List of rivers of Kentucky
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river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
s in
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
(
U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
).


By

drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, t ...

This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. All rivers in Kentucky flow to the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
, nearly all by virtue of flowing to its major tributary, the
Ohio River The Ohio River is a long river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing southwesterly from western Pennsylvania to its mouth on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illino ...
. Also listed are some important tributaries to the few Kentucky rivers that originate in, or flow through, other states. *
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
** Obion Creek ** Mayfield Creek **
Ohio River The Ohio River is a long river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing southwesterly from western Pennsylvania to its mouth on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illino ...
*** Goose Creek *** Massac Creek ***
Tennessee River The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names, ...
****
Clarks River The Clarks River, named for William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 8, 2011 tributary of the Tennessee River in the Ja ...
****
Blood River Blood River ( af, Bloedrivier; zu, Ncome) is situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This river has its sources in the hills south-east of Utrecht; leaving the highlands it is joined by two important tributaries that originate in the Schurvebe ...
***
Cumberland River The Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern United States. The U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 8, 2011 river drains almost of southern Kentucky and ...
****
Little River Little River may refer to several places: Australia Streams New South Wales *Little River (Dubbo), source in the Dubbo region, a tributary of the Macquarie River * Little River (Oberon), source in the Oberon Shire, a tributary of Coxs River (Haw ...
**** Red River **** Obey River (Tennessee) ***** Wolf River **** Big South Fork of the Cumberland River ****
Rockcastle River The Rockcastle River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 8, 2011 river primarily in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, United States. It is a tributary of the Cumberland Ri ...
****
Laurel River The Laurel River is a tributary of the Cumberland River in southeast Kentucky in the United States. The river drains a rural region in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in parts of Whitley and Laurel Counties. The town of Corbin is l ...
**** Clear Fork ***
Tradewater River The Tradewater River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed May 13, 2011 in western Kentucky in the United States. It drain ...
***
Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...
**** Panther Creek ****
Pond River The Pond River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Green River in western Kentucky in the United States.
****
Rough River The Rough River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Green River in west-central Kentucky in the United States. It's located about 70 miles ...
**** Mud River ****
Barren River The Barren River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 13, 2011 river in western Kentucky, United States. It is the largest tributary of the Green River, which drains ...
*****
Gasper River The Gasper River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 13, 2011 river in southwestern Kentucky, United States. It flows northeasterly into the Barren River. It is a r ...
**** Little Reedy Creek **** Big Reedy Creek **** Bear Creek **** Nolin River **** Little Barren River **** Russell Creek *** Salt River **** Rolling Fork ***** Beech Fork ****** Chaplin River ****
Floyds Fork Floyds Fork is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 13, 2011 tributary of the Salt River in Kentucky, directly south and east of Louisville. It begins in Henry County, ne ...
*** Beargrass Creek *** Little Kentucky River ***
Kentucky River The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed June 13, 2011 in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. Commonwealth of Kentuc ...
**** Eagle Creek **** Elkhorn Creek ****
Benson Creek Benson may refer to: Animals *Benson (fish), largest common carp caught in Britain Places Geography Canada *Rural Municipality of Benson No. 35, Saskatchewan; rural municipality *Benson, Saskatchewan; hamlet United Kingdom *Benson, Oxfordshire ...
****
Dix River The Dix River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Kentucky River in central Kentucky in the United States. It begins in western Rockcast ...
***** Cedar Creek ****
Hickman Creek Hickman Creek is approximately 22 square mile tributary of the Kentucky River. Before flowing into the Kentucky River, Hickman Creek is formed from two separate creeks, East Hickman and West Hickman. West Hickman Creek flows through Fayette County ...
**** Silver Creek **** Red River **** North Fork Kentucky River ***** Middle Fork Kentucky River ***** Troublesome Creek **** South Fork Kentucky River ***** Goose Creek *****
Red Bird River The Red Bird River is one of two tributaries at the head of the South Fork of the Kentucky River, the other being the Goose Creek. It is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in extreme southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky ...
*** Taylors Creek *** Licking River **** Banklick Creek **** South Fork Licking River *****
Townsend Creek Townsend Creek is a stream in Bourbon and Harrison counties, Kentucky, in the United States. It is a tributary of the South Fork Licking River. It was named for John Townsend, who settled near the creek in 1775. See also *List of rivers of Kent ...
**** North Fork Licking River *** Kinniconick Creek ***
Tygarts Creek Tygarts Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River in Carter and Greenup counties of northeastern Kentucky in the United States. It is longU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed M ...
*** Little Sandy River *** Big Sandy River **** Blaine Creek ****
Levisa Fork The Levisa Fork (also known as the Levisa Fork River or the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe Nati ...
***** Paint Creek *****
Russell Fork The Russell Fork, 1975 Board on Geographic Names decision is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Levisa Fork in southwestern Virginia and sout ...
****
Tug Fork The Tug Fork is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 in southwestern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and eastern ...
***** Blackberry Creek


