See all 6 routes on Buck Creek
Kentucky | Pulaski County
Buck CreekKY-1675 Fishing Access to Poplarville Road Fishing Access
Long Buck Creek gorge run from the Stab / KY-1675 bridge to Poplarville Road. KDFWR still documents the official Stab-to-Bent and Bent-to-Poplarville floats, supporting this 13.5-mile chained public route against the direct Shopville 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 the Stab / KY-1675 bridge and finish at Poplarville Road for the full middle-and-lower Buck Creek gorge chain. Use the Shopville gauge and expect more scraping whenever the creek stays below the same-gauge 100 cfs / 2.0 ft floor.
Access map
Put-in
KY-1675 Fishing AccessThe KY-1675 bridge access is a basic carry-down with no dock, restroom, or developed staging pad.
Take-out
Poplarville Road Fishing AccessBent Road is the only clean public midpoint bailout, but KDFWR says the carry-out is steep and rocky enough that it should not be treated as effortless.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Poplarville Road first, then drive back to the KY-1675 / Stab bridge. This is a full middle-to-lower Buck Creek commitment, not a short after-work run.
Additional access notes
- Poplarville is the recommended easier finish. Do not assume the steeper Dykes Bridge access upstream is the normal take-out just because it appears in older descriptions.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR says the lower section includes several drops that can be dicey at higher flows and recommends the left island line because the right chute may remain blocked by a fallen tree.
- Poplarville is the easier public finish; KDFWR says the steeper Dykes Bridge carry-out upstream should not be the default take-out for general users.
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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
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 |
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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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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 chainKY-1675 / 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 13.5-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 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 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 characterThe Bent gorge, small waterfalls, and left-island line
KDFWR warns about strainers and cliff pressure through the Bent, then says the lower route includes several drops, a preferred left island line, and a steeper Dykes Bridge alternative to Poplarville.
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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