Kentucky whitewater - Roaring Paunch River, Cumberland Plateau Mountains, McCreary County

McCreary county, Barthell to Big South Fork section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.

 

CLASS IV-V+     3 miles
  The scenic beauty of McCreary County and the cool fresh water are reasons enough to come here and paddle. This section of Roaring Paunch River in McCreary County is 3 miles long and has been rated as a class IV-V+ section by American Whitewater. The average Kentucky whitewater rafting or kayaking river tends to be easier to run than those in other states, so don't forget that a large number of rivers in this state are quite easy. This is a somewhat short section so you'd better be prepared to walk your kayak back to put-in a few times. The nearby hotels
    are a bit away from the river, but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. And of course, there are campgrounds nearby. No matter if you're whitewater rafting or kayaking this area has a large number of paddling places. A bit of exercise and just
hanging out with mother nature have a lot of people coming here. The put-in is not too far from Somerset, if you're not familiar with the area there's a road map further down the page. The Barthell to Big South Fork section is the only paddling section along Roaring Paunch River. The Cumberland Plateau Mountains scenery is wonderful.

Briefly about the general area:
Through the summer at Roaring Paunch River temperatures are usually in the 80's, and throughout summer nights temperatures are in the 60's. Highs all through the winter are usually
 
in the 40's, and through the dark hours in the wintertime at Roaring Paunch River temperatures dip to the 20's. Go for a hike on the Laurel Creek Trail, and no need to travel far to visit attention-grabbing stuff like Devils Jump.
Roaring Paunch River regularly gets a good deal of rain; most of the rain falls during March; October is when it's the driest. Just can't get enough of the Cumberland Plateau Mountains. Natural Bridge Hollow is close to Roaring Paunch River and is a good location.

Roaring Paunch River, Barthell to Big South Fork road map
Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked.

QUICK STATS
AW Class: IV-V+
Length: 3 miles
Average Gradient: 300 fpm
  
Putin Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 36.6691
Longitude: -84.4938

Takeout Location Coordinates:
Latitude: 36.6795
Longitude: -84.5405

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Current weather conditions at Roaring Paunch River, Cumberland Plateau Mountains, Kentucky
WXPort

Local climate location: MONTICELLO 8 miles away


RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS

There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river.

Hampton Inn Somerset, Somerset
20 miles away
The Hampton Inn Somerset hotel in Kentucky is located off US Highway 27 South across from the Somerset Mall. Our hotel is located three miles from Lake Cumberland Hospital and five miles from General ...

Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Somerset, Ky, Somerset
21 miles away
The Hotel features 52 rooms with High Speed Internet in all rooms. Complimentary continental plus breakfast bar offered in breakfast room off of the lobby. Rooms feature cable TV, HBO, coffeemaker, ha...

Comfort Inn Somerset, Somerset
21 miles away
Large rooms suited for business or leisure travel. Ideally located between Daniel Boone Forest and Lake Cumberland. Within minutes to the The Center, lakes and houseboat factories. Somerset is the ho...



OTHER_INFO
  Cumberland Plateau Mountains Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater kayaking and rafting spots in the Cumberland Plateau Mountains.

Cumberland Plateau Mountains Outdoors Info
Complete outdoors info for the Cumberland Plateau Mountains.

All Kentucky Whitewater
Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Kentucky.
Books about whitewater paddling on Roaring Paunch River, Kentucky
List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Roaring Paunch River, Kentucky.
Find a whitewater outfitter in Kentucky

Whitewater Basics
If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.
Outdoors Recreation Near Somerset, Kentucky
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Somerset, Kentucky, the metro area neareast to Roaring Paunch River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
 

   

OUTDOORS
These outdoors activities are available near Roaring Paunch River.
 Whitewater Near Roaring Paunch River:
Rock Creek, McCreary County , 4 miles away, Class II-III(IV) - 6 miles long (White Oak Junction to Big South Fork of Cumberland River)
Cumberland River - Big South Fork, McCreary/Whitley County , 8 miles away, Class II - 12 miles long (Station Camp to Lake Cumberland)
Cumberland River - Big South Fork, Scott / Pulaski County , 8 miles away, Class II+(IV) - 19 miles long (Leatherwood Ford to Blue Heron Kentucky)
Cumberland River - Little South Fork, Wayne McCreary County , 11 miles away, Class I-II - 45 miles long (Parmleysville to confluence with Big South Fork)
Pine Creek, Scott County , 14 miles away, Class IV-V - 1.62 miles long (Close to Toonley to Leatherwood Ford)
New River, Scott County , 16 miles away, Class II-III - 8.9 miles long (US 27 Bridge to Clear Fork River)
Cumberland River - Big South Fork, Scott County , 16 miles away, Class II-IV - 10.2 miles long (Burnt Mill Bridge over Clear Fork to Bridge at Leatherwood Ford)
Cumberland River, Whitley/McCreary County , 18 miles away, Class I-II - 12 miles long (Redbird Kentucky204 Bridge to Cumberland Falls)
North White Oak Creek, Fentress Scott County , 18 miles away, Class II - 7.8 miles long (Zenith Mines to Leatherwood Ford)
Cumberland River, Whitley/ McCreary County , 18 miles away, Class II-III - 11 miles long (Cumberland Falls to Laurel River)
 Ski Areas Near Roaring Paunch River:
Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee , 85 miles away, 600 vertical feet
 Hotels Near Roaring Paunch River:
Hampton Inn Somerset, Somerset , 20 miles away
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Somerset, Ky, Somerset , 21 miles away
Comfort Inn Somerset, Somerset , 21 miles away
Somerset Red Roof Inn, Somerset , 22 miles away
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites SOMERSET EAST, Somerset , 22 miles away
 Camp Grounds Near Roaring Paunch River:
Great Meadow Campground, McCreary County, 15 miles away
Bandy Creek Campground, Scott County, 16 miles away
Charit Creek Campground, Scott County, 16 miles away
 Trails Near Roaring Paunch River:
Laurel Creek Trail, McCreary County , 8 miles away
Deer Loop, McCreary County , 15 miles away
Racoon Loop, McCreary County , 15 miles away
Cumberland Falls Trail Number Two, Whitley County , 16 miles away
Lakeside South Trail, Laurel County , 19 miles away
 National Parks Near Roaring Paunch River:
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Oneida - TN , 10 miles away
Obed Wild & Scenic River, Wartburg - TN , 35 miles away

Outdoors related information copyright © Stratus-Pikpuk, Inc. - Detailed hotel information copyright © Interactive Hotel Solutions
Some content, including Reach Name, Class, and Length, comes from American Whitewater