Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky

Levisa Fork

Jubilee Christian Church Ramp to Cedar Creek Canoe Access

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DifficultyeasyKDFWR frames the Pikeville Levisa Fork as a family-friendly moving-water corridor with gentle riffles, shoals, and deep pools at normal levels. The longer Jubilee-to-Cedar combination still deserves moving-water judgment around wood and bridge current.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is known. Use the KDFWR-listed public accesses, follow Kentucky boating and PFD rules, and respect local parking or loading instructions at both ramps.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as an urban day float. KDFWR lists no camping at Jubilee Christian Church Ramp or Cedar Creek Canoe Access, and no legal overnight plan was verified for this Pikeville corridor.
SeasonApr-OctKDFWR says the Levisa Fork through Pikeville benefits from Russell Fork inflow and Fishtrap Lake releases, which can help summer flow but also change current after rain or release shifts.

Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.

Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Jubilee Christian Church Ramp and take out 5.5 miles downstream at Cedar Creek Canoe Access for the longer upper Pikeville Levisa Fork float. KDFWR gives a good Pikeville gauge band of 800 to 1,400 cfs, or 7.4 to 8.5 ft.

Start

Put-in

Jubilee Christian Church RampOpen map

KDFWR says parking near Jubilee is limited and that paddlers should ask permission before using the church paved lot.

Finish

Take-out

Cedar Creek Canoe AccessOpen map

Cedar Creek is a carry-down access under the KY 1384 bridge with unpaved parking and no amenities.

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • KDFWR says parking near Jubilee is limited and that paddlers should ask permission before using the church paved lot.
  • Cedar Creek is a carry-down access under the KY 1384 bridge with unpaved parking and no amenities.
  • The current Pikeville gauge reading was below the official good discharge band during this run, though the stage just touched the official 7.4 ft floor. Expect slower current, shallower shoals, and more route-finding around exposed gravel or mussel-shell areas until levels rise further.
  • Stay with the named public accesses and do not assume commercial lots or private banks along the corridor are general river-user parking or stopping points.

Watch for

  • Low water below 800 cfs or 7.4 ft, when shoals get shallower and dragging becomes more likely.
  • High water above 1,400 cfs or 8.5 ft, when KDFWR moves the route out of the good band and swift current plus woody debris become much less forgiving.
  • Mussel shells on the river bottom, woody debris, bridge-area current, and fishing traffic in the Pikeville corridor.
  • Urban corridor hazards, private banks, and a slower finish through the Cut-Through approach if the river is scrape-prone.

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Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.

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Tomorrow and weekend

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Gauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge siteLevisa Fork at Pikeville, KY
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Target band800 cfs to 1,400 cfs
Low threshold800 cfs
High threshold1,400 cfs
Data confidence behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreKDFWR recommended river levels for Levisa Fork at Pikeville
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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 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.

    Source

  • Official route segmentJubilee Christian Church Ramp to Cedar Creek Ramp, 5.5 miles

    The current KDFWR Levisa Fork mileage table lists Jubilee Christian Church Ramp to Cedar Creek Ramp directly as a 5.5-mile public route.

    Source

  • Put-in accessJubilee Christian Church Canoe Access, 37.4445, -82.5057

    KDFWR identifies Jubilee Christian Church Canoe Access as a free carry-down site with limited parking and notes that paddlers should ask permission before using the church paved lot.

    Source

  • Take-out accessCedar Creek Canoe Access, 37.4802, -82.5446

    KDFWR identifies Cedar Creek Canoe Access as a free carry-down site under the KY 1384 bridge with unpaved parking and no amenities.

    Source

  • Route characterGentle riffles, deep pools, flowing shoals

    The KDFWR Levisa Fork education page describes the Pikeville corridor as an intimate gorge with gentle riffles, deep pools, and flowing shoals that can be extended downstream toward Cedar Creek.

    Source

  • Live-gauge supportUSGS 03209500

    USGS Water Services returned 628 cfs at 2026-07-14 10:30 EDT and 7.46 ft at 2026-07-14 11:00 EDT for Levisa Fork at Pikeville, still below the official good discharge band but just inside the official stage band.

    Source

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Levisa Fork paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Levisa Fork?

Paddle Today watches Levisa Fork at Pikeville, KY and treats 800 cfs to 1,400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Levisa Fork route start and end?

This route starts at Jubilee Christian Church Ramp and ends at Cedar Creek Canoe Access, about About 5.5 mi on the water.

Is this Levisa Fork 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.

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