Rockcastle River
Rockcastle River
Saturday, November 17, 2007 Trip Reports
'07
Josh Carpenter and Spalding Hurst were at the Rockcastle this past weekend. The Rockcastle was running at 250cfs, still plenty of flow for the Narrows. They had only wished they could have taken another lap through them. The Rockcastle is sweet, but short.
Ben Ballard was also in the area, running the Rockcastle with another group. Ben reported that he is looking forward to taking his new kayak to some roll sessions.
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Rockcastle Hike
Saturday, June 30, 2007 Trip Reports
'07
By: John Thomas
It was good. The last 2 miles really wore us out. Jay, the worst weatherman in the world, said it was only a 10% chance of rain so he didn't bring any raingear. Well since a Thomas was hiking it rained. Not only did it rain, we witnessed an impressive lightning storm. We got drenched while hiking and it rained all night while we were trying to sleep. The campsite was on a peaceful beach in front of flat water on the river. We watched "gar" fish all day while drying our clothes in our undies. Jays dog performed well on the trail and really enjoyed boulder hopping along the river. It was a good trip. Jay has pics that I am expecting to see sometime soon.
• Pictures
• Rockcastle Info
Rockcastle River
Monday, April 23, 2007 Trip Reports
'07
800cfs
On Saturday, Josh and I
along with a large group of Vikings ran the
Rockcastle river. The weather was extraordinary and
the water level was at a very fun level of 800cfs.
This made for bigger whitewater on the run and linked
up the rapids. Rapids 01 and 02 become one rapid and
03 and 04 another. The biggest rapids in the Lower
Narrows was kind of like running what I am calling
the "medium three", similar to the big three on the
Big South Fork.
The Rockcastle is always fun. And I have the pictures to prove it!
Rockcastle River
Saturday, March 31, 2007 Trip Reports
'07
460cfs
The Rockcastle is awesome. I have said that before, but it has been a while since I have gotten down there. I love the run even more with the new shuttle and the new rapids. You can easily run the lower narrows twice in one day, you could probably run them three or four times if you wanted.
Josh and I ran the lower narrows twice, a bomber run before Ben came down. Then on our second trip we took our time, scouting the rapids and shooting video at each one. There were many other boaters down at the Rockcastle, more than I had ever seen before, though some of them were running the CBF this day. We did meet up with Meagan and Bubba on the water.
The new shuttle is easy and short. We put on above the Lower Narrows, but you can walk up river some and put on above Beech Narrows if you wish. All you have to do for the shuttle is turn right on Close road, look for the trail head with the gate on the left, then walk down about 10 minutes to the water. Rinse and repeat.
You can't get this much bang for your buck this close to home. 2 runs, 5 hours of paddling on the beautiful Rockcastle and about 16 class II and III rapids. I'm glad to see more people enjoying one of Kentucky's best whitewater runs.
American Whitewater: Rockcastle
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 News '06
Rockcastle in July
Sunday, July 09, 2006 Trip Reports
'06
Jay and I got in a day trip on the Rockcastle. We
thought all the lowers narrows would be covered up,
but the lake was only 718ft so we got to run rapids 1
& 2. Rapid 2 was very strong at this level, a big
drop and threw you hard into the river left eddy
after running it. We both ran Stairsteps a couple of
times even though there was a tree fallen into the
river at the bottom of it.Read
More...
April's Fools
Saturday, April 01, 2006 Trip Reports
'06
On this trip it was Toby, Tim, Jay and I and we met
Josh...Read
More...
Rockcastle Trip
Monday, October 10, 2005 News '05
Canoeing, Kayaking, Camping
Canceled due to lack of water, but we hope to reschedule this for November.
This is a trip for anybody of any level. It will be in honor of Jay's 31st birthday. The Rockcastle is an amazing and beautiful place. If you haven't been you should really check out this Kentucky jewel.
It's a 16 mile run that we will cover in 2 days. Day 1 consisting of calm class I water, great scenery and a cool night camping. Day 2 will have the whitewater and the excitement. Class II and III drops through an awesome gorge. The Rockcastle is hella fun through here!
You can choose to run only day one stuff and/or you can give the narrows a try. We'll be taking canoes and kayaks. Maybe we'll even give the raft a try if we can squeeze it through. They don't call it the narrows for nothing. If you have been watching this website, seeing us do these paddling trips and wishing you had joined in, this is the time join us. The Rockcastle is my favorite place and it is close to home. Only 2 1/2 hours away.
