By Jeremy Patton
Short Creek is located in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Short Creek cave is private property, but open to the public.
Coordinates: 37°09’01.1″N, 84°25’52.0″W
From London, drive about 20 miles west on KY 80 until you reach the “Stab” community, near Somerset. Turn left onto Rocky Tree Road (I did not see a road sign, but that is how it was listed on googlemaps). After about 100 feet, turn left onto KY 1675. Continue for a short distance then turn right onto Short Creek Road. Proceed for less than 0.2 miles until you see the aqua-green pool on your right. Parking is available on the side of the road.
Some claim that Short Creek is the shortest in the world. I have no idea if that is true. It emerges from a cave, flows about 150 feet, enters another cave then disappears into the darkness.
It caught my eye immediately when I approached it from the road. I am no geologist, but I assume that its color is caused by minerals picked up as it flows underground. Like other bodies of water, its color changes depending on recent weather.
When I exited my car, I heard a rush similar to a waterfall or cascade, which made me more excited. Short Creek surfaces calmly but soon speeds up over rougher terrain, creating small rapids. It narrows when it enters the second cave, echoing loudly before rejoining the underworld.
There are two entrances that allow you to walk down into the cavern and stand near the creek. No flashlight, special shoes or clothing are necessary, although things might get more messy after significant rainfall. Intriguing ripples and grooves caused by erosion adorn the cavern walls.
According to a KET program called “Kentucky Life: Short Creek,” a professor and his students from Eastern Kentucky University inserted dye into the creek to determine its origin and terminus. It eventually empties into the nearby Buck Creek.
I have lived in London, Kentucky for more than 30 years. I had never heard of Short Creek until yesterday, so I did not expect to find such an impressive and unique natural creation. It is a must-see.
Thank you Brett for bringing it to my attention.
****
6/19/16 – Delania and I donned our headlamps and explored Short Creek Cave. Taking advantage of the dryer weather, we walked creek-side for a few hundred yards before being forced to wade in ankle-deep water. Thick humidity midway through the tunnel made visibility low. We spotted the faint light of an exit located on an embankment above the creek. The water got much deeper at this point, waist deep, so we turned around. The cave was far shorter than we expected. We plan to hike over land and locate the exit, maybe in the fall when the ticks and snakes are gone.
****
On 11/13/16, Delania and I climbed to the top of the bluff and bushwhacked southeast until we met a ravine. We followed the ravine west then found the huge exit of Short Creek Cave. The creek-bed was dry due to a drought, but still gorgeous.
We ventured inside and walked maybe 100 feet to a shallow pool that stretched from one side of the cavern to the other. We probably could have waded through it and proceeded to the entrance if we had brought the proper equipment. Looking over my shoulder, the exit appeared much smaller than from outside, then I realized that we had reached our turn-around spot from back in June.
The diminished creek still rushed in the darkness, but not through the bone-dry exit. I wondered if it led to an undiscovered exit or perhaps entered a spring passage that resurfaced at Buck Creek, not far away. If we are able to return before the drought ends, we will investigate.
Our photos of the exit cave and creek-bed were fabulous, but did the area little justice. My favorite photo, however, was from inside the cave looking out. A styrofoam cup can be seen lodged in the ceiling, 15-20 feet high. This is not the only instance of trash getting stuck in the ceiling. They are testaments of flood-waters that rage through the cavern.
Added 4/1/15 – Updated 8/1/26