The Rolling Fork begins in southern Boyle County. It winds through the county, gradually increasing in size. After passing through Marion County, the Rolling Fork moves to be the border of LaRue County and Nelson County, starting near the High View area. The river snakes along Nelson and LaRue Counties, making a u-shaped bend along the Knobs. The rivers goes on and gains size when the
Beech Fork joins it near Youngers Creek, a community in Hardin County that borders Nelson County. Eventually, the Rolling Fork joins the Salt River at the Hardin County - Bullitt County line. The Salt River empties into the Ohio River about later, at West Point, Kentucky. The Rolling Fork has a mean annual discharge of 1,828 cubic feet per second at
Boston, per data collected during the period 1939–2015. The Rolling Fork winds through the Knobs of the region. These knobs shape the river and add to it the various "hallows" and bends that characterize the terrain. The river lies in beautiful valleys, and sets alongside many rich river bottoms. These bottoms provide excellent growing opportunities for grain farms, and surrounding pasture for cattle. The river valley is somewhat prone to flooding. Major flooding occurred most recently on the week after May 1, 2010. This flooding deeply impacted the communities, spilling water in
New Haven,
Howardstown and elsewhere. The raging waters scoured river bottoms and deposited brush and gravel there. In New Haven, the flood waters damaged the
Kentucky Railway Museum. == Wildlife ==