See all 10 routes on Barren River
Kentucky | South-Central Kentucky
Barren RiverBarren River VPA #3 to Potter/Combs Ramp
Long lower-Barren continuation from the Highway 101 voluntary public access site to Potter/Combs Ramp at Weldon Pete Park. KDFWR's current mileage table supports this 27.9-mile route by chaining the official VPA-to-Martinsville and Martinsville-to-Potter/Combs segments against the direct Finney stage gauge.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Barren River VPA #3 and take out at Potter/Combs Ramp for a long lower-Barren continuation. Use the Finney stage gauge and plan conservatively whenever the river is outside KDFWR's 78.0 to 78.5 ft good band.
Access map
Put-in
Barren River VPA #3Barren River VPA #3 is a voluntary public access site on private property. KDFWR says no camping, no fires, no alcohol, and no swimming at the access.
Take-out
Potter/Combs RampMartinsville Ford / Claypool Ramp is the only clean public intermediate bailout in the middle of this route, so note it before launching.
Road shuttle
Stage the downstream vehicle at Potter/Combs Ramp in Weldon Pete Park, then drive back to Barren River VPA #3 on Highway 101. The road shuttle is simple, but the route itself is a long lower-Barren commitment from a constrained VPA launch to a pooled park finish.
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Barren River VPA #3 to Potter/Combs Ramp is about 27.9 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Potter/Combs Ramp sits in Weldon Pete Park above a dam-influenced pooled section. Treat it as the planned finish rather than a casual pass-through.
- This is one of the longest lower-Barren routes now in the tree. Start early enough to avoid finishing at dusk if the current drags.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR says Martinsville carries shallow shoals and Potter/Combs sits above a dam-influenced pooled section, which makes low water slower and the finish less casual than the mileage first suggests.
- Private banks dominate most of the corridor, and the route is too long to assume easy roadside recovery if weather or fatigue goes sideways mid-day.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Barren River near Finney, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Barren River near Finney, KY |
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| Preferred range | 78.00 ft to 78.50 ft |
| Low threshold | 78.00 ft |
| High threshold | 78.50 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for Barren River near Finney |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official level band78.0-78.5 ft good
KDFWR rates the Barren River near Finney gauge as Low below 78.0 ft, Good from 78.0 to 78.5 ft, and High above 78.5 ft.
- Chained public route segmentBarren River VPA #3 to Potter/Combs Ramp, 27.9 miles
KDFWR lists Barren River VPA #3 to Martinsville Ford / Claypool Ramp as 3.9 miles and Martinsville Ford / Claypool Ramp to Potter/Combs Ramp as 24.0 miles, supporting a 27.9-mile public VPA-to-Potter/Combs continuation.
- Put-in accessBarren River VPA #3, 36.9333, -86.2043
KDFWR identifies Barren River VPA #3 as a private-property voluntary public access carry-in site with no camping, no fires, and year-round limited-hours shoreline access.
- Take-out accessPotter/Combs Ramp, 37.0027, -86.4184
KDFWR identifies Potter/Combs Ramp at Weldon Pete Park as a public year-round ramp with gravel parking and park amenities but no campground support.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-09USGS 03313000 at 78.02 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Camping postureNo public camping documented at either endpoint
KDFWR lists no camping or fires at the VPA launch, and Potter/Combs is documented as a park ramp rather than a public overnight facility.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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