See all 5 routes on Locust Fork
Alabama | Blount County
Locust ForkCounty Highway 14 public put-in to Cold Branch Road public take-out
A source-mapped 10-mile easy Locust Fork float from the County Highway 14 bridge to the gradual Cold Branch Road take-out, with small shoals and wooded banks.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
An easy public-access upper Locust Fork day reach with frequent small shoals.
Access map
Put-in
County Highway 14 public put-inCounty Highway 14 and Cold Branch Road are road accesses; confirm legal parking and short carries.
Take-out
Cold Branch Road public take-outThe County Highway 26 bridge is an intermediate access but is not used as the take-out.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- County Highway 14 and Cold Branch Road are road accesses; confirm legal parking and short carries.
- The County Highway 26 bridge is an intermediate access but is not used as the take-out.
- The downstream Five Points and Kings Bend sections are separate routes.
Watch for
- USGS 02455000 stage and rapid rises
- Cornelius Falls and the two Class II rapids
- Strainers, bridge debris and low-water scraping
- Private banks and closed or unmarked access points
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Locust Fork near Cleveland, AL. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
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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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Locust Fork near Cleveland, AL |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 |
| Preferred range | 1.80 ft to 2.40 ft |
| Low threshold | 1.40 ft |
| High threshold | 3.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Friends of the Locust Fork River section guide |
| 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.
- Named reach and distanceCounty Highway 14 to Cold Branch Road; 10 miles; Difficulty 1
Friends of the Locust Fork River documents the public endpoints, 8-mile Highway 14-to-26 section plus 2 miles to Cold Branch, and easy Cold Branch carry.
- Scoring band1.4 ft minimum; about 2 ft easy float; 1.8–2.4 ft preferred planning band
The guide publishes the minimum and easy-float cues for this corridor; preferred bounds are conservative product planning guards.
- Direct gaugeUSGS 02455000 Locust Fork near Cleveland
USGS provides direct stage telemetry for the connected Locust Fork corridor.
- Public endpoint verificationCounty Highway 14 and Cold Branch Road
The linked Friends of the Locust Fork section map marks both access points and describes their water-entry carries.
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
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
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Quick answers
Locust Fork paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the County Highway 14 public put-in to Cold Branch Road public take-out route on the Locust Fork?
Paddle Today watches Locust Fork near Cleveland, AL and treats 1.80 ft to 2.40 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the County Highway 14 public put-in to Cold Branch Road public take-out route on the Locust Fork start and end?
This route starts at County Highway 14 public put-in and ends at Cold Branch Road public take-out, about 10 river miles on the water.
Is the County Highway 14 public put-in to Cold Branch Road public take-out route on the Locust Fork suitable 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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