Kentucky | Pulaski County

Buck CreekKY-1675 Fishing Access to Bent Road Fishing Access

Longer middle Buck Creek float from the Stab / KY-1675 bridge to Bent Road. KDFWR still treats this as the scenic The Bent segment, and the direct Shopville gauge plus same-gauge local floor support a guarded minimum-only route.

Route location

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Open access map
DistanceAbout 7.5 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 3 hr to 5.5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
A wooded Kentucky creek corridor with shallow moving water.
River contextKentucky river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Bpluke01 via Wikimedia Commons
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Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the KDFWR-listed public accesses, follow Kentucky boating and PFD rules, and avoid stopping on private banks through the gorge.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a day route. KDFWR lists no public camping or overnight support at the Stab or Bent Road accesses.
SeasonMar-NovThis The Bent segment becomes scrapy during dry spells and materially pushier after rain. The route stays minimum-only because the source trail supports a floor, not a clean ideal or high cutoff.

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.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

KY-1675 Fishing Access
DirectionsOpen map

The KY-1675 bridge access is a basic carry-down with no restroom, dock, or staging pad.

Finish

Take-out

Bent Road Fishing Access
DirectionsOpen map

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.

Road shuttle

Stage the take-out at Bent Road, then drive back to the KY-1675 / Stab bridge. Bent Road is public but the final carry-out is steep enough that many paddlers leave vehicles at the top and walk boats up.

Additional access notes
  • This is a bluff-walled private-bank corridor. Use only the named public launches for launching, landing, and breaks.
More route and safety guidance
  • 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.
Terms and safety
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Station details and river cameras

Sources and methodology

Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.

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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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Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBuck Creek near Shopville, KY
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Preferred rangeNeeds paddler reports
Known low-water floor100 cfs
High thresholdWater-level guidance unavailable
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
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Main source behind this scoreBuck Creek Outfitters same-gauge minimum for Buck Creek near Shopville
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Published 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 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

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