See all 5 routes on Goose Creek
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Goose CreekJacks / Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Laurel Branch Road Access
Narrow Clay County Goose Creek float from Jacks / Bowling Branch Bridge to Laurel Branch Road. KDFWR documents the consecutive 2.2-mile, 0.8-mile, and 4.8-mile access pairs that combine into this 7.8-mile lower-Goose route, and the Manchester gauge provides official cfs and stage bands.
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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 Jacks / Bowling Branch and take out at Laurel Branch for the cleaner lower-Manchester Goose Creek route. Use the Manchester gauge and expect scraping whenever flows sit below KDFWR's 175 to 514 cfs good band.
Access map
Put-in
Jacks / Bowling Branch Bridge AccessAll four accesses in this corridor are simple carry-down or ford-style roadside sites with limited parking and no amenities.
Take-out
Laurel Branch Road AccessDump Hollow works as a mid-route bailout, but KDFWR warns the ford can be difficult or dangerous at high water.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Laurel Branch Road, then drive back upstream to the Jacks / Bowling Branch bridge access. Parking at both ends is limited, so keep vehicles compact and fully off the road edge.
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Jacks / Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Laurel Branch Road Access is about 7.8 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- This combined route intentionally starts below the Rawlings / Stinson access so it avoids the low-head-dam warning attached to that upstream point.
- Goose Creek is a flashy small stream. Rain-driven rises can change the feel quickly even when the gauge was low earlier in the day.
More route and safety guidance
- Use KDFWR's Manchester bands the same day: below 175 cfs or 7.4 ft expect scraping, while above 514 cfs or 8.5 ft the narrow creek and roadside landings get less forgiving.
- Stay with the KDFWR-listed Jacks, Tobacco Road, Dump Hollow, and Laurel Branch accesses; outside those small public sites, private banks are not planned stops or bailouts.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Goose Creek at Manchester, 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 | Goose Creek at Manchester, KY |
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| Preferred range | 175 cfs to 514 cfs |
| Low threshold | 175 cfs |
| High threshold | 514 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for Goose Creek at Manchester |
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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 chainJacks to Laurel Branch, 7.8 mi combined
KDFWR lists Jacks/Bowling Branch to Tobacco Road as 2.2 miles, Tobacco Road to Dump Hollow as 0.8 miles, and Dump Hollow to Laurel Branch as 4.8 miles. Combined, they create a clean 7.8-mile downstream Goose Creek route.
- Official level band175-514 cfs good
KDFWR rates Goose Creek at Manchester as Low below 175 cfs, Good from 175 to 514 cfs, and High above 514 cfs; the same page also publishes matching stage bands of Low below 7.4 ft, Good from 7.4 to 8.5 ft, and High above 8.5 ft.
- Put-in accessJacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access, 37.2052, -83.7372
KDFWR identifies Jacks/Bowling Branch as a year-round carry-down access beside the Phil Young Road bridge with limited roadside parking and no amenities.
- Take-out accessLaurel Branch Road Access, 37.2370, -83.6703
KDFWR identifies Laurel Branch Road as a year-round carry-down access with limited parking, no amenities, and private banks outside the immediate launch area.
- Gauge check during route review · June 22, 2026USGS 03281100 at 16.4 cfs / 5.96 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.
- Route characterRock bars, shallow pools, ford bailout, private banks
KDFWR describes Goose Creek as a relatively shallow stream with riffles, pools, and rock bars. The route passes Tobacco Road and Dump Hollow, which remain usable bailout points but have limited parking and no amenities.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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