Alphabetically

* Banklick Creek *
Barren River The Barren River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 13, 2011 river in western Kentucky, United States. It is the largest tributary of the Green River, which drains ...
* Beargrass Creek * Beaver Creek (Kentucky) * Beech Fork of the Salt River * Big Sandy River * Blackberry Creek *
Blood River Blood River ( af, Bloedrivier; zu, Ncome) is situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This river has its sources in the hills south-east of Utrecht; leaving the highlands it is joined by two important tributaries that originate in the Schurvebe ...
* Cassidy Creek * Cedar Creek * Chaplin River *
Clarks River The Clarks River, named for William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 8, 2011 tributary of the Tennessee River in the Ja ...
*
Clear Creek (Kentucky) Clear Creek is a stream in Bell County, Kentucky, in the United States. It is a tributary of the Cumberland River. The waters of Clear Creek was said to hold medicinal qualities. See also *List of rivers of Kentucky References

Rivers o ...
* Clear Fork *
Cruises Creek Cruises Creek is a stream in Boone and Kenton counties, Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Il ...
*
Cumberland River The Cumberland River is a major waterway of the Southern United States. The U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 8, 2011 river drains almost of southern Kentucky and ...
* Defeated Creek (Knott County, Kentucky) * Defeated Creek (Letcher County, Kentucky) *
Dix River The Dix River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Kentucky River in central Kentucky in the United States. It begins in western Rockcast ...
* Dreaming Creek * Dry Creek (Kentucky) * Drennon Creek * Eddy Creek * Elkhorn Creek *
Floyds Fork Floyds Fork is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 13, 2011 tributary of the Salt River in Kentucky, directly south and east of Louisville. It begins in Henry County, ne ...
of the Salt River *
Gasper River The Gasper River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 13, 2011 river in southwestern Kentucky, United States. It flows northeasterly into the Barren River. It is a r ...
*
Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...
*
Hickman Creek Hickman Creek is approximately 22 square mile tributary of the Kentucky River. Before flowing into the Kentucky River, Hickman Creek is formed from two separate creeks, East Hickman and West Hickman. West Hickman Creek flows through Fayette County ...
*
Kentucky River The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed June 13, 2011 in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. Commonwealth of Kentuc ...
*
Laurel River The Laurel River is a tributary of the Cumberland River in southeast Kentucky in the United States. The river drains a rural region in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, in parts of Whitley and Laurel Counties. The town of Corbin is l ...
* Lawrence Creek (Kentucky) *
Levisa Fork The Levisa Fork (also known as the Levisa Fork River or the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River) is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe Nati ...
of the Big Sandy River * Licking River * Little Barren River * Little Kentucky River *
Little River Little River may refer to several places: Australia Streams New South Wales *Little River (Dubbo), source in the Dubbo region, a tributary of the Macquarie River * Little River (Oberon), source in the Oberon Shire, a tributary of Coxs River (Haw ...
* Little Sandy River *
Lynn Camp Creek Lynn Camp Creek is a stream in Hart County, Kentucky, Hart and LaRue County, Kentucky, LaRue counties, Kentucky, in the United States. It is a tributary of the Green River (Kentucky), Green River. Lynn Camp Creek was named for Benjamin Lynn, an exp ...
* Massac Creek * Middle Fork Kentucky River *
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
*
Mistaken Creek Mistaken Creek is a stream in Grayson County, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Mistaken Creek was likely so named because it was mistaken by surveyors for another nearby stream. Mistaken Creek has been noted for its unusual place name. See also *L ...
* Mud River * Nolin River * North Fork Kentucky River *
Ohio River The Ohio River is a long river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing southwesterly from western Pennsylvania to its mouth on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illino ...
* Paint Creek *
Pond River The Pond River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Green River in western Kentucky in the United States.
*
Red Bird River The Red Bird River is one of two tributaries at the head of the South Fork of the Kentucky River, the other being the Goose Creek. It is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in extreme southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky ...
* Red River (eastern Kentucky) * Red River (western Kentucky) *
Rockcastle River The Rockcastle River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 8, 2011 river primarily in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, United States. It is a tributary of the Cumberland Ri ...
* Rolling Fork of the Salt River *
Rough River The Rough River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Green River in west-central Kentucky in the United States. It's located about 70 miles ...
*
Russell Fork The Russell Fork, 1975 Board on Geographic Names decision is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 tributary of the Levisa Fork in southwestern Virginia and sout ...
of the Big Sandy River * Salt Lick Creek (Kentucky) * Salt River * Sap Branch * Silver Creek * Sinking Creek (Breckinridge County, Kentucky) * Sinking Creek (Jessamine County, Kentucky) * South Fork Kentucky River * Squabble Creek *
Tearcoat Creek Tearcoat Creek (officially Tear Coat Creek, per 1931 federal Board on Geographic Names decision) is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 15, 2011 free-flowing tributar ...
*
Tennessee River The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names, ...
*
Tradewater River The Tradewater River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed May 13, 2011 in western Kentucky in the United States. It drain ...
*
Tug Fork The Tug Fork is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed June 13, 2011 in southwestern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and eastern ...
of the Big Sandy River *
Tygarts Creek Tygarts Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River in Carter and Greenup counties of northeastern Kentucky in the United States. It is longU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed M ...
* Wolf River


References


USGS Geographic Names Information Service
*USGS Hydrologic Unit Map – State of Kentucky (1974)


See also

*
List of rivers in the United States The following list is a list of rivers of the United States. Alphabetical listing ''Listings of the rivers in the United States by letter of the alphabet:'' List of rivers in the United States: A, A - List of rivers in the United States: B, B ...
{{Kentucky Kentucky rivers *List
Rivers A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...