River guideKentucky
Levisa Fork
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Levisa Fork paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Levisa Fork routes use 2 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare 9 routes (9 scored · 0 planning) across Eastern Kentucky. Open a route page for put-in, take-out, distance, data reliability, and access notes.
Difficulty
Levisa Fork routes here are marked easy and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife · Levisa Fork
Choose the Pikeville trail or the lower river
The nine trip choices fall into two areas with different gauge recommendations. Use the station shown for the exact trip.
Hatfield–McCoy River Trail · Pikeville
KDFWR describes an 8.5-mile trail through Jubilee Christian Church, Island Creek, Cedar Creek, and Thompson Road. The first float to Island Creek is nearly four miles; Island Creek to Cedar Creek adds about 1.5 miles. KDFWR’s current mileage page lists Cedar Creek to Thompson Road at 3.0 miles, while its detailed map says 3.2. Jubilee has limited parking and asks paddlers to get permission before using the church lot; Cedar Creek’s gravel approach can be difficult for first-time visitors.
View the full 8.5-mile trail optionLower Levisa · Prestonsburg to Paintsville
KDFWR lists Prestonsburg to Airport at 8.2 miles and Airport to Levisa Fork Boat Ramp at 8.1 miles. Those downstream trips use the Prestonsburg gauge. Do not apply the Pikeville trail’s level band to this lower reach.
Compare the 16.3-mile lower optionSee Kentucky Fish & Wildlife’s access mileage, launch descriptions, and separate gauge recommendations, its Hatfield–McCoy trail guide and detailed trail map. Check USGS 03209500 at Pikeville for the upper trail or USGS 03209800 at Prestonsburg for the lower access chain. All nine launch and take-out pairs remain available in the trip selector.
Quick answers
Levisa Fork paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Levisa Fork?
Choose among nine launch and take-out pairs in two areas: the Pikeville Hatfield-McCoy River Trail around Jubilee, Island Creek, Cedar Creek, and Thompson Road, or the lower Prestonsburg-to-Paintsville access chain. The selector keeps the exact start and finish for each trip.
How should I check Levisa Fork water levels?
KDFWR publishes separate recommendations for Pikeville and Prestonsburg. Use USGS 03209500 near Pikeville for the upper trail’s 800–1,400 cfs / 7.4–8.5 ft band, and USGS 03209800 at Prestonsburg for the downstream 800–1,500 cfs / 3.5–5.0 ft band. These are local recommendations, not interchangeable safety limits; check the station attached to the selected trip.
Which Levisa Fork route is best today?
Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.