Looking for an outdoor adventure? 5 places to canoe, kayak in and near the Louisville metro
Kentucky and Southern Indiana are home to several canoeing and kayaking locations, and as summer approaches, it might be worth spending a day out on the water. Rental options vary by location, with some spots offering tours, and many are within a couple hours of Louisville.
Here are some canoeing and kayaking spots to consider around the commonwealth and Indiana:
Canoe Kentucky
Address: 7323 Peaks Mill Road in Frankfort.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R15ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R25ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeDistance from downtown Louisville: About 75 minutes or 65 miles.
Description: Canoe Kentucky offers rentals and tours along the Kentucky River and the Elkhorn Creek
Options for the Elkhorn Creek include "The Fun Float," taking two to three hours and spanning five miles, "The All Day Adventure," going twice as far as "The Fun Float," and "The Forks Gorge Rafting," with inflatable kayaks available. Prices vary depending on the rental type.
Cave Country Canoes
Address: 112 W. Main St. in Milltown, Indiana.
Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 35 miles or 45 minutes.
Description: Cave Country Canoes, located in Milltown, Indiana, offers kayak and canoe rentals on the Blue River. The family-owned business opened in 1983 and offers different options for an outing on the river. A half day trip, which takes 3-5 hours, is approximately 7 miles and prices begin at $49. A full day trip, spanning 14 miles, starts at around $55 with a two-day trip available starting at $104.
Gorge Underground
Address: 2478 Glencairn Road in Rogers.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1fekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2fekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeDistance from Louisville: About two hours or 130 miles.
Description: Gorge Underground offers kayaking tours through a 100-year-old mine system close to the Red River Gorge. Tour options include the crystal kayaking tour and standard kayaking tour with the crystal tour as a glow-in-the-dark activity. The regular tour lasts one hour with the crystal tour taking 90 minutes. Prices for standard tours are $55 Monday-Thursday and $65 Friday-Sunday; crystal tour admission is $75 Monday-Thursday and $85 Friday-Sunday.
An additional offering, the Stand Up Paddle Tour, is available with paddle boards and is glow-in-the dark. The tour takes 90 minutes and are priced at $75 Monday-Thursday and $85 Friday-Sunday.
More: Worth the Drive: 10 hiking spots in and around Louisville to explore this summer
Mammoth Cave Canoes & Kayak
Address: 1240 Old Mammoth Cave Road in Cave City.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1nekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2nekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeDistance from downtown Louisville: About 80 minutes or 90 miles.
Description: Mammoth Cave Canoes & Kayak offers canoeing and kayaking rentals on the Green River near Mammoth Cave. A 7.5 mile trip, that takes visitors from the Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry and lasts from 2-4 hours, is available beginning at $60.
Nachand Canoe & Kayak Rentals
Address: 7001 River Road in Prospect.
Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 15 minutes or 25 miles.
Description: Nachand Canoe & Kayak Rentals offers rental options for four or eight hours on Harrods Creek. Costs range from $35-60 with kayaks, tandem kayaks, paddleboards and three-person canoes available to rent. There are also several trail options that lead to waterfalls for those interested in hiking along the way.
Reach Marina Johnson at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kayaking in Louisville: 5 spots to rent canoes, kayaks in 2025
