Cumberland by Canoe

The Little South Fork of the Cumberland River is a Kentucky Wild River. Little used by paddlers due to its seasonal nature and its remoteness, it is nevertheless one of the most beautiful and pristine of Kentucky's rivers.

Draining the eastern portion of Wayne County and the western portion of McCreary County be fore emptying into the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, the Little South Fork runs cool and clear over a rock and mud bottom through steep, wooded hills. Runnable from November through mid May downstream from Parmleysville, the stream is primarily Class I with some small shoals and rapids that approach Class II. The river is 30 feet wide in the upstream sections and does not broaden beyond 60 feet as it flows toward its mouth Access is difficult from all but one or two bridges, and shuttles are long, particularly for sections south of KY 92. Exposed rock and a variety of hardwoods grace the usually steep riverbank along with the common proliferation of willow upstream of KY 92. Downstream of KY 92, near Freedom Chapel, the stream enters a massive and beautiful vertical rock wall gorge.

Above all, the Little South Fork is amazingly pristine and rugged. Dangers to navigation include deadfalls and flash flood potential.