Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Hazard KY

low-head dam

Cumberland - 3. Varilla to Fourmile (KY)

Gauge Conditions
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Photo
low-head dam
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description
This low-head dam on the Cumberland River presents an extreme hazard to paddlers, creating a dangerous hydraulic that can trap and recirculate boats and swimmers. The entire width of the river is blocked by the structure, making it impossible to safely run and requiring a mandatory portage around the dam. Paddlers must exit the river well before the dam and carry their watercraft on land to avoid potentially fatal entrapment.
Location
Type
Hazard
Difficulty
Class N/A
Mile Marker
14.8 mi
Directions
View Full Run
3. Varilla to Fourmile
Cumberland
I-II 15.0 mi
Hazard — Exercise extreme caution in this area.
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater