Kentucky | Northeastern Kentucky
Slate Creek
Lions Club Park to Old Slate Furnace Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Slate Creek 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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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch from the Lions Club Park carry-down access below the low-head-dam area and take out 3.7 miles downstream at Old Slate Furnace Park. KDFWR gives a good Slate Creek boating and fishing band of 100 to 200 cfs.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
Lions Club Park carry-down accessLions Club Park sits by a low-head dam visible from the Kendall Springs Road bridge. Use the KDFWR-listed carry-down access below the dam and do not launch above the dam for this route.
Take-out
Old Slate Furnace Park carry-down accessOld Slate Furnace Park is a KDFWR carry-down site with unpaved parking, picnic tables, and a historic furnace. Land at the park access rather than spreading onto nearby banks.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Lions Club Park sits by a low-head dam visible from the Kendall Springs Road bridge. Use the KDFWR-listed carry-