See all 6 routes on Buck Creek
Kentucky | Pulaski County
Buck CreekRainey Road Fishing Access to Poplarville Road Fishing Access
Full public Buck Creek chain from Rainey Road to Poplarville Road. KDFWR still documents the official Rainey-to-Stab, Stab-to-Bent, and Bent-to-Poplarville segments, supporting this 17.7-mile combined route on the direct Shopville gauge.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Rainey Road and finish at Poplarville Road for the full Buck Creek public chain. Use the Shopville gauge and expect a long scrape-prone day whenever the creek stays below the same-gauge 100 cfs / 2.0 ft floor.
Access map
Put-in
Rainey Road Fishing AccessRainey Road is a basic carry-down start with no developed amenities.
Take-out
Poplarville Road Fishing AccessStab and Bent are the only clean public midpoint exits, and Bent itself can be a steep rocky carry-out rather than a casual bailout.
Road shuttle
Leave the downstream vehicle at Poplarville Road, then drive back to Rainey Road. This is the full public Buck Creek chain, so check weather, daylight, and the easier Poplarville finish before launching.
Additional access notes
- Poplarville is the intended easier public finish. Keep vehicles tight in the small roadside lot and clear of local traffic.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR says higher flows can push boats against cliff bases and into strainers upstream, while the lower route includes several drops and a preferred left island line because the right chute may stay blocked.
- Use only the named public accesses at Rainey, Stab, Bent, and Poplarville. Most banks along the corridor are private, and Poplarville is the intended easier public finish.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
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 |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| 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 |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 chainRainey Road to Stab 4.2 mi plus Stab to Bent Road 7.5 mi plus Bent Road to Poplarville 6.0 mi
The current KDFWR Buck Creek article and map still present these as consecutive official public floats, supporting this 17.7-mile combined route.
- 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 accessRainey Road Fishing Access, 37.1792, -84.4564
KDFWR identifies Rainey 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 · 2026-07-13USGS 03407500 at 556 cfs / 3.49 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 characterUpper bluffs, The Bent gorge, lower drops, and Poplarville finish
KDFWR describes the upper bluff corridor into the Bent, then warns that the lower route includes several dicey-at-high-water drops and a preferred left island line before the easier Poplarville take-out.
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
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.