Fugitt Creek
Hwy 179 (2 miles)
| Difficulty | IV-V(V+) |
| Length | 2.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 235 fpm |
| Gauge | Cumberland River Near Harlan, Ky |
| Flow Rate as of 49 minutes | 194 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | May 15, 2012 |
River Description
This creek is steep, continuous, and fast. Once the rapids start up few eddies exist. Scout everything. There are many blind turns and a whole lot of strainers. With higher flows this creek could easily upgrade to a solid Class V+. As you drive up Hwy 179 the creek will be roadside, when the road climbs up the mountain the creek disappears down into the hollow. After parking roadside, before a bouldery feeder stream, you hike down to the creek. Cross over the feeder stream, and hike up the creek about 100 yards. Put-in below a landslide that blocks a good portion of the creek. Be on the constant lookout for strainers, undercuts and debris. It is a great ride if you like adventure and don't mind walking a little.
The put-in is right at the first rapid Get Pitted (IV). After a little lead in the creek drops off into a steep slide with a trough down center left. The water hits a vertical rock ledge and form a huge vertical tube of water. At the top of the drop angle up to go into the tube with enough speed to punch the hole at the bottom. Come up paddling to get out of the back of the trough.
Down stream a short way is Come On Down(III+). It is a straight forward drop of about 7ft landing in a shallow, fast chute.
Next up is Hold your Breath(IV). It starts out with some low angle slides and diagonal waves and munchy holes. PIck your way down the entrance, stay on line, and make your way to hit the 10ft drop center left. There is a diving board like rock extending off that makes for a good line. Hit it with some speed and a good boof, or you will go for a submarine ride. There is a nice pool in the bottom to relax in. Paddle for 30 yards then Portage about a tree, putting back in above Shimmy.
After the pool you go into a fast stretch of boogie with limited eddies for about fifty yards until you come to the horizon line of Shimmy(V). It is a 10-15ft drop with a good portion o
...River Features
Get Pitted
A large high angle slide with a trough running into a tunnel of water, ending in a small hole and boily pool. Can be run most anywhere, could be some crazy move by running up the huge curler.
Come on Down
Be on top of your game for the tricky lead in before you get to a 8-10ft drop into a fast chute.
Hold Your Breath
The biggest falls on the creek, around 10ft. Expect some down time.
Shimmy
A ledgy drop of about 12ft into a boily pool that pushes partly into a severely undercut boulder.
Cliffs of Despair
\\ There is currently a river-wide strainer at the bottom of the last drop** A long fast set rapids with limited eddy access, connected by chutes and fast water. SCOUT FOR WOOD AND GOOD LINES. The first section starts off with a small chute on river left continuing into another small drop with a big hole at the bottom. Then it turns the bend to start the middle section. This starts with a bouldery drop, continuing with some fast water and pin rocks and ends at the top of the big boulder. The boulder is the last drop of the rapid and can be run on either side. The right side is a jumble of boulders that drops about 6' into the undercut side of the big boulder. It is not badly undercut but is still an undercut, so watch out. The left side is nasty, but possible. It is a narrow curving drop into a pool of sieved out rocks, try to stay upright, there is great potential for pinning and injury. It is the final drop an the most consequential. Once you do the first drop there are basically no eddies or areas for recovery.
In Her Tube
This drop has been erased from the creek due to a landslide from the strip mine above the creek. A new narrow chute runs down river left through the laurel thickets.
Brown Trout
A 6-7ft boxed in drop with a sticky recirculating hole at the bottom. Two trees block the lines.
Mile O' Smiles
Continuous Class III for around a mile with a couple 5' falls in the middle. There are currently 10 river wide strainers.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportI got a quick run on Fugitt today. The Poor Fork gauge was about 300cfs, and the Cumberland gauge was around 2000. We got about 1.5 inches of rain, and the creek was about as low as you could run it. Got in all the major rapids except, In Her Tube, due to it's lack of existence thanks to a landslide from the strip mine. Brown Trout has a couple trees in it as well. Watch out for the severely undercut boulder on Shimmy, just stay left. Ran the left chute of the crux of Cliffs of Despair, portage right after to avoid the strainer below. Everything else was golden, good boofs, fun slides, and beautiful scenery. Definitely class V overall. Scout for trees, they are hiding just around the corner.
Get Pitted
This was the day before I ran it.
The boulder on river right is undercut.