Kentucky | Louisville Metro

Floyds ForkCane Run Canoe Access to Cliffside Paddling Access

Longer lower-Parklands Floyds Fork day linking Cane Run to Cliffside. KDFWR documents the public route pieces and access records, while the lower-corridor PDF and Parklands guidance add Mary's Island, wood, and marked-landings-only cautions.

Route location

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Open access map
DistanceAbout 9.1 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 4 hr to 6 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
Floyds Fork flows through a spring-green Kentucky creek corridor with wooded banks and shallow current.
Route photoFloyds Fork in KentuckyPhoto 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 only the KDFWR-listed public carry-down accesses, follow posted Parklands and KDFWR rules, and carry required Kentucky boating safety gear.
CampingDay tripTreat this as a long lower-Parklands day trip. KDFWR lists no camping at either access, and no legal on-route overnight plan was verified for this managed park corridor.
SeasonMar-NovThis lower Parklands route is most reliable in spring through fall. Low summer flows can turn multiple shoals and bedrock steps into scrape points, while storm runoff quickly makes the lower bends, chutes, and recovery zones less forgiving.

Access and shuttle

Launch at Cane Run Canoe Access and take out 9.1 miles downstream at Cliffside Paddling Access for the full lower-Parklands Floyds Fork float. KDFWR gives a good Fisherville gauge band of 50 to 300 cfs, while the lower-route guidance adds Mary's Island, bedrock shelves, wood, and marked-landings-only discipline.

Access map

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Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Cane Run Canoe Access
DirectionsOpen map

Cane Run is a KDFWR carry-down site off Echo Trail with unpaved parking.

Finish

Take-out

Cliffside Paddling Access
DirectionsOpen map

Cliffside is a KDFWR carry-down site in Broad Run Park with year-round limited-hours shoreline access and no listed camping.

Road shuttle

Stage the take-out at Cliffside Paddling Access in Broad Run Park, then drive back to Cane Run Canoe Access off Echo Trail. Walk both carry-downs before launching because the Parklands corridor uses marked landings instead of broad public beaches.

Additional access notes
  • The Parklands instructs paddlers to use marked landings only and not to take out on private property.
  • Use Fisherville against KDFWR's 50–300 cfs / 1.3–2.5 ft good band. Below the range, expect shoal scraping and slower travel; check live flow, stage, and trend.
More route and safety guidance
  • Stay inside the KDFWR 50 to 300 cfs good band unless the group is ready for faster Class I+ current, waves, and fewer recovery eddies.
  • Watch for strainers, bedrock shoals, undercut banks, and the Marys Island split; the lower-corridor guide tells paddlers to stay left there.
Terms and safety
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Conditions

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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.

Data reliability: checking
Data status
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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 siteFloyds Fork at Fisherville, KY
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Preferred range50 cfs to 300 cfs
Low threshold35 cfs
High threshold500 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
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Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreKDFWR recommended river levels for Floyds Fork near Fisherville
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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 level band50-300 cfs / 1.3-2.5 ft

    KDFWR rates Floyds Fork near Fisherville as Low below 50 cfs or 1.3 ft, Good from 50 to 300 cfs or 1.3 to 2.5 ft, and High above 300 cfs or 2.5 ft.

    Source

  • Broader recreation band35-500 cfs

    A KDFWR Floyds Fork feature says the best floating levels for fishing and recreation are 35 to 500 cfs, with higher levels suited only to experienced paddlers.

    Source

  • Chained public route segmentCane Run Canoe Access to Cliffside Paddling Access, 9.1 miles

    KDFWR lists Cane Run Canoe Access to Seaton Valley Paddling Access as 3.1 miles, while the lower Floyds Fork PDF lists Seaton Valley Paddling Access to Broad Run Valley Paddling Access as 3.5 miles and Broad Run Valley Paddling Access to Cliffside Paddling Access as 2.5 miles, supporting a 9.1-mile public Cane-Run-to-Cliffside float.

    Source

  • Put-in accessCane Run Canoe Access, 38.1519, -85.5026

    KDFWR identifies Cane Run Canoe Access as a free carry-down site off Echo Trail with unpaved parking.

    Source

  • Take-out accessCliffside Paddling Access, 38.0864, -85.5520

    KDFWR identifies Cliffside Paddling Access as a free carry-down site in Broad Run Park with year-round limited-hours shoreline access and no camping listed.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-06USGS 03298000 at 48.7 cfs / 1.07 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

  • Route hazardsClass I+ moving water, Mary's Island split, bedrock rapids, wood

    The lower Floyds Fork PDF says paddlers may encounter strainers, should veer left at Mary's Island, and should expect shallow bedrock rapids, braided chutes, undercut banks, and changing current through the lower Parklands section.

    Source

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