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Canoe Trips

More Boat Options!!

Solo recreational kayaks are now available for the Cumberland and Lower Big South Fork canoe trips for an extra $10/boat. This is in addition to the tandem recreational kayaks, which are available for the same pricing as the regular canoes.

Rafts are available for the 5-mile, 17-mile, and Mouth of Laurel Cumberland canoe trips. They are $100/raft for up to 4 people, and $25/person after that. Max load: 950 lbs.

Canoe trips can range from peaceful half-day family outings to challenging multiple-day trips. There are a number of options depending on the time of the year and the type of trip that you are looking for. The table below can help you sort out which trip might be right for you. It divides our trips by Season and Skill level. To get additional information on any trip, just click on the name of the trip. You might want to take a look at the What to bring canoeing page as well.

TRIPS AT A GLANCE
RIVER SECTION	S P R I N G	S U M M E R	F A L L	*Class Rating*	Length	1-day price per person	2-day price per person	Comments
Upper Cumberland River (Above the Falls)
5-mile				I-II	5mi	$25	$35	Approx 1.5 - 2 hours on-water time.
17-mile				I-II	17mi	$25	$35	Generally 5-7 hours on-water time
28-mile				I-II	28mi	N/A	$35	Only runnable early in the season.
Lower Cumberland River (Mouth of Laurel)
Mouth of Laurel				Moving and Flatwater	5mi	$25	$35	Runnable year-round
Big South Fork River
Middle Sections
Leatherwood to Station Camp				I-II	8mi	N/A	N/A	Only run in conjunction with Station Camp to Blue Heron as a 2-3 day trip.
Station Camp to Blue Heron				I-II	19mi	N/A	$60	Our most popular 2- day trip.
Lower Sections
Blue Heron to Yamacraw				I-II	4.8mi	$25	$35	Our most popular ½ day trip. See also Rivers & Rails Trip
Yamacraw to Alum Ford				I-II	7.4mi	$25	$35	Extends ½ day trip to full-day.
Alum Ford to Hwy 927				I	11.5mi	$25	$35	Excellent fall color viewing.
Rivers & Rails
Blue Heron To Yamacraw + Scenic Train Ride				I-II	4.8mi	$55	---	See Rivers & Rails Trip for details
Laurel Lake
Laurel Lake ²				Flatwater	N/A	See ->	See ->	$25/canoe up to 4 hours $35/canoe all day You haul.

Upper Cumberland (Above the Falls) Canoeing

Sheltowee Trace Outfitters has made a map of the Cumberland River Above Cumberland Falls. This map details put-in points, major land-marks, side creeks and potential camping sites. It is not drawn to scale (though it is close to scale) and is not intended for navigation purposes. Click the following link to view or download the map: River map of Upper Cumberland (pdf file, 68K).

5-Mile Section

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This 5-mile, Class I-II section begins 5 miles upstream of Cumberland Falls. The trip is entirely within the Daniel Boone National Forest with its solitude and beautiful forest scenery. This section of river is designated as a Kentucky Wild & Scenic river. The trip ends about ¼ mile before Cumberland Falls -- a 68-foot waterfall (don′t miss the take out -- that last drop is a doosey!!!).

$25/person. Solo recreational kayaks are available for an additional $10/person. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (includes solo recreational kayak, if desired). Rafts are available for $100 for up to 4 people; $25 for each additional person. No group discounts.

17-Mile Section

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This Class I/II trip begins with about 5 miles of rolling farm land before entering the Daniel Boone National Forest with its solitude and beautiful forest scenery. It ends about ¼ mile before Cumberland Falls. Bring a lunch and enjoy a day on the river. This all-day trip extends to a two-day trip at lower water levels. Generally runnable as 1-day through early June; 2-day through late June.

$25/person; Each additional day is $10/person. Solo recreational kayaks are available for an additional $10/person. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (includes solo recreational kayak, if desired). Rafts are available for $100 for up to 4 people; $25 for each additional person.

28-Mile Section

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This Class I/II trip starts 11 miles upstream of the 17-mile section, beginning just outside of Williamsburg, KY. This section makes a good 2-3 day trip in late Spring and early summer. Generally not runnable after mid-June.

$35/person(2-days); Each additional day: $10/person. Solo recreational are available for an additional $10/person. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (includes solo recreational kayak, if desired). Rafts are not available on the overnight trip.

Lower Cumberland River (Mouth of Laurel)

Mouth of Laurel: This 5-mile section begins where the Laurel River meets the Cumberland River. This is also the take-out point of our summer rafting trip. It continues 5 miles downstream to where the Rockcastle River joins the Cumberland. The trip is entirely within the Daniel Boone National Forest, although there are a few summer cabins along the route. Sawyer Boat Ramp, with its picnic area and bathrooms, is about halfway through the trip. This section used to be under Lake Cumberland, so the tree line is higher up on the shore, providing excellent views of high cliff lines and birding opportunities.

Big South Fork Canoeing

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located approximately 1 hour from the Sheltowee Trace Outfitters adventure center. The park encompasses approximately 70 miles of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, and has some of the area′s most scenic river trips. There are 6 put-ins along the Big South Fork that can be used to build a canoe trip ranging from ½ day to several days. Boy Scout Leaders take note: Leatherwood to Hwy 927 is 50.7 miles, and makes a nice 50-miler trip.

Back country permits are required for overnight trips in the Big South Fork. You can pick these up from either the Big South Fork Visitors Center or from our driver at the meeting point.

All BSF canoe trips meet at the take-out point. Click the following link for an area map and directions to the various take-out points on the Big South Fork.

