Red, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| 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 | 01h06m | 12 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 | 01h06m | 12 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 | |
| 1y284d20h35m | Red River [KY] |
Red River Amp
|
155 | Edward A. Kirkwood |
| 3y23d21h35m | Red [KY] |
Red River
|
150 | Jay Thomas |
| 5y212d05h35m | Red River [KY] |
Approach "hero route"
|
6.0 | Bob Grewe |
| 5y223d05h35m | Red River [ky] |
Boulder Garden
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 5y223d05h35m | red river [ky] |
Narrows
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 5y224d05h35m | Red River [ky] |
Exit of Entrance
|
~180 | alan smith |
| 6y213d05h35m | Red River [KY] |
Red River Narrows
|
6.0 | Bob Grewe |
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. No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Red KY 746 to KY 715 (10.3 miles) (mobile)
User Comments
[url=http://ztorngwkrmws.com/]ztorngwkrmws[/url],
[link=http://xbuonyfcubee.com/]xbuonyfcubee[/link], http://uqgmkoxpgrtu.com/ Edit
The river should be at least 400 cfs for canoes but not recommended for faint of heart. I will
probably never look to canoe it again. It is rated on here as a class three but I have seen a few
three's and these all looked like fours through the narrows Very tight and very fast. We took two
hours trying to retrieve a canoe.It took us ten hours total to do the ten mile upper. Good luck to
all , it is an true adventure Geoff Reed Edit
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. Edit
the first mile. Do not attempt this run without a team of saw-wielding ninjas and the mindset for a
full on epic. We bailed at the first bridge, averaging a mile and hour with 2 portages.
(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.