Kentucky River
🏞 National Park
Madison / Jessamine Co. · 259 mi · Class I
2,500CFS/ 11.52 ft
Optimal↓Falling slowly (-30 cfs/hr)· -70 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 500–5000 CFS · USGS #03284000
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
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Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Kentucky Wild River (Palisades section) · Camp Nelson National Monument
The Palisades of the Kentucky River — 100 miles of 300-foot limestone cliffs through the heart of bourbon country. The Kentucky River flows 259 miles from the Appalachian foothills to the Ohio River, passing Camp Nelson, bourbon distilleries, and some of the most dramatic river gorge scenery in the eastern U.S. Class I water with stunning geology.
Trip sections
Palisades — Camp Nelson to Frankfort, 100 mi, limestone gorge
Above the Palisades — Class I, Appalachian foothills
Frankfort to Carrollton — Class I, lower river to Ohio
Outfitters
Shaker Village Riverboat
Kentucky River Palisades access and tours
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.