McGilligan Creek

McGilligan Creek. The Nature Conservancy. , The stream in front of you is a tributary to McGilligan Creek, a unique stream in western Kentucky. Most rivers and streams in this part of the state are muddy and full of sediments. McGilligan Creek, a rocky, clear-flowing stream with a sandstone bed and sandy bottom, is an exception. McGIlligan creek runs through ancient alluvial sand deposits which now represent the bed of this beautiful stream. The sand at the bottom of the creek serves as a filter for the water, which runs clearly through the forest where you are hiking. McGilligan Creek is a tributary to the Ohio River, which flows just to the west of the preserve., Large sandstone rock shelters are located along the northern fork of the tributary to McGilligan Creek that flows through the preserve, including Southpaw Shelter and Mantle Rock. The tributary is situated adjacent to Southpaw Shelter and drains through a portion of Mantle Rock., The McGilligan Creek area has a long history of human use, with the most extensive use by Native Americans during the Late Woodland Lewis Phase between 500-700 A.D. These early inhabitants would have relied heavily upon McGilligan Creek and its tributaries as a clean water source.