What is the kentucky river watertrail
What is the Kentucky River Water Trail Project?
For nearly two decades, the Kentucky RIVERKEEPER has developed partnerships and networks with Kentucky Adventure Tourism, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, the Heritage Land Conservation Fund, the National Parks Service, Kentucky State Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Bluegrass Tomorrow, Kentucky River Basin Team, Kentucky River Authority, University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, the Kentucky River Water Trail Alliance, county, city and state agencies, local preservation and historical societies, local tourism development agencies, and paddling and fishing groups.
The Kentucky River Trail will be an interconnected watercourse for recreational activities and outdoor enjoyment. It will follow the Kentucky River as it flows from the mountainous region of southeastern Kentucky into the central Kentucky Bluegrass Region, and eventually into the Ohio River in north central Kentucky. These recreational waterways serve as ribbons of discovery and create educational opportunities, promote a healthy environment and high quality of life while preserving our natural, cultural and historic heritage. This 240-mile route provides a variety of scenic flat-water recreational opportunities that have been relatively untapped as a recreational outdoor resource. Tantamount among the scenic vistas that the Kentucky River’s course affords are the limestone palisades, a series of steep gorges and cliffs along a 100-mile central stretch of the waterway.
The addition of river access points and recreational amenities in each county will encourage visitors to spend time by or on the river. By building portages around the 14 lock and dam properties and promoting County /Kentucky River Authority partnerships and community partners, we can develop a trail system that will extend throughout the entire Kentucky River and headwaters. Paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enter and exit the river at a variety of points, with the directional assistance of signage identifying trail features, such as parks, picnic areas, and boat ramps.
DRINK ,SWIM, FISH the Kentucky River!
The Kentucky River Water Trail is a natural trail of 256-miles (not including headwaters) of water trail that would improve access and connectivity to our river
communities, boaters, paddlers and fishermen.
Fishing – Boating - Paddling - Camping—Adventuring
KRWT EARNS NATIONAL AWARD!
*The Kentucky River Water Trail was selected in 2011 as 1 of 100 projects across the country to be recognized in President Obama’s initiative, “America’s Great Outdoors”, launched to develop a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda aimed at addressing the growing issue of Americans who are losing their connection with outdoor places and the value they provide to our quality of life. Governor Beshear nominated the Kentucky River Water Trail as one of Kentucky’s two America’s Great Outdoors projects.
NEWS FLASH!!!
During the fall of 2019, the Kentucky River Authority voted to assume management responsibilities for the Kentucky River Water Trail. As a state agency that owns most of the lock and dam properties, KRA promises to be a stable home for the water trail. New branding efforts are underway and staff will submit a proposal to become a National Water Trail with National Park Service certification in the Fall of 2020 At KY Riverkeeper, we are optimistic about these developments and promise to continue our support to make this something all Kentuckians will be proud of.
THE HEADWATERS
Three headwater streams merge at different points near Beattyville in Lee County to create the main stem of the Kentucky River. The North Fork flows out of Letcher County near Whitesburg. Letcher County claims headwaters from two other major river systems--the Big Sandy and the Cumberland River. The North Fork goes through the communities of Hazard and Jackson before reaching Beattyville. The Middle Fork flows out of Leslie County not far from the Virginia state line. It passes Hyden and is impounded to create Buckhorn Lake Reservoir. The South Fork comes out of Clay County near the town of Oneida at the confluence of Goose Creek and the Red Bird River. All three forks follow a winding northwest direction. The terrain consist of a rugged mountainous Cumberland Plateau where small farms, coal mining, salt production, timber and other resource industries have long been staple industries.
