Kentucky | South-Central Kentucky
Drakes CreekRomanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park
Popular Warren County Blueways trip from Romanza Johnson Park on Trammel Fork into Drakes Creek and down to Phil Moore Park. Warren County and KDFWR support the public accesses, and the Drakes Creek USGS gauge is now product-live.
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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 Romanza Johnson Park on Trammel Fork and take out at Phil Moore Park on Drakes Creek for a common Warren County Blueways trip. Use the Drakes Creek near Alvaton USGS gauge as the same-day water check.
Access map
Put-in
Romanza Johnson Park creek accessRomanza Johnson Park and Phil Moore Park close at dark; do not leave the take-out vehicle past posted hours.
Take-out
Phil Moore Park carry-down accessThe Romanza ford hydraulic is dangerous when water flows over the ford. Avoid the downstream side and skip the route if the ford or current looks wrong.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Phil Moore Park, then drive to Romanza Johnson Park. Both parks close at dark, and Warren County warns vehicles left unattended may be locked in until morning, so leave a conservative daylight margin.
Additional access notes
- Phil Moore Park has more than one carry-down/landing area. Make sure the group agrees on the exact take-out before launching.
- County flag information is helpful but does not replace USGS gauge, weather, flood, and same-day visual checks.
More route and safety guidance
- This minimum-only gauge model does not define a safe high-water ceiling. Treat rising water, storms, strainers, and debris as stop signals rather than stretching the 100 cfs floor into a general go condition.
- Both endpoint parks operate on limited public access rules and close at dark, so confirm current park status and leave enough daylight that a delay does not force an after-hours take-out.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Drakes Creek near Alvaton, 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.
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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.
- 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 | Drakes Creek near Alvaton, 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 | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR Drakes Creek Blue Water Trails minimum-flow guidance |
| 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.
- Route shapeRomanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park, about 6 mi
Warren County Parks says Romanza Johnson Park is popular with canoe and kayak users for a 3-4 hour trip ending at Phil Moore Park, and Warren County Blueways material lists the route at about six miles.
- Minimum-flow guidance100 cfs minimum-only
KDFWR Drakes Creek Blue Water Trail material says at least 100 cfs is best for minimal dragging on Trammel Fork and Drakes Creek. Paddle Today uses that as a conservative low-water floor.
- Gauge check during route review · June 1, 2026USGS 03314000 at 279 cfs / 5.28 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.
- County safety systemFlags, park closures at dark, ford hydraulic, strainers
Warren County tells paddlers to check the USGS Drakes Creek gauge, warns that Romanza Johnson and Phil Moore close at dark, and calls out the Romanza ford hydraulic as very dangerous when water flows over the ford.
- Endpoint coordinates36.873116, -86.372368 to 36.8954, -86.3807
Warren County Blueways map text lists the Romanza/Johnson County Park coordinate, and the KDFWR Phil Moore Park access record lists Phil Moore Park at 36.8954, -86.3807.
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
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