Laurel
Laurel Lake Dam to Lake Cumberland (2 miles)
| Difficulty | III-IV(V) |
| Length | 2.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 9, 2019 |
River Description
Spectacular scenery, great rapids but tough to catch in its entirety at runnable levels characterizes this 2 mile section of the Laurel River. Releases can provide about 2 miles of fun rapids in very cold water. Even at the height of the summer, paddlers will want to take along their cold weather boating gear since the release water flows from the bottom of Laurel Lake and is 'ice cream headache' cold. Unfortunately, due to typical 'summer pool' levels for Lake Cumberland, a summertime run on the Laurel could mean that the final (and only class IV) rapid China hole/Whorehouse will be covered under the lake's water.
Putin: just below the Laurel Lake Dam, off KY1193.
Takeout: confluence with the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland.
Shuttle: Follow KY1193 south across the Laurel River Dam and then go right on KY1277 and follow till it dead ends at the confluence of Laurel River and Lake Cumberland.
In 2007-2013 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed an emergency drawdown of Lake Cumberland, which the Laurel is a tributary/headwater of. The project to repair the dam, the reason for the drawdown, was successfully completed after 6 years and over $300 million in repair cost to prevent seepage of the earthen portion of Wolf Creek Dam. All Cumberland River Tributaries that headwater into Lake Cumberland are now back to their normal levels sadly removing many good whitewater rapids. The best time to see these rapids are during the late summer when the lake is drawn down. Starting November 1 of each year the lake begins to fill back up.
River Features
Put In
Put on and get down river! Most releases are under 2 hours long. Enjoy the beautiful Laurel Gorge.
Warm ups
Nice 3/4 mile warm up leading into the real rapids
Spillway aka Laurel Falls
This is a rapid formed from the spillway at Laurel Lake and is actually not on the Laurel itself but is a feeder.
The Bronx
Fast, cold, and long. (This is a great preparation for the Gauley.)
This
Directly below The Bronx, this is hard to scout or boat scout. Follow the tongue down the middle, into and over the next set of huge wave holes.
That
Another tough rapid to read but once again follow the main flow over the horizion line. After the first drop go left or right because there's a huge pillowed rock in the middle. Watch for the undercuts all over this rapid.
The Other
Last of the big rapids all squeezed together. Straight down the middle keeps you safe. Be on the lookout for the numerous catch on the fly waves from here to China Hole.
Cumberland Shoals
The long set of shoals with the big boulder on the right indicate the nastiest rapid on the river is near.
Take Out
China Hole
Lead in and hole immediately above Whorehouse Rapid. One of the nastiest holes at the 3 ft release ~3500-4000 CFS.
Avoid this hole at all costs because it will have you for lunch and dinner. The hero route is next to the hole on either shoulder. Some go right, some go left. Scout it before you run it.
During the regular summer pool this rapid is covered by the upper reaches of Lake Cumberland. It appears when Lake Cumberland is at or below 705-710 Ft elevation.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWe paddled this stretch in the summer of 2010 and with the lake down, Whore House is completely exposed and should be rated a class V - because of the push, the length and the moves to avoid some substantial and large holes. We had near 4000 cfs and it was a very substantial rapid. The rating scale is off - should be clear that there is a class V on this.
Brent Austin 1-9-11
This is what you want to see. Too many times have good intentioned boaters left here without seeing this sight only to curse the dreaded power comany for not releasing.
In December 2004 a rain storm raised the lake level to the point that the lake poured over the beach. This is the view looking up at the first drop.
The second drop below the pourover.
Noone had the stones to run it at this level.
Two of us swam and lost our boats at the rapid pictured. We all hiked out and eventually got the 2 boats back. This river is fun to paddle but it's a real bad one to swim.
Two of us swam and lost our boats at the rapid pictured. We all hiked out and eventually got the 2 boats back. This river is fun to paddle but it's a real bad one to swim.
This is the best view of the longest rapid on the Laurel. Stay right of center and watch the shallow rocks. The wave at the bottom is super fast and pulsey but a blast.
One of the various waves/holes on the 2.5 mile run
fun but fast wave at the bottom of the first big rapid
great day on the Laurel
Super fast, pushy and fun water. COLDEST release water in the SE! Notice the tree trunk to the left. This is not that common in the river.