Yamacraw

How to get there from Somerset:
-----Go south on 27 to Whitley City. Go past Whitley City a little way until you get to highway 92, which turns off to the right. There is a light there. Follow 92 several miles until you get to the bridge over the river, which is South Fork--Big South Fork of the Cumberland. This place is known as Yamacraw. Cross the bridge andthen turn left on the road at the other end of the bridge. This is a paved road, 1363. It will run parallel to the river for a short distance, and then make a right angle turn to the right. The road turns because the lower end of Rock Creek is right there. At the turn, you will see a clearing straight ahead where people drive off the road and park. The old K & T (Kentucky and Tennessee) railroad used to cross the river here. The old K&T bridge is still there. It was built in 1908. You can park in that clearing and walk to the bridge on the left, and walk on across it over the river, all the way to the other side. The rails are gone. The track used to go alongside the river, upstream to the former mining area of Worley, and then on to another former mining area known as Blue Heron; also known as Mine 18. Blue Heron is a state historic site now. You can drive to it, or ride a little scenic train that goes from it's base of operations in Stearns, KY (via 92, before Yamacraw) down to Blue Heron. This train uses some of the old K&T route.Below is a picture of the old K&T bridge over South Fork at Yamacraw.

The river gets fairly shallow in summer. People like to float down in canoes. The moving water ends somewhere a little downstream from Yamacraw, depending on the water level. Rock Creek empties into South Fork on the other side of this bridge. This view is facing upstream. One summer I put my canoe in at Yamacraw, which is a put-in and take-out point, and paddled about three miles upstream to near Blue Heron. The river was shallow then and I could paddle both ways. I had to get out and pull the canoe through very shallow places three or four times. About half way I came to the former site of Worley. It used to be a good size coal mining operation, from the looks of an old picture I saw. There used to be a tram bridge over the river there. That was for the little coal mine trains that brought coal out of the mines and dumped it into a coal tipple, which dropped coal into regular railroad
coal cars. All that remains of the Worley operation is the old train track, and the piers
for the tram bridge, what is left of the piers.You can drive down there, but you would
have to ask about the exact turn-off to get down there. You go out 92 like you're going
to Yamacraw, but turn off on791, and follow that for about a mile, and then turn off to
the right on an unmarked gravel road. I would not recommend taking a car down there;
it gets steep--4x4 is best. At right is a picture of the tram bridge pier on the west side
of South Fork.

Rock Creek
I got off on a tangent, but it is all kind of connected. Getting back to directions, you turn off at the other end of the bridge over South Fork, follow 1363 a short distance and then it makes a sharp right. Follow 1363 for about four miles until you get to White Oak Junction. There is a church there on the right. Turn left onto Forest Service road 566. This road goes alongside Rock Creek for many miles, on down into Tennessee I believe. However, a bridge was out in May, not far from the beginning of the road. It might be fixed by now (late July '02).

To the right is a view of the creek and the road. This is facing downstream. That road is good enough for cars. This scene is not far from the beginning of the gravel road (566) at 1363. I went there last May ('02), and the creek was running well, plenty of water. For me, the best part is along this section. There are a lot of boulders, and they cause some white water. It might be good for fishing too. This is a trout stream.

It rained the morning I went, but I went anyway. A light overcast day is good for pictures--even lighting, no hard contrast. Besides that, I wanted to get out somewhere, and I wanted to have another look at Rock Creek and make some pictures. I had made only one, several months before.

This is a view looking down from the road. This is along the section with a lot of boulders, and is only a mile or less from 1363. I went down and made pictures at one place, with a tripod. The rain had just about stopped by then. A tripod was necessary, and I took my time. It was really enjoyable being there. Rain was falling when I left home, but I went anyway and after I got there, it had about quit. A little sprinkle wasn't bad. I had my umbrella for the camera. Rain soon quit. Other times I have left home on a light overcast day and had a good time.

The section of creek with the most interest to me was this area with all the big rocks. It is not far from the highway, 1363. For a bigger view of the one just below click here.

Click here for a bigger view of the one above left.

Click here for a bigger view of the one at right, just below. This scene is a continuation of the one at left.

Click here for a larger view of this one. This scene is a little bit downstream from the section where a lot of boulders are. There are rocks here, but the area upstream has more. The creek is a little wider here too.

After I finished with this area, I attempted to go on down the road along the creek, but came to a bridge that was out. That was back in may. It is now almost October. I don't know if that bridge has been replaced or not. If not, you can go back to 1363 and follow it around several miles to the Bell Farm horse camp area and connect with the other end of 566. At the intersection, going right will put you on 564; going left will get you on 566. Just off 566 is 139, which goes up on Dolen Mountain. The horse camp is near the beginning of that road. Road 564 follows Rock Creek, but gets away from it somewhat, and then goes back near the creek. Eventually it comes to an intersection. 564 turns right and goes up hill. Taking the left fork will keep you along Rock Creek. The road from the fork is 137. It continues along Rock Creek and will take you to three campgrounds--one at Hemlock Grove, and two at the Great Meadow area. That's as far as I went. Topo maps are a big help, and I'd recommend them to anyone roaming. The Sheltowee Trace runs along the creek in that area, but turns up another creek hollow at Hemlock Grove.

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