Bucket List: Kayaking in an abandoned mine in Kentucky

If you’re the adventurous type and always looking for the next amazing thing to do with your family and friends, kayaking in an underground mine in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky should be on your list. 

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If you’ve thought about what it would be like to go into an old mine, get into a kayak complete with a helmet (for possible falling rocks) and headlamp, and paddle around while not getting lost amongst the five miles of waterways, then the Gorge Underground in the Red River Gorge should be on your list. It’s been on mine for several years and I finally decided just to go. And let me say, that was a fantastic decision. 

Watch! Our Kayak Adventure at Gorge Underground

This place did not disappoint. Don’t worry, there’s only a small chance of falling in the water and you need zero experience paddling to do this. Here’s why you should make a trip out to the Gorge Underground, about five-and-a-half hours from Greenville, SC.

About Gorge Underground

Gorge Underground is an extensive mine full of crystal clear, very cold water. There are more than five miles of waterways, and after I got over the initial shock of being there in a mine on a kayak in a pretty dark area, I did have a fleeting thought of exploring those waterways alone. But common sense kicked in, and I didn’t want to be lost in a chilly mine and give the tour guides a bad rap. The tour guides were excellent, by the way. 

The limestone mine was an active one in the 1860s. It was eventually flooded, closed in the 1980s, and abandoned. It was bought in 2014 and opened as an underground water adventure experience a year later. Massive rainbow trout joined the waterways in 2017. 

Gorge Underground is located in the incredible Red River Gorge, the “Land of Arches” as it is sometimes called. The terrain and topography is totally different from the Upstate. There are cave systems, endless rock climbing opportunities, miles and miles of trails, and beautiful sandstone arches. This was an area I had been wanting to explore for quite some time so I planned an entire trip around going on this kayaking adventure. 

Kayaking Underground

This wasn’t my first time in an underground lake. I had taken my daughters to the Lost Sea Adventure in Tennessee and loved it. You get to go on a boat on the lake and see the fish and learn about the caves. But kayaking on your own in an underground waterway maze was a whole other experience. 

We booked the Classic Tour, which is an hour long and where you go in regular kayaks. They do have other tours where you can kayak around in clear kayaks, which costs a bit more than the classic tour we did. So once you get there, you’ll be given an extensive safety lesson on your gear – PFD (life jacket), helmet and headlamp, where to stay in the water with your kayak, and what to do if you accidentally take a dip, which was not on my list of things to do there. The water is a very cold 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit. I had to touch it because I couldn’t not touch it. I’ve been swimming in waterfalls, jumped in Lake Jocassee in February, and fell in creeks – those were nothing compared to this water. It was frigid. 

Also, the mine is 50 degrees year-round, so wearing layers is a good idea. You don’t want to be cold while doing this adventure. The good news is that you can do this adventure no matter the weather because it is out of the elements (kind of).

Once our safety lesson was done, we got into our kayaks and were pushed out into the mine by our guides, who were wearing special clothing so they could get in the water and help us into our kayaks. What a job. Again, they were fantastic. 

The feeling of doing something that I had been wanting to do for so long felt surreal. To be floating in this underground mine and paddling someplace so unique was just really cool. Sharing it with my daughters was even better. They were awed by the whole thing. 

Our tour guide was on a standup paddleboard/kayak and was actually paddling backwards as she gave us the history of the mine and talked about the trout that lived there, how the water fills the mine, and even showed us bats who were on their tail end of migration out of the mine for the season. 

There was a part where water was falling through the ceiling and we had to navigate around it. I couldn’t see some of it and ended up getting a little wet – whoops. There is no current and it’s quiet and serene. You can see down some of the massive hallways of water, which certainly ignited my sense of curiosity. 

This was well worth the trip. I would 100% do it again because it was just that good. And no one fell in or got lost, yay. 

Depth of the Water and Height of the Mine Ceiling

While I’m not claustrophobic in general (although some small spaces like elevators bother me), it’s understandable to think of claustrophobia in a space like this. 

From the bottom of the water to the bottom of the ceiling is about 40 feet. The waterways are very wide, I’d say at least 40-50 feet. In the beginning of the tour, the water is very shallow and the ceilings are high. As you paddle on, the water gets deeper and the ceiling becomes lower as you rise with the water. Even so, I couldn’t touch the ceiling with my paddle at any point. Our guide, who was standing up the entire time, didn’t come close to ever touching the ceiling either. 

Personally, I never felt like I was in a tight space or had a fear that the walls or water were closing in. This is a pretty safe adventure in general but certainly comes with some risks, which is why you have to sign a waiver, but claustrophobia likely won’t be an issue. Just call the Gorge Underground if you have questions. 

Boats, Crystal Kayaks, and Paddleboards

Gorge Underground has other tours you can choose from, including a group boat tour, a crystal kayak tour in clear-bottom kayaks, and even a standup paddleboard tour. That last one crossed my mind for a second since my daughters and I paddleboard often over the summer, but I knew the water was cold and didn’t want to risk an unplanned ice bath. 

The cool thing about the boat tour is that it’s great for smaller kids, so the whole family can enjoy it if the kids aren’t old enough to do the kayak tours. 

Need to Know Before You Go

Here are some tips on how best to enjoy your underground kayaking adventure. 

• Get there early: the Gorge asks that you arrive 30 minutes early to sign waivers and gear up. 
• Wear layers: I wore light leggings, a short-sleeved shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, and a light jacket. I’m always cold but felt fine wearing what I did. I’m glad I didn’t wear shorts or I would have been cold. 
• No pets: don’t bring them because they aren’t allowed. 
• Use the bathroom beforehand: there are porta-potties there but if you need a more sophisticated toilet, find a nice one before you go. 
• You can tip electronically: the guides have their Venmo codes that you can use to tip afterwards. Cash is also accepted. 
• Book online: you have to book your tickets online ahead of time. Their refund policy is strict but you can move your tickets for a fee if need be. 
• Weight limits: the weight limit for a single kayak is 275 lbs and a tandem kayak is 400 lbs.

Booking Your Gorge Underground Adventure

The boat tour is your cheapest option. Tickets are $30/ages 13+ and $25/ages 3-12. Kids must be at least three years old to do this tour.

The classic kayak tour that we did is $55/person Monday-Thursday and $65/person Friday-Sunday. Kids must be 5+ to participate and 13+ to paddle alone. My youngest daughter and I used a tandem (double) kayak, and it was great. This tour is an hour long.

The Crystal Deluxe kayak tour is an hour and a half long, and kids must be at least 5 years old to participate. The cost for this tour is $75/person Monday-Thursday and $85 Friday-Sunday.

The paddleboard tour is an hour and a half long, and you get to go on a clear paddleboard. Tour prices are the same as those for the Crystal Deluxe kayak tour. 

You can purchase your tickets at their Gorge Underground website. 

Gorge Underground
2478 Glencairn Road, Rogers, KY
Gorge Underground Website