Some Little Known Facts About the Licking River and TCT

• Mary Ingles was probably one of the first white women to cross the Licking.
• The original name of the river was Nepernine.
• The French explorers listed it on their maps as the Great Salt Creek.
• It became known as the Licking due to the great number of salt licks that attracted game.
• A major Native American trade route followed the Licking River.
• Cincinnati took its first name, Losantiville, from its location across from the mouth of the Licking.
• The South Fork of Licking River was used by British Capt. Byrd as the main route to attack settlers in Kentucky.
• Daniel Boone faced a Court Marshal for his role in the Battle of Blue Licks on Licking River.
• The Battle of Blue Licks was the last official battle of the Revolutionary War.
• The sulfur springs of Blue Licks were celebrated as a cure for many illnesses and a health resort there in 1800's attracted people from all over the world. These springs began to mysteriously dry up after the earthquake of 1812.
• Daniel Carter Beard's, the father of American Boy Scouts, home is on the Licking River.
• Due to the variety of fresh water mussels and fish that the river supports, the Kentucky Division of Water lists sections of the Licking as Outstanding Resource Waters.
• The Licking is over 300 miles long, flows north, and is interrupted by only one dam, Cave Run.
• Pollution alerts are often listed for the last five miles of the stream that flows into the Ohio, however most media report the story as if it applied to the entire river.
• “The Licking is the River that people in Greater Cincinnati love to hate.", Moony Rohan 1896-1987
• Jim and Ann Thaxton were the first to offer canoe rentals on the Main Licking River in 1980.
• Thaxton's South Fork Canoe Trails is Kentucky's oldest continuously operated canoe rental.
• Thaxton's were the first to offer guided moonlight floats.
• We are less than 30 minutes from Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati.
• Jim and  Ann Thaxton are recipients of the Outfitting Industry's highest award -- The Frank A. Jones Outstanding Outfitter Award. Jim was the first to receive this award in 1987 and Ann received the award in 1998.
• Jim Thaxton served on the board of directors of the Professional Paddlesports Association, the American Canoe Association, and the American Recreation Coalition and has received numerous awards and certificates of recognition from these organizations. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Paddlesports International.