See all 9 routes on Levisa Fork
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Levisa ForkCedar Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp
Short Pikeville day float through the Hatfield-McCoy River Trail corridor. KDFWR documents both public access ramps, the 3-mile segment, and official Pikeville gauge bands, but the route still needs same-day judgment around woody debris and dam-release changes.
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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 Cedar Creek Canoe Access and take out three miles downstream at Thompson Road Canoe Access for the short Pikeville / Hatfield-McCoy River Trail segment through the Cut-Through corridor. KDFWR gives a good Pikeville gauge band of 800 to 1,400 cfs.
Access map
Put-in
Cedar Creek Canoe AccessCedar Creek is a KDFWR carry-down access under the KY 1384 bridge with unpaved parking and no amenities.
Take-out
Thompson Road Canoe AccessThompson Road is a KDFWR single-lane ramp with year-round availability, but land around the ramp is private or thickly vegetated; land at the signed access rather than spreading onto nearby banks.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Thompson Road behind the Texas Roadhouse / nearby business area, then drive back to Cedar Creek under the KY 1384 bridge. Inspect both ramps before launching because Cedar Creek is a carry-down site and Thompson Road is the required take-out before the lower access gap.
Additional access notes
- KDFWR notes bank and wade fishing are limited at these sites because surrounding land is private, steep, rocky, or heavily vegetated. Stay with the documented public ramps and do not assume private-bank stops are allowed.
- Check the current USGS 03209500 reading and compare it with KDFWR's good Pikeville band of 800 to 1,400 cfs (7.4 to 8.5 ft) before launch.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR describes Fishtrap Lake Dam releases and Russell Fork inflow as part of the Levisa flow story; after rain or release changes, swift current and wood can make the short route inappropriate for casual paddlers.
- Use the documented Cedar Creek and Thompson Road accesses, and keep stops off private or heavily vegetated banks except in an emergency.
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Conditions
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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
Levisa Fork at Pikeville, 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
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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 | Levisa Fork at Pikeville, KY |
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| Preferred range | 800 cfs to 1,400 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,400 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 Levisa Fork at Pikeville |
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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 level band800-1,400 cfs / 7.4-8.5 ft
KDFWR rates Levisa Fork at Pikeville as Low below 800 cfs or 7.4 ft, Good from 800 to 1,400 cfs or 7.4 to 8.5 ft, and High above 1,400 cfs or 8.5 ft.
- Official route segmentCedar Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp, 3.0 miles
KDFWR lists Cedar Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp as a 3.0-mile public-access segment on the Levisa Fork access mileage table.
- Put-in accessCedar Creek Canoe Access, 37.4802, -82.5446
KDFWR identifies Cedar Creek Canoe Access under the KY-1384 bridge in Pikeville as a free carry-down site with unpaved parking.
- Take-out accessThompson Road Canoe Access, 37.5096, -82.5435
KDFWR identifies Thompson Road Canoe Access as a free single-lane ramp with year-round 24-hour boat-ramp availability and published coordinates.
- Route characterClass I beginner-friendly at normal levels
Visit Pikeville describes the Hatfield-McCoy River Trail trip through the Pikeville Cut-Through as Class I water suitable for beginners and families.
- Gauge check during route review · May 31, 2026USGS 03209500
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.
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
More on Levisa Fork
All 9Nearby routes within 75 miles
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