McCreary County offers exciting water adventures for all ages. Experience the rush of whitewater on a raft, canoe or tube. From half day to multiple day trips you’ll find thrilling beginner and intermediate rapids on the Cumberland and Big South Fork Rivers.
River Access Points
Alum Ford Boat Ramp & Campsite
End of Highway 700 West, Big South Fork of Cumberland River.
Blue Heron
End of Highway 742.
Noe’s Boat Dock
Off Highway 90, to Highway 896.
Sawyer Boat Launch Ramp
Off Highway 90, to 896 to 1609.
Turkey Creek Boat Launch Ramp
End of Highway 927.
A Kentucky designated Scenic Wild River and Outstanding Water Resource, Rock Creek offers some of the best fishing opportunities on the Cumberland Plateau. Rainbow Trout are regularly stocked in the stream by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and fly-fishing opportunity abounds. Home to Great Meadows Campground, Hemlock Grove Picnic Area and many dispersed primitive campsites.
Visit www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/troutwaters.asp for more information.
Located off U.S. Hwy 27 near Stearns, this impoundment is listed as a Kentucky Outstanding Water Resource that offers day-site recreation for wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing and paddling the lake. A boat ramp is available but non-motorized craft are prohibited.
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River begins at the confluence of the New and Clear Rivers in Tennessee and continues for 76 miles through the rugged clifflines of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area offering world class fishing and one of the best whitewater experiences (Class III_IV Rapids) in the eastern U.S. The river joins Lake Cumberland near the Pulaski County line and features developed access points at Leatherwood Ford and Station Camp in Tennessee and Bear Creek, Blue Heron, Worley, Yamacraw, Alum Ford, Big Creek and Turkey Creek in Kentucky. Visit nps.gov/biso for more information or download a guide to paddling the Big South Fork here.
A Kentucky Scenic & Wild River highlighted by Cumberland Falls, the largest waterfall in Kentucky and home to one of two moonbows in the world. Recreation opportunities abound with hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, bird watching, fishing, canoeing and more. River access is available at Redbird near Williamsburg, KY and Noe’s Dock Boat Ramp and Sawyer Boat Ramp in McCreary County, two sites where modern watercraft can access beautiful Lake Cumberland. Please visit parks.ky.gov or www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf to learn more about what the mighty Cumberland River has to offer.