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Kentucky | Pulaski County
Buck Creek
KY-1675 Fishing Access to Bent Road Fishing Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Buck Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
CautionThis route has hazards or access considerations that require extra verification.
Safety details
KDFWR warns that higher flows on this bluff-walled section can push boats into strainers and tight cliff bases.
- Bent Road is a real public take-out, but KDFWR says the carry-out is steep enough that many paddlers will park at the top and walk boats up.
- Treat the corridor as a day float between named public accesses only. The banks and woods away from those accesses are not general public staging areas.
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge note
Minimum 100 cfs · Buck Creek near Shopville, KY
Gauge context
Use the Buck Creek near Shopville gauge. Same-gauge local Buck Creek paddling guidance says about 100 cfs and 2.0 ft or better is the minimum for a worthwhile trip. Below that expect dragging; higher water pushes harder against bluffs and makes the Bent Road carry-out less forgiving.
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at the Stab / KY-1675 bridge and finish at Bent Road for the scenic Buck Creek middle-gorge float through the Bent. Use the Shopville gauge and expect a scratchier day whenever the creek stays below the same-gauge 100 cfs / 2.0 ft floor.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
KY-1675 Fishing AccessThe KY-1675 bridge access is a basic carry-down with no restroom, dock, or staging pad.
Take-out
Bent Road Fishing AccessKDFWR says Bent Road is the legal take-out, but the final carry-out is steep and rocky enough that some paddlers will want to park at the top and walk boats up.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- The KY-1675 bridge access is a basic carry-down with no restroom, dock, or staging pad.
- KDFWR says Bent Road is the legal take-out, but the final carry-out is steep and rocky enough that some paddlers will want to park at the top and walk boats up.
- This is a bluff-walled private-bank corridor. Use only the named public launches for launching, landing, and breaks.
Watch for
- Low water near or below about 100 cfs, when long shoals and rocky runs become slower and more scrape-prone.
- Higher post-rain current that can push boats toward strainers and cliff bases through the Bent.
- Fresh wood, tight turns, and a strenuous finish carry at Bent Road.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| 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 |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route segmentKY-1675 / Stab to Bent Road, 7.5 mi
The current KDFWR Buck Creek article and map still identify this exact middle segment as the next official float below Stab.
- 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 accessKY-1675 Fishing Access, 37.1516, -84.4392
KDFWR identifies the Stab bridge as a public carry-down access with year-round shoreline availability.
- Take-out accessBent Road Fishing Access, 37.1038, -84.4350
KDFWR identifies Bent Road as a public carry-down access and the Buck Creek article warns the carry-out can be steep and rough.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03407500 at 63.5 cfs / 1.91 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day values for Buck Creek near Shopville, KY at 2026-07-09 11:30 EDT during this run, which keeps the gauge live while honestly flagging a below-floor day.
- Hazard and route characterThe Bent gorge and steep Bent carry-out
KDFWR says this section enters the square-shaped Bent, warns about strainers at higher flows, and notes the Bent Road carry-out is steep and rocky.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
More level reports needed
Only a low-water floor is known.
We can tell when this route is likely too low, but we do not yet have enough reports to define a best range. If you paddled it recently, send a condition report with how the level felt.
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More routes to check next
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More in Kentucky
All 136 routesMore on Buck Creek
All 6Nearby routes by distance
Quick answers
Buck Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Buck Creek?
Paddle Today watches Buck Creek near Shopville, KY and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Buck Creek route start and end?
This route starts at KY-1675 Fishing Access and ends at Bent Road Fishing Access, about About 7.5 mi on the water.
Is this Buck Creek route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.
