See all 5 routes on North Fork Kentucky River
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
North Fork Kentucky River
Watts Ramp to Perry County Park Ramp
Check current paddling conditions for this North Fork Kentucky River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
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Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Best window today
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Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
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 plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Watts Ramp and continue all the way to Perry County Park for the full extended Hazard corridor on the North Fork Kentucky River. The route uses the official Hazard gauge band, but the length and below-band slowdown risk still make it a deliberate all-day plan.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
Put-in
Watts RampOpen mapWatts is a simpler bridge-side launch with unpaved parking rather than a full park facility, so confirm footing and vehicle placement before leaving the shuttle car downstream.
Take-out
Perry County Park RampOpen mapHazard City Ramp is the only clearly developed midpoint. It can work as a bailout, but do not miss the main route line while approaching the city corridor and its dam-adjacent riverfront context.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Watts is a simpler bridge-side launch with unpaved parking rather than a full park facility, so confirm footing and vehicle placement before leaving the shuttle car downstream.
- Hazard City Ramp is the only clearly developed midpoint. It can work as a bailout, but do not miss the main route line while approaching the city corridor and its dam-adjacent riverfront context.
- The Hazard gauge sat slightly below the official 4.25 to 5.0 ft band during this run, so expect slower current and more scrape-prone riffles than on an ideal day.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles and dragging once the Hazard stage falls below 4.25 ft.
- Fast rain-driven rises, muddy current, and fresh wood or strainers moving into outside bends.
- Fatigue, sparse developed exits, and the commitment of a long rural day with only one obvious midpoint bailout.
Route gallery
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Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard, KY |
| 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 |
| Target band | 4.25 ft to 5.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 4.25 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard |
| 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 route segmentWatts Ramp to Perry County Park Ramp, about 27.0 mi
KDFWR lists Watts Ramp to Hazard City Ramp at 22.2 miles and Hazard City Ramp to Perry County Park at 4.8 miles, supporting this longer upper-North-Fork continuation of about 27.0 miles.
- Official level band4.25-5.0 ft
KDFWR rates the North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard as Low below 4.25 ft, Good from 4.25 to 5.0 ft, and High above 5.0 ft.
- Put-in accessWatts Ramp, 37.1283, -83.0519
KDFWR lists Watts Ramp as a paved public launch under the Watts Drive bridge in Ulvah with published coordinates and unpaved parking.
- Take-out accessPerry County Park Ramp, 37.2783, -83.2088
KDFWR lists Perry County Park Ramp as a paved public launch with published coordinates, restrooms, parking, and other developed park amenities.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 03277500 at 4.10 ft
USGS Water Services returned a same-day stage of 4.10 ft at 19:45 EDT on July 3, 2026 for the North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard.
- Route characterLong shallow-riffle upper-river day into Perry County Park
KDFWR describes the Watts reach as relatively shallow with numerous riffles and documents Perry County Park as the next developed downstream public finish after Hazard.
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
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More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
North Fork Kentucky River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling North Fork Kentucky River?
Paddle Today watches North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard, KY and treats 4.25 ft to 5.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this North Fork Kentucky River route start and end?
This route starts at Watts Ramp and ends at Perry County Park Ramp, about About 27.0 mi on the water.
Is this North Fork Kentucky River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.