Go to the forum and let us know that you want to go to the Rockcastle in honor of Jay's 35th birthday.
Rockcastle Day Trip
Sunday, July 17, 2005 Trip Reports
'05
300cfs
Jay and I got in a day trip to the Rockcastle. A great river day with lots of combat rolling for me, the has helped my confidance on the river I think. After jumping into a whole on Screaming Right last week and now getting worked a touch in the Narrows I feel better about my cobat rolling. I am calm under the water in rapids. The details: We left at 7:30am from Louisville and shoved off at 11:30am on the river. The shuttle setup and getting to the put-in is long. Stair steps was god, we walked around Beech Narrows which looked very grabby this day and then had a blast on the 6 drops of the lower narrows. The lake was at 717ft, this gave us 6 rapids in the Narrows, covering one small rapid that I know of, that was exposed last time at 711ft. So there really aren't a whole bunch of rapids for such a long shuttle, but the Rockcastle is beautiful and no one else goes down there. We got lost trying to get back out to Highway 80. The road signs and maps don't jive very well. When taking Squib-Ano road out take a left at the Adkins/Arthur crossing. I may be getting to a point where I would like some more excitement in my kayaking, but I still love the Rockcastle the best. I think the rating on AW.org needs to be class II-III(IV) Next time I go I hope to get pictures of all the rapids and update the website on AW.
Jay and I got in a day trip to the Rockcastle. A great river day with lots of combat rolling for me, the has helped my confidance on the river I think. After jumping into a whole on Screaming Right last week and now getting worked a touch in the Narrows I feel better about my cobat rolling. I am calm under the water in rapids. The details: We left at 7:30am from Louisville and shoved off at 11:30am on the river. The shuttle setup and getting to the put-in is long. Stair steps was god, we walked around Beech Narrows which looked very grabby this day and then had a blast on the 6 drops of the lower narrows. The lake was at 717ft, this gave us 6 rapids in the Narrows, covering one small rapid that I know of, that was exposed last time at 711ft. So there really aren't a whole bunch of rapids for such a long shuttle, but the Rockcastle is beautiful and no one else goes down there. We got lost trying to get back out to Highway 80. The road signs and maps don't jive very well. When taking Squib-Ano road out take a left at the Adkins/Arthur crossing. I may be getting to a point where I would like some more excitement in my kayaking, but I still love the Rockcastle the best. I think the rating on AW.org needs to be class II-III(IV) Next time I go I hope to get pictures of all the rapids and update the website on AW.
Kings of the Rockcastle
Saturday, August 14, 2004 Trip Reports
'04
David Jury, John Mathews, Ryan Hamilton, Spalding
Hurst
Saturday 400cfs
Sunday 275 cfs
I've had the idea of doing a two day over night boating expedition all summer long. Well this particular weekend we decided to do it. I chose the Rockcastle because it is a long stretch which provided time for camping and taking in the scenery of the most beautiful river in Kentucky. The class II rapids of the lower narrows would provide some excitement for us and the new boaters. I thought the lake level would be high and the long stretch of drops at the end would be buried under the lake. This however was not the case. So with the lower narrows running and the water level at a very technical 400cfs I would have to bump Sundays run up to class III.
We started out way up at Rockcastle Adventures. We hired the guy here to run our shuttle. They ended up locking my keys in some random car at the take out, but I got that sorted out. There was also a large group from Bowling Green putting on about the same time as us. So we set off at noon at Saturday. We are paddling the two Blue Hole Canoes, the Crossfire and my Inazone. The canoes carries all of the gear, food and beer, held in 4 dry bags and a cooler.
The first day of paddling is all flat water and class I riffles. So no excitement, but David and Ryan got to feel out their boats. After 9 miles of paddling, a little more than half way we decided to camp on a huge rock in the center of the river.
On day 2 we began to see some class II rapids. David and Ryan did really good with these. Then we came to Beech Narrows. John ran it no problem. I had to decide if my kayak could punch the hole that it was forming. After attempting the run I found out I could not clear the hole. I almost rolled out but instead washed upside down into the next rock. I thought I might get pinned so I bailed and had my first swim this summer. Sucks too cause I should have held on a little longer and rolled. I would have had only one chance though cause the next rock that my boat ran into was even worse. Good experience though.
