run through Kentucky and it was hard to narrow the list down. Each and every waterway has its own story to tell, and its own history. If we could see what these waters have seen, we might all be surprised. Have you ever camped, fished or just enjoyed the atmosphere at one of these rivers? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
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