Paddling on the Green River within Mammoth Cave National Park

Length: 12.4 miles
Water Level at Time of Trip: 8.35 feet
Average Moving Speed: 3.3 MPH
Time: 4 hours

GENERAL INFORMATION

This paddling review covers a 12.4-mile trip on the Green River within Mammoth Cave National Park starting at the Green River Ferry Canoe Launch and ending at the Houchin Ferry Canoe Launch. Houchin Ferry is the first take-out spot, so there is no option for a shorter trip when you start at the Green River Ferry. There is, however, a 7.9-mile trip from Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry. This is the most popular paddling trip within the park, and if you have young children, it is certainly the most sensible option. Under normal conditions, any trip on the Green River within the park is suitable for all ages and all paddling skill levels.

Calm waters of the Green River between the Green River Ferry and Houchin Ferry, Mammoth Cave National Park

The canoe launch at the Green River Ferry requires carrying boats down / up stairs, for the parking area is high above the river. However, there is a slide for boats that makes getting down easy, and getting up easier than the alternative. The slide does not go all the way to the bottom when the water levels are low—quite often—so there may be as many as a dozen exposed steps that you must hand-carry your boat down. At high water levels the ramp should be at or near the water.

Green River Ferry Canoe Launch in Mammoth Cave National Park

Steps at the bottom of the Green River Ferry Canoe Launch at Mammoth Cave National Park

THE FINE PRINT

Before starting a river trip through Mammoth Cave National Park, it is a good idea to check the water levels so you have an idea of the river conditions. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) water level gauge within the park is at the Green River Ferry. This is the gauge used by the National Park Service to assess conditions. However, understand that water level gauges only measure water depth at one location and that the actual depth of the river varies from place to place. For example, if the Green River Ferry gauge reads 8 feet, it would seem impossible to get stuck on the bottom because eight feet is way more water than needed for canoeing and kayaking. However, an 8-foot reading at the Green River Ferry may mean that some areas of the river have only six inches of water. Using this ratio, if the USGS gauge reads 10 feet, then the shallow areas would have two more feet of water, which is plenty for canoeing and kayaking.

I did the trip when water levels were 8.35 feet, and when I checked a year’s worth of historical data, this is as low as the Green River gets. I did the Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry paddling trip a few days earlier when the water level gauge reported the exact same level, and I got stuck on the bottom numerous times. However, I got stuck only twice on the trip from the Green River Ferry to Houchin Ferry, and even then I got hung up on large rocks, so I wasn’t really on the bottom. Based on this, there seems to be more water west of the Green River Ferry, so if the distance doesn’t bother you, this is the better trip to make when the water level is very low. I do not suggest any trip when the water level is below 8 feet.

Per the National Park Service, water levels between 9 and 15 feet are suitable for all paddlers. At these levels, the Green River is mainly calm with some choppy water here and there to spice things up a bit, but nothing even first-time paddlers couldn’t handle. In fact, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring along a small child who could swim, if I had a small child who could swim (of course the child would have on a life jacket). Be aware that regardless of water levels, extreme winds can cause turbulent conditions that require advanced skills on water otherwise suited for all paddlers.

The National Park Service further states that water levels from 15 to 18 feet are for intermediate paddlers, and levels between 18 and 20 feet require advanced skills. The canoe launches within the park are closed due to safety concerns when levels are over 20 feet.

RIVER TRIP DETAILS

The Green River Ferry Canoe Launch is just upstream from the actual Green River Ferry. The boat is nearly half the width of the river in length, and when operating, it only takes a minute for it to get from one side to the other, so don’t think you can beat it once it has started across. Be sure you make eye contact with the operator before paddling in front of it. The water levels were so low when I did the trip that the ferry was not operating (which is not unusual).

The Green River Ferry is within sight of the Green River Ferry Canoe Launch at Mammoth Cave National Park

When the water levels are as low as they were when I made the trip, the Green River is like a lake with barely any current. I could paddle upriver just about as easily as downriver. I measured my speed when floating and got readings as low as .7 MPH. Despite this, my buddy and I were able to move 3 MPH without paddling very hard in a two-seat, high-end inflatable kayak. According to the data from my GPS unit, when paddling we always traveled between 3 and 4 MPH. We completed the trip in four hours.

Green River between Green River Ferry and Houchin Ferry, Mammoth Cave National Park

Despite water levels low enough to shut down the ferry, for most of the trip there was at least a foot of water in the river, plenty for kayaks and canoes. I got stuck on a couple of rocks but was able to scootch over them and get loose without having to get out of the boat. Both of these incidents happened around 9 miles into the trip. This is the only time I got hung up on an obstacle.

My trip between the Green River Ferry and Houchin Ferry was pretty much uneventful. The water was calm nearly the entire way with only a few riffles here and there.

Small riffles on the Green River between the Green River Ferry and Houchin Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park

Starting at 3.25 miles into the trip and continuing for another 2.25 miles, the Green River curves around a peninsula of land to form what is known at Turnhole Bend. At the 4.6-mile point is a cave shelter that is exposed when water levels are low. It looked easy enough to get to from the water, but once I landed on the shore I could see there were many boulders in the way. If I were younger, I might have scrambled over them to the cave, but not at age 59.

Cave shelter on the Green River at the southern end of Turnhole Bend, Mammoth Cave National Park

Turnhole Bend area of the Green River, Mammoth Cave National Park

Seven miles into the trip was one of the few areas of turbulent water that I came across. I hesitate to call it a rapid, but this was about as exciting as the trip got.

Turbulent water on the Green River between the Green River Ferry and Houchin Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park

The Houchin Ferry Canoe Launch is located on the left side of the Green River. It is the only manmade feature you will see on the trip, so you can’t miss it. The canoe launch has no steps to climb, but the ramp is very steep and is made worse by loose rocks.

View from the Green River of the Houchin Ferry Canoe Launch in Mammoth Cave National Park

If you take out at Houchin Ferry, you will miss the last two miles of the Green River that fall within the boundary of Mammoth Cave National Park. The next ramp is in Brownsville about 3.5 miles downriver. This section has the only true rapid, so if the extra mileage doesn’t bother you, or you want to cover the entire river within the park, consider this addition. See the Green River Trip: Houchin Ferry to Brownsville report for details.

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