Then we came to a whole bunch of class III stuff through the lower narrows. This type of run would have been heaven for John and I, but after a few flips from David and Ryan they did not want to run anymore of the rapids. So We had to continually run there boats down with no one in them, then recover them and wait for them to walk along the banks. We made, but it was tiring and it took along time. John also got pinned somewhere in there. I didn't see it until right before he got his boat free cause I was up stream towing a canoe back to Ryan.
The trip was awesome. I can't wait to go back and run the lower narrows again. These rapids are just sitting right below the noses of a lot of Kentucky boaters it seems. It is an easy day trip to some great whitewater when the lake level is low.
I'm just glad we got our 2 day adventure in before the summer ended. Maybe we can squeeze one more in there.
Saturday 400cfs
Sunday 275 cfs
I've had the idea of doing a two day over night boating expedition all summer long. Well this particular weekend we decided to do it. I chose the Rockcastle because it is a long stretch which provided time for camping and taking in the scenery of the most beautiful river in Kentucky. The class II rapids of the lower narrows would provide some excitement for us and the new boaters. I thought the lake level would be high and the long stretch of drops at the end would be buried under the lake. This however was not the case. So with the lower narrows running and the water level at a very technical 400cfs I would have to bump Sundays run up to class III.
We started out way up at Rockcastle Adventures. We hired the guy here to run our shuttle. They ended up locking my keys in some random car at the take out, but I got that sorted out. There was also a large group from Bowling Green putting on about the same time as us. So we set off at noon at Saturday. We are paddling the two Blue Hole Canoes, the Crossfire and my Inazone. The canoes carries all of the gear, food and beer, held in 4 dry bags and a cooler.
The first day of paddling is all flat water and class I riffles. So no excitement, but David and Ryan got to feel out their boats. After 9 miles of paddling, a little more than half way we decided to camp on a huge rock in the center of the river.
On day 2 we began to see some class II rapids. David and Ryan did really good with these. Then we came to Beech Narrows. John ran it no problem. I had to decide if my kayak could punch the hole that it was forming. After attempting the run I found out I could not clear the hole. I almost rolled out but instead washed upside down into the next rock. I thought I might get pinned so I bailed and had my first swim this summer. Sucks too cause I should have held on a little longer and rolled. I would have had only one chance though cause the next rock that my boat ran into was even worse. Good experience though.
Then we came to a whole bunch of class III stuff through the lower narrows. This type of run would have been heaven for John and I, but after a few flips from David and Ryan they did not want to run anymore of the rapids. So We had to continually run there boats down with no one in them, then recover them and wait for them to walk along the banks. We made, but it was tiring and it took along time. John also got pinned somewhere in there. I didn't see it until right before he got his boat free cause I was up stream towing a canoe back to Ryan.
The trip was awesome. I can't wait to go back and run the lower narrows again. These rapids are just sitting right below the noses of a lot of Kentucky boaters it seems. It is an easy day trip to some great whitewater when the lake level is low.
I'm just glad we got our 2 day adventure in before the summer ended. Maybe we can squeeze one more in there.
Back To The Rockcastle
Saturday, May 08, 2004 Trip Reports
'04
Jay, John and I ran the Rockcastle river on Saturday
May 8 th . The level was at 600cfs.
John ran the Beech narrows, the class IV rapid of the
river. It looked pretty scary, but John made
it look easy in the Blue Hole canoe. Check the
video below and pictures in the gallery. The
trip was awesome. The Rockcastle is a perfect
river to run. The lake was up and so the last
rapids on the lower narrows were not there.
But in all we had a great river trip. Jay got
his first roll on his third time trying. I am
a good teacher I guess. I can't wait to
return.
Water level: 600cfs
Attendance:
Jay Thomas
John Mathews
Spalding Hurst
Water level: 600cfs
Attendance:
Jay Thomas
John Mathews
Spalding Hurst
The Epic One, The Rockcastle
Saturday, October 11, 2003 Trip Reports
'03
This was the turning point. The was the trip made me
fall in love with paddling. This trip had it all for
me at the time. Better rapids, trip planning, a new
place undiscovered by us.
It was Justin, John, Jay, Brian and myself. We camped at Bee Rock and ran the short section on Saturday, camping Saturday night and leaving Sunday. We had 10 inch grins on our faces the whole time. This was also Jay's first river trip.
It was Justin, John, Jay, Brian and myself. We camped at Bee Rock and ran the short section on Saturday, camping Saturday night and leaving Sunday. We had 10 inch grins on our faces the whole time. This was also Jay's first river trip.
