See all 9 routes on Levisa Fork
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Levisa Fork
Jubilee Christian Church Ramp to Island Creek Ramp
Check current paddling conditions for this Levisa Fork 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
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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
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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.
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Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at Jubilee Christian Church Ramp and take out 3.8 miles downstream at Island Creek Ramp for the upper Hatfield-McCoy River Trail float. KDFWR gives a good Pikeville gauge band of 800 to 1,400 cfs, or 7.4 to 8.5 ft.
Prepare this trip
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Put-in
Jubilee Christian Church RampKDFWR says parking near Jubilee is limited and that paddlers should ask permission before using the church paved lot.
Take-out
Island Creek RampIsland Creek is a carry-down access behind the South Mayo Trail commercial corridor with unpaved parking and no amenities.
Plan this segment
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.
- Island Creek is a carry-down access behind the South Mayo Trail commercial corridor with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- The current Pikeville gauge reading was below the official good discharge band during this run, though the stage was just above 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 and private banks outside the documented ramps.
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 | 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 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 |
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 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 segmentJubilee Christian Church Ramp to Island Creek Ramp, 3.8 miles
The KDFWR Blue Water Trail map lists Jubilee Christian Church Ramp to Island Creek Ramp as a 3.8-mile ramp-to-ramp split, and the Levisa Fork education page describes it as a leisurely half-day float.
- Put-in accessJubilee Christian Church Canoe Access, 37.4445, -82.5057
KDFWR identifies Jubilee Christian Church Canoe Access as a carry-down site with paved parking nearby and notes that paddlers should ask permission before using the church lot.
- Take-out accessIsland Creek Canoe Access, 37.4646, -82.5284
KDFWR identifies Island Creek Canoe Access as a carry-down site behind the South Mayo Trail commercial corridor with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- Route characterGentle riffles, deep pools, flowing shoals
The Levisa Fork education page says the first float from Jubilee Christian Church to Island Creek moves through an intimate gorge with gentle riffles, deep pools, and flowing shoals, making it suitable for families and beginners at normal levels.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03209500 at 615 cfs / 7.42 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day values of 615 cfs at 2026-07-14 13:30 EDT and 7.42 ft at 2026-07-14 14:00 EDT for Levisa Fork at Pikeville during this run, below the official good discharge band but just above the official stage floor.
- Camping postureNo public camping documented at either endpoint
Current KDFWR access-detail pages list Camping as None for both Jubilee Christian Church Canoe Access and Island Creek Canoe Access.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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
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 Island Creek Ramp, about About 3.8 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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