See all 9 routes on Levisa Fork
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Levisa ForkIsland Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp
Short-to-moderate Pikeville Levisa Fork float from Island Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp. Current KDFWR Levisa Fork materials still support the Island Creek-to-Cedar and Cedar-to-Thompson access chain on the same direct Pikeville gauge.
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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 Island Creek Ramp and take out 4.5 miles downstream at Thompson Road Canoe Access for the longer Pikeville Cut-Through continuation. KDFWR keeps the same good Pikeville gauge band of 800 to 1,400 cfs, or 7.4 to 8.5 ft.
Access map
Put-in
Island Creek RampIsland Creek is a carry-down access behind the South Mayo Trail commercial corridor with unpaved parking and no amenities.
Take-out
Thompson Road Canoe AccessThompson Road is a KDFWR single-lane ramp with year-round availability, but nearby banks are 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 Island Creek Ramp behind the South Mayo Trail corridor. Inspect both accesses before launching because the lower ramp is the required finish.
Additional access notes
- KDFWR's Pikeville good range is 800–1,400 cfs or 7.4–8.5 ft. If discharge and stage disagree, treat conditions as marginal; lower levels can expose gravel and mussel-shell shoals. Check both live values and the trend.
- KDFWR limits bank and wade fishing at these sites because surrounding land is private, steep, rocky, or heavily vegetated. Stay with the documented public ramps.
More route and safety guidance
- KDFWR reports abundant woody debris on the Levisa Fork and warns that swift current makes it more dangerous above the recommended band. Give wood and bridge constrictions extra room.
- Land at the named public ramps rather than nearby banks. KDFWR says land surrounding Thompson Road is privately owned or thickly vegetated.
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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
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 | Levisa Fork at Pikeville, KY |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| 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 |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 chainIsland Creek Ramp to Cedar Creek Ramp about 1.5 miles plus Cedar Creek Ramp to Thompson Road Ramp 3.0 miles
Current KDFWR Levisa Fork materials still support both linked public segments, supporting an about 4.5-mile Island Creek to Thompson Road continuation on the same river and gauge.
- Put-in accessIsland Creek Ramp, 37.4646, -82.5284
KDFWR identifies Island Creek Ramp as a free carry-down access behind the South Mayo Trail corridor with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- 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 availability and published coordinates.
- Route characterPikeville Cut-Through public float
The KDFWR education page says paddlers can extend past Cedar Creek to the lower Thompson Road take-out after passing through the Pikeville Cut-Through section.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-14USGS 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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