Quicksand Creek runs east to west throughout Breathitt County beginning in Knott County. It is a beautiful low-water creek that requires some wading when using a canoe. The drops (gradient) usually occur as small, narrow shoals and there are many pools that provide good fishing. The creek narrows higher in the watershed and is choked with willows in areas below Rosseau school. Elevation drop throughout this creek is significant but the water volume and stream width tend to preclude whitewater in normal conditions. However, when it rains, this stream as all streams in the Mountains can become a roaring and dangerous whitewater river. County Road 30 runs along side the creek where it can be paddled. Its confluence with the N. Fork of the Kentucky River is near the University of Kentucky Ag Extension station and is about three miles above Jackson, the Breathitt County Seat.

Access points:
1. Quicksand Volunteer Fire Dept. Access below County Rd. 1812 Bridge
(Confluence with N. Fork of KY River) 37° 32’ 05.5”, 83° 20’ 55.8”

2. Noctor Access pull-off (private) (River Rt.) by Church with Red roof.
37° 33’ 34.5”, 83° 20’ 12.5”

3. Round Bottom Access Bridge (Landrum Rd)
37° 33’ 35.9”, 83° 19’ 25.1”

4. Access across from Carpenter Branch (private) (River rt.)
37° 34’ 08.9”, 83° 19’ 48.5”

5. Mulligan Lane Bridge Access (Across from Airport Rd.)
37° 34’ 25.8”, 83° 18’ 55.0”

6. Carrie Access
37° 33’ 25.4”, 83° 17’ 09.4”

7. Calhoun Bridge Rd. Access (by Rosseau School)
37° 35’ 14.0”, 83° 14’ 19.4”

This creek is a beautiful low-water creek that has good fishing and is well-shaded. It requires some wading when using a canoe. The drops (gradient) usually occur as small, narrow shoals. Elevation drop throughout this creek is significant but the water volume and stream width tend to preclude whitewater in normal conditions. However, when it rains, this stream as all streams in the Mountains can become a roaring and dangerous whitewater river. County Road 476 runs along the creek where it can be paddled. It begins in Perry County and runs to the confluence with the N. Fork of the Kentucky River.

Access points:
1. Riverside Christian School (Church) Access (River Lt.)- (Approx. one mile
from confluence with the N. Fork of Kentucky River). The access is river
right, above the bridge. Access is through the school/church grounds.
Parking should be on the street. 37° 28’ 43.4”, 83° 19’ 33.4”

2. Roadside Access (River Rt.) 2 miles above Riverside Christian School
(Church) and below Noctor, River rt. (No GPS Reading)

3. Clayhole Church Access (River rt.) Barge Cr. Rd.
37° 51’ 54.4”, 82° 32’ 24,5”

4. Russell Fork Rd. Bridge Access (Pumping Station)
37° 28’ 29.1”, 83° 16’ 11.4”

5. Caney (Nobles Landing Bridge)
37° 27’ 30.7”, 83° 15’ 49.7”

6. Fugates Fork (Hardshell Bridge)
37° 27’ 27.4, 83° 14’ 22.9”

7. LittleBuckhornBridge- PerryCo.Line
37° 26’ 35.5”, 83° 12’ 50.9”

Both the North Forks and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River are cited extensively in Sehlinger and Molloy’s Book: A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Kentucky, 5th edition. These are the two primary Blueways routes in Breathitt County and numerous access points are listed in the text. However, additional access points are available and should be added.

Two additional access points for the North Fork are:
1. Big Branch access at Kragan
2. Rock Lick Creek Access on Spencer Bend

There may be additional creeks that could be paddled in high water. However, when considering safety and the useof blueways for tourism, these four waterways and Pan Bowl Lake provide the primary opportunity for Blueways in Breathitt County.