Kentucky | South-Central Kentucky

Green River

Roachville Ford to Russell Ford Access

Check current paddling conditions for this Green River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.

Open access map
DistanceAbout 6.6 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2.5 hr to 4.5 hr
ShuttleCar shuttle
Morning mist and sunlight hang over the wooded Green River near Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.
River contextGreen River near Mammoth Cave National Park river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by code poet

Need to know

Why this call
Pulling the latest gauge and weather. This usually takes a few seconds.
View Primary Source

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

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 history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

DifficultyeasyThis is still a manageable Green River float, but the islands, chutes, shallow shoals, and easy-to-miss Russell Ford landing reward active line choice rather than sleepy drifting.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use only the KDFWR-listed public accesses, follow Kentucky boating and PFD rules, and stay off private banks between the endpoints.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a day route. KDFWR does not document camping or normal overnight support at Roachville or Russell Ford.
SeasonMar-NovThis short upper-Green day is most practical from spring through fall when the Greensburg stage is stable. Summer lows can turn the riffles and shoals into a slower scrape-fest, while storms or releases can make the channels around the islands pushier than they first look.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Access and shuttle

Launch at Roachville Ford and take out at Russell Ford for the manageable 6.6-mile Upper Green float. Use the Greensburg gauge and expect a slower, scrape-prone ride whenever the stage sits below KDFWR's 1.0 to 1.75 ft good band.

Take the plan with you

Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.

Start

Put-in

Roachville Ford
Open map

Roachville Ford is a low-water gravel ford with limited roadside parking and no services. Be ready for muddy footing and brief carry or drag moves at lower water.

Finish

Take-out

Russell Ford Access
Open map

Russell Ford sits in the middle of a shoal on river left. KDFWR warns that paddlers unfamiliar with the route can drift past the take-out if they stay in the main right channel.

Plan this segment

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Roachville Ford is a low-water gravel ford with limited roadside parking and no services. Be ready for muddy footing and brief carry or drag moves at lower water.
  • Russell Ford sits in the middle of a shoal on river left. KDFWR warns that paddlers unfamiliar with the route can drift past the take-out if they stay in the main right channel.
  • Both endpoints are public, but most shoreline between them is private and should not be treated as a casual stop or backup exit.

Watch for

  • Low water below about 1.0 ft, when shoals, sticky mud, and dragging become more common.
  • High water above about 1.75 ft, when current through islands, chutes, and bends gets pushier.
  • Fresh wood, bridge-adjacent current, and take-out confusion at Russell Ford.

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

Today'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.
Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteGreen River at Greensburg, KY
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band1.00 ft to 1.75 ft
Low threshold1.00 ft
High threshold1.75 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreKDFWR recommended river levels for Green River at Greensburg
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
What 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 segmentRoachville Ford to Russell Ford, 6.6 mi

    KDFWR's Upper Green article still lists this exact public float at 6.6 miles.

    Source

  • Official level band1.0-1.75 ft good

    KDFWR rates the Green River gauge at Greensburg as Low below 1.0 ft, Good from 1.0 to 1.75 ft, and High above 1.75 ft.

    Source

  • Put-in accessRoachville Ford, 37.2353, -85.4241

    KDFWR identifies Roachville Ford as a free public low-water ford access with limited roadside parking and no camping.

    Source

  • Take-out accessRussell Ford Access, 37.2738, -85.4784

    KDFWR identifies Russell Ford as a free public carry-down access with unpaved parking and year-round 24-hour availability.

    Source

  • Live-gauge supportUSGS 03306500 at 1.58 ft

    USGS Water Services returned a same-day July 10, 2026 06:15 CDT gage-height reading for Green River at Greensburg during this run. That stage sits inside KDFWR's good band.

    Source

  • Route characterIslands, chutes, shoals, and an easy-to-miss take-out

    KDFWR describes this upper section as islands and chutes through water willow beds and warns that paddlers new to the route can float past Russell Ford if they are not looking for the left-side take-out.

    Source

Check the source links

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

Green River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Green River?

Paddle Today watches Green River at Greensburg, KY and treats 1.00 ft to 1.75 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 Roachville Ford and ends at Russell Ford Access, about About 6.6 mi on the water.

Is this Green River route good for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.