Banklick Creek,
|
|
Independence Station Road to Doe Run confluence (5 miles)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (may vary with level) |
| Length |
5 Miles |
| Max Gradient |
50 fpm |
Gauge Information
River Description
When we ran this one in 1995 and 1996, we knew it was marginal water quality, not only because of
the industry along Ky Rt 17 downstream of the run but simply due to the environmental abuse by
the people who live along this creek. For many of them along the whitewater section, the creek in
their backyard means that they're allowed, no, supposed to dump their garbage (and more)
there. After it flooded in May 1997, 30 million dollars worth of damage occurred to homes and
property downstream from the run, and the sewers along the creek were all blown apart. That
summer, the sewers were repaired; poorly. The following spring, a somewhat smaller but still
effective flood blew the sewers off again, and it will take years for this creek to regain it's
health.
When looking at the destruction, the drops look like they have improved a lot. The first 3 rapids
are in a little canyon about 200 yards long and 60-80 feet deep. The first is a 3 foot ledge. A
churning, twisting left hand turn gets you out of the canyon. Then it's just easy class II until
the last half mile. It only reaches class III when it's really full. There are some big waves in
the last half-mile of the run.
Banklick is a tributary of the Licking River, located in Kenton County, and the takeout is along
old Rt 17.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2004-06-13 01:35:10
Editors
No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
River Alert
User Comments
bad. With all the rain water that is in this creek when it runs the water is not a hazard at all.
next was a MUST walk river wide down tree about 2.5 miles in and VERY visiable We ran this on
7-28-09 gauges showed 350cfs (-12cfs per hr). The run was a little shallow. We had to push through
a few spots. The run was NOT a II-III at this water level I would call it a II only because you
need a little boat control. THe whole creek needed 6" more water and really would have been fun
with another 12". *** IDEAL level = 600 CFS for a fun class II ***
the drop is a vertical 4-5 footer that lands on an enormous slide. this will b the first (and
biggest vertical drop) u come 2 on this run. it is approx. a quarter mile into the run so b
ready!!! when u see the micro canyon closing in and a horizon line get ready 2 scout. the tree fell
off the left bank and is laying diagonally across the creek blocking nearly 2/3 of it. run drop off
right bank and enjoy the 30-40 yard slide below. another spot worth mentioning is the train trestle
rapid about 2.5 miles into the run. currently it is a MANDATORY portage. a huge logjam has formed
and it is going 2 take a serious gully washer to blast this one clear. no way around it , portage
on right. there r some low hanging limbs at the bottom of the drop right before the jam that only
complicate the matter. this is an awesome run with some great drops and surf opprotunities . its a
shame that the water quality is SOOOOOOO poor. somtimes it smells like u r yaking in a
port-a-potty. enjoy. Edit