See all 6 routes on Buck Creek
Kentucky | Pulaski County
Buck CreekBent Road Fishing Access to Poplarville Road Fishing Access
Lower Buck Creek gorge float from Bent Road to the easier Poplarville take-out. KDFWR still treats this as one of the signature Buck Creek paddles, and the direct Shopville gauge plus same-gauge local floor support a guarded minimum-only route.
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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 Bent Road and finish at Poplarville Road for the lower Buck Creek gorge float. Use the Shopville gauge and expect to walk more of the shallow drops whenever the creek stays below the same-gauge 100 cfs / 2.0 ft floor.
Access map
Put-in
Bent Road Fishing AccessBent Road is a basic carry-down start with unpaved parking and no services.
Take-out
Poplarville Road Fishing AccessPoplarville is the recommended easier finish. Do not assume Dykes Bridge is the default take-out just because it appears first on some older guide references.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Poplarville Road first, then drive back to Bent Road. Poplarville is the easier public finish; KDFWR says the Dykes Bridge carry-out a mile upstream is steeper and more strenuous.
Additional access notes
- The Poplarville parking area is small and roadside. Keep vehicles tight and fully clear of local traffic.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR also says the safer island line is left because the right chute may stay blocked by a fallen tree.
- Poplarville is the easier public finish; KDFWR says the steeper Dykes Bridge carry-out a mile upstream is more strenuous and should not be the default take-out for general users.
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Conditions
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Weather
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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
Buck Creek near Shopville, 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 | Buck Creek near Shopville, KY |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Buck Creek Outfitters same-gauge minimum for Buck Creek near Shopville |
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| Weather source | Checking |
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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 route segmentBent Road to Poplarville Road, about 6.0 mi
The current KDFWR Buck Creek article and map still present this as the lower official float, choosing Poplarville as the easier finish instead of the steep Dykes carry-out.
- Minimum-flow supportAbout 100 cfs and 2.0 ft minimum
Buck Creek Outfitters continues to use the Shopville gauge and says the creek needs to be above about 100 cfs and 2.0 ft for a fun float.
- Put-in accessBent Road Fishing Access, 37.1038, -84.4350
KDFWR identifies Bent Road as a public carry-down access with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- Take-out accessPoplarville Road Fishing Access, 37.0469, -84.4314
KDFWR identifies Poplarville Road as a public carry-down access with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-09USGS 03407500 at 63.5 cfs / 1.91 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.
- Hazard and route characterSmall waterfalls, island left line, Dykes Cave corridor
KDFWR says this lower gorge includes several drops that can be dicey at higher flows, recommends the left island line because the right chute may be blocked, and notes the Dykes Bridge carry-out is steep compared with the easier Poplarville finish.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Buck Creek
All 6Nearby routes within 75 miles
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