What did you do this weekend? Go to ball games, clean the car, and plant the garden, work! More importantly, what did your kid’s do this weekend? Play X Box, text on their new I Phone, surf the web, sit on the couch. There are many factors in the studies that show that today’s kid’s are more obese and less athletic than any other generation before, but the above listed are all some of the top reasons. Outdoor minds all agree that the biggest competition to the outdoor market is the couch, the computer, the cell phone and the game systems… Wii’s included!
Break the cycle this year. Give your kid’s the “paddlin’” they deserve. Kentucky is rich in many ways. Great bluegrass, bourbon and horses… as our undefined motto goes. We are also rich in water, the lifeblood of the planet. Kentucky has more miles of free flowing, navigable streams than anywhere else in the U.S., except for Alaska. And even closer to home, many of the most wonderful miles of paddling streams are right here in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Let’s explore some of those.
First, the gem of the Bluegrass, the Elkhorn Creek. The Elkhorn is not only considered the most popular destination stream in the state for paddling, but it is also consistently listed as one of the top Small mouth Bass streams in the South-Eastern U.S. The Elkhorn will challenge you with it’s class II – III whitewater, or lull you away from your daily grind on it’s class I, family friendly stretches. The 21 miles of the main stem of Elkhorn, all located in Franklin County, will prove to you why it is so well known and sought after. Are you a little leery of moving water? Head to Georgetown and take in some of the flat water on the North Fork of the Elkhorn at places like Cardome, Ocer’s Landing and Great Crossings.
The Kentucky River has so many wonderful areas to go in your canoe or kayak that it is hard to pick one or two. So we won’t try. We will pick three. First, check out downtown Frankfort from the seat of a canoe or kayak. It is a wonderful experience to check out the history of the lock and dam (If the lock opens this year, which it is supposed to, you are allowed to lock through on weekends. Contact the Kentucky River Authority for more info) the view of Daniel Boone’s grave, the Singing Bridge, or just a quick turn up the tranquil waters of Benson Creek.
Another very beautiful area is in and around Clay’s Ferry/ Boonesborough. This is in the palisades area of the river, being between lock and dam 6 up to lock and dam 10. You can get some great cliff views here, as well as the end of Boone Creek, which is a nice little history lesson in and of itself. You can also paddle up and see the sunken paddle wheeler that used to ply this water in the early 1900’s, but now rests half in and half out of the water. You will also be looking at Hall’s on the River. Pull your boat into Howard’s Creek, tie up and head in for a great lunch or dinner.
Lastly, on the Kentucky River, you have to check out the area in and around High Bridge, just outside of Wilmore and Shaker Landing. You ca put on underneath the famous bridge (considered one of the tallest over a navigable stream when it was built) then turn and head up the Kentucky. After a short distance, you will come to the Dix River. Turning up the Dix will take you into the most magnificent place in the Palisades. Cliffs over 200 feet tall tower on both sides of the river. And the water, since it is coming out of the bottom of the enormous Dix River Dam, is constantly around 55 degrees and crystal clear. This area is loaded with trout, so bring your pole and have at it. A perfect lunch stop is about 2 miles up the Dix, and then you can turn back downstream. Be sure and end your day with dinner at Shaker Village.
These areas to paddle only scratch the surface on what is readily available here in Kentucky. With all the lakes and streams around, you could paddle on something different every day and never see the same thing twice. And don’t worry about having your own canoe or kayak, because there are outfitters across the state that can help you out. Here in Frankfort, Canoe Kentucky is always happy to help you find the perfect place to paddle for either your family or your group. With 29 years of experience, and more than that if you combine how long all the staff family has paddled, they are the perfect resource for getting you on the water. Check them out online at www.canoeky.com, then give them a call to help you arrange your most memorable summer experience. Choose to connect with your family this year… not through cell phones, emails and text’s… but instead, through some great bonding time that will create long lasting memories for your and them both.