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Kentucky | Mammoth Cave / Edmonson County
Green River
Green River Ferry to Brownsville City Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Green River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch below Green River Ferry and continue downstream to Brownsville City Park for the full lower-park Green continuation. The direct Mammoth Cave gauge anchors the route, but the current July 14 stage sits above the broad beginner-friendly band and the Brownsville finish raises the consequence beyond a casual flatwater day.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Green River FerryLaunch and load on the downstream side of Green River Ferry so you do not interfere with ferry operations.
Take-out
Brownsville City ParkHouchins Ferry is the clearest legal midpoint stop and campground support if the group does not want the full Brownsville finish in one push.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Launch and load on the downstream side of Green River Ferry so you do not interfere with ferry operations.
- Houchins Ferry is the clearest legal midpoint stop and campground support if the group does not want the full Brownsville finish in one push.
- Brownsville City Park is the intended public take-out. NPS says private land begins after the park boundary, so do not improvise extra stops or a longer continuation without fresh access research.
- This stretch is less traveled than the popular Green River Ferry day float, so groups should be more self-sufficient about shuttle, weather, and emergency planning.
Watch for
- Ferry traffic at the launch, plus submerged trees, logjams, gravel-bar shifts, back channels, and drifting debris throughout the run.
- Higher water above about 15 ft, when the route becomes more consequential, and launch closures at or above 20 ft.
- The class 2 rapid left by former Lock and Dam 6 shortly before Brownsville Boat Ramp.
- Cold springs, exposed sun, limited cell service, and the temptation to relax too early because the finish is still moving water.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Green River at Mammoth Cave, KY |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 |
| Target band | 9.00 ft to 15.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 9.00 ft |
| High threshold | 20.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Mammoth Cave NPS Green River skill-level stage guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeGreen River Ferry to Brownsville, about 16.0 mi
NPS publishes Green River Ferry to Houchin Ferry as 12.4 miles and Houchin Ferry to Brownsville as 3.6 miles, supporting a combined lower-park continuation of about 16.0 miles.
- Official stage model9-15 ft broad audience, >=20 ft closed
NPS says beginner Green River conditions in the park are about 9 to 15 ft and launching in the park is prohibited at or above 20 ft. Paddle Today uses that as a conservative public-facing stage model.
- Public access chainGreen River Ferry, Houchins Ferry, Brownsville City Park
KDFWR still documents Green River Ferry, Houchins Ferry, and Brownsville City Park as public downstream access anchors for the same Mammoth Cave corridor.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03309000 at 3460 cfs / 15.39 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day July 14, 2026 values of 3460 cfs and 15.39 ft for Green River at Mammoth Cave, just above the park's broad 9 to 15-foot comfort band but below the 20-foot launch closure.
- Camping and hazard contextPermit camping upstream, rapid and private-land caution downstream
NPS says the Green River Ferry to Houchin stretch can support gravel-bar or low-bank camping with a valid riverside permit, while the Brownsville card warns of swift current and private land after the park boundary and the boating page notes the former Lock and Dam 6 rapid near the finish.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
- NPS Green River Ferry to Houchin Ferry
- NPS Houchin Ferry to Brownsville
- NPS River Safety and Regulations
- NPS Canoeing, Kayaking and Boating
- KDFWR Green River Ferry
- KDFWR Houchins Ferry access detail
- KDFWR Brownsville City Park access detail
- USGS 03309000 Green River at Mammoth Cave
- USGS 03309000 Water Services current values
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Green River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Green River?
Paddle Today watches Green River at Mammoth Cave, KY and treats 9.00 ft to 15.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Green River route start and end?
This route starts at Green River Ferry and ends at Brownsville City Park, about About 16.0 mi on the water.
Is this Green River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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