Red, Kentucky, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Length | 10.3 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 14 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 40 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED RIVER NEAR HAZEL GREEN, KY | ||||
| usgs-03282500 | 200 - 5000 cfs | III | 00h44m | 85 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) |
The Upper Red is a beautiful stretch of river which flows through the remote Clifty Wilderness
Area of the Red River Gorge. There are often cliffs on both sides, and going around one bend
you'll paddle underneath a rock amphitheater.
The difficulty level of this river varies a lot depending on water level. At low flows the river
is suitable for advanced beginning kayakers. Tight maneuvering through boulders is required
though, which would be difficult for a canoe. At high flows the rapids become more
straightforward to navigate, though they are pushy and powerful, and some holes need to be
avoided. Some rapids will need to be scouted because they disappear around a bend.
For more information, see Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to KY.
Karl Whipp testifies:
The Red River Gorge has a VERY tight upper section that requires a LOT of water (not a very
large drainage) and is a class III run with a few nice ledges, etc. EXTREMELY remote. Once you're
in, the only way out is downriver.
The listed gauge (at Hazel Green) is upstream of the putin.
The minimum (200 cfs) is confirmed as a reasonable minimum. 250 cfs is still low, while 400 cfs is a medium level.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RED RIVER NEAR HAZEL GREEN, KY | ||||||||||||
| usgs-03282500 | 200 - 5000 cfs | III | 00h44m | 85 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) | ||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RedKY 746 to KY 715 (10.3 miles) [KY] |
19732.jpeg
|
n/a | brett finkleman | |
| Red [KY] |
Spalding
|
150? | Jay Thomas | |
| Upper Red River [KY] |
Half Shafters
|
350cfs@Hazel Green | Dale Perry | |
| Red River [KY] |
Falls of Red River
|
n/a | Barry Grimes | |
| Red [KY] |
Amphitheater
|
150?? | n/a | |
| 4y10d01h12m | Red River [KY] |
Red River Amp
|
155 | Edward A. Kirkwood |
| 5y114d02h12m | Red [KY] |
Red River
|
150 | Jay Thomas |
| 7y302d10h12m | Red River [KY] |
Approach "hero route"
|
6.0 | Bob Grewe |
| 7y313d10h12m | Red River [ky] |
Boulder Garden
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 7y313d10h12m | red river [ky] |
Narrows
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 7y314d10h12m | Red River [ky] |
Exit of Entrance
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 8y303d10h12m | Red River [KY] |
Red River Narrows
|
6.0 | Bob Grewe |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. reach
state
reachlink
KY 746 to KY 715 (10.3 miles), Red Kentucky, US (mobile)
User Comments
have seen at an easy class iv. I have paddled the upper red four times this spring and twice it was
breaking its banks. The strainers are really bad in which some you have no way around. BE EXTREMELY
CAREFUL AT THE LAST BIG SECTION. The last hydraulic will takke you down if you hit it in the
middle. I highly suggest this river but it needs to be way up. The lower on this one the more
strainers you will have problems with. They do not call the last torrent "The Dog Drowner" for
nothing. One of my canoes was torn in half by the beginning of it, once you get to the end the
water is really pushing. All big torrents are strainer free. Remember, ONLY TEAMS OF TWO CANOES
SHOULD HIT THIS RIVER FROM route 746. It is fun if your into epic hauls. Bring a Emergency
Overnight Kit !!!!!! Edit
roughly 6 mph) the day before and decided it was running too fast for our skill level. The next
day, the level was down to ~275 CFS (moving closer to 2-3 mph). Everyone in the group had beginner
white water experience. We stopped frequently to scout, and there was only 1 rapid with a nearly
river white strainer that required portage. At this water level there were some solid class III
rapids (possibly III+) and a large number of class II. Dog drowning hole which was very obvious at
650 CFS was quite small at 275. Overall a very entertaining run, we ran the 10 miles in 4 hours or
so. It was a tiring run (especially with the cold - water was high 30s or so), but the water was
moving constantly which helped. I personally was using a recreational kayak and had no problems
running it. Using a canoe would have been difficult due to some tight turns. I would recommend at
least intermediate skill level at water levels higher than 350 as the current begins to become
quite swift and recovery of your boat could be difficult. The water levels fluctuate rapidly, and
without previous heavy rainfall, the river is more of a creek. I would recommend keeping a close
eye on water levels after a storm.
kayak. Water level not a huge problem on the majority of the river, although some of the drops
required portages. This was mostly due to having a recreational kayak, and little whitewater
experience.No river wide strainers, but we did encounter a few smaller strainers in between some of
the boulders. All of which, we were able to pick a route around. Calaboose Falls is beautiful, and
would have been fun in a smaller kayak. All in all a great trip! The scenery and terrain are
amazing. We did the trip with an overnight right around the 5 mile mark. I would not recommend
leaving a vehicle at the put in off of 746, the location is very remote and seems to be a local
party spot. For an excellent shuttle service, try Redriveradventure.net They are located 1/4 mile
East of the 77 & 715 junction in the Red River Gorge. Ken is the owner, and he went out of his way
to accommodate us to make the trip possible.
Green. We put on the Stillwater Creek, which we estimated had approximately 700 cfs with a combined
flow at the Red of around 1850 - 2000 cfs. The holes were big and the rapids were substantial class
III+ with consequences. Harder than the Ocoee at this level with Lower Gauley type moves. Very
heavy water. At this level I would say a class III-IV overall because of the pushy water and
problematic hydraulics with moves to make. Good level and a great choice for the right boaters. We
did the trip in about an hour and a half. Wow, beautiful in there. Most of the river wide strainers
at lower water were submerged at this level and we did not have to get out of our boats. Brent
Austin
(4ft). Some of the pictures here say the level is 6ft, but must be wrong because some of the
boulders visible in the pictures are covered at 4ft. At this level the rapids are probably a solid
class III, with a couple rapids borderline IV. The Falls of the red river have a pretty large hole
on both sides, so the center is the best line on that. River left hole sucked me back under the
falls and spit me out down river. There was a lot of wood in the rapids, one major bottleneck had a
sneak on the river right side behind a large boulder, there was a river wide strainer in the flat
water section toward the end.
Great level, proabably around 700 or 800cfs. It's different from the guage on most occasions. All
the large rapids are clean and wood free, however, there are numerous smaller rapids with
strainers. Some are nearly river wide and the path around is only visible at the last moment. Most
rapids have an eddy making boat scouting possible. If you run this river at higer levels, don't let
the flat water fool you. Please take this run seriously. It DOES have consequences.