Middle Sections of the Big South Fork

Canoeing The middle sections are very remote and have a number of Class II rapids. Not recommended for inexperienced canoeists. Water levels often rise and fall quickly in the Spring season, and canoeists should be prepared to stay over an extra night if river conditions dictate. Fishermen paddling from Tennessee into Kentucky along the Big South Fork do not need a fishing license from both states (either state will do). Trips meet at the take-out point and rental boats must be back in to the take-out point by 6pm at the end of your trip. Please note that recreational kayaks are not available for rental on the middle sections of the Big South Fork.

Sheltowee Trace Outfitters has made a map of the Middle section of the Big South Fork. This map details the portages that are required on the Leatherwood to Station Camp and Station Camp to Blue Heron sections described below. It is not drawn to scale (though it is close to scale) and is not intended for navigation purposes. Click the following link to view or download the map: River Map of Middle Big South Fork (pdf file, 21K).

Leatherwood to Station Camp

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This 8-mile extension to the Station Camp to Blue Heron section puts in at the Leatherwood Ford River Access point near Oneida, TN. There is a mandatory ¼ mile portage around Angel Falls. Leatherwood to Blue Heron (27 miles) is generally run as a longer 2-day trip in the Spring and early Summer; a 3-day trip during the Summer, and as an extended fishing trip in the Fall.

$60/person (2-day); $10 each additional day. Equipment deposit (credit card) required. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (solo trips are highly discouraged!)

Station Camp to Blue Heron

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This 19-mile trip is our most popular 2-day canoeing trip. There is a mandatory ¼ mile portage around Devil′s Jump. Camping is open (dispersed) camping along the sides of the river. Please follow standard back country, Leave No Trace principles. Station Camp to Blue Heron is generally run as a shorter 2-day trip in the Spring and early Summer; a longer 2-day trip during the Summer, and as 2-3 day fishing trip in the Fall.

$60/person (2-day); $10 each additional day. Equipment deposit (credit card) required. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (solo trips are highly discouraged!)

Lower Sections of the Big South Fork

The lower sections of the Big South Fork have the beauty of the Middle Sections without the difficulty. These sections have great places to stop and picnic or explore. All lower section trips meet at the take-out point. We will shuttle you to the put-in, and you canoe back down to your vehicle. That way you can spend as much or as little time on the river as you want! Well, within reason - you have to be back by 6pm unless other arrangements are made in advance. Prices are based on the day, so you can combine sections at no extra charge.

Blue Heron to Yamacraw

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This 4.8-mile trip is our most popular ½ day canoeing trip. The put-in is at Blue Heron - an old mining town that has been turned into an interpretive area by the National Park Service. You are welcome to tour the grounds before starting your canoe trip. This trip can easily be done in about 2 ½ hours, but you are free to spend all day on the river.

This section of the river has a few mild shoals to start before hitting Joe Shoals - a Class II rapid about 1 mile from the put-in point. While the rapid looks straight forward, more people than you think go swimming at this point in the trip. The trick to this rapid is to keep your boat to the left half of the river while not letting it get sideways to the current. Once past Joe Shoals, the river has a number of shoals scattered along the rest of the way to the take-outpoint at Yamacraw. There is another borderline Class II rapid just below Yamacraw Bridge. As the take-out is just before this rapid, those that don't want to try their skills can go ahead and take out. Those that want the challenge, can run this last rapid; just make sure to walk/carry the boat(s) back to the take-out.

$25/person; $10 each additional day. Solo recreational kayaks are available for an additional $10/person. There is a $10 surcharge for single person trips (includes solo recreational kayak, if desired).

Yamacraw to Alum Ford

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This 7.4 mile trip is usually run either as an extension to the Blue Heron to Yamacraw trip to make a full-day trip, or as a 3/4 day trip. There is one borderline Class II rapid at the put-in (you can put-in below it if you want), and another one about half-way through this section. There are a number of small shoals and/or rapids on this section. At higher water levels, there are several Class II rapids on this section and it can be quite tricky.

Alum Ford to 927

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This 11.5 mile trip is usually run in the late summer or fall time when river levels get very low. This is mostly a flat-water section. It does have decent flow for the first 2.5 miles or so, but then slows down even more so that it is generally not strong enough to make a difference in paddling. There are a couple of small rapids at the beginning of the trip, and one rapid that can cause problems at higher water levels. It does have the distinct advantage of being deep enough to float when everything else in the area is too shallow.

Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake is a gorgeous lake located about 30 minutes from our adventure center near Cumberland Falls. This rental option is our only 'car-top' (you haul) rental. Once you arrive at Laurel Lake, there are a number of different boat ramps that can be used to explore the lake. Put in next to the dam that forms the lake, or use the Marsh Branch boat ramp to access the Cane Branch site of the Canada Goose Management Area. This refuge is a section of lake that is restricted to non-motorized traffic only.

You must pickup and return the canoe or recreational kayak at our office. Once the return deposit is paid (by credit card or cash), you load the boat on your vehicle. Please note that not all vehicles can carry boats. You can select any legal launching area at Laurel Lake to begin your adventure. $25/canoe for up to 4-hours; $35/canoe for all-day. Rental fee includes upto 2 adult PFDs (lifejackets) and 2 child PFDs. Additional rental PFDs are $2 each. Every person in the canoe MUST have a properly fitted PFD -- it's the law!

Sheltowee Trace Outfitters

P.O. Box 1060
Whitley City, KY 42653
1-800-541-RAFT (7238)
fax: 1-866-FAX-RAFT (866-329-7238)
e-mail: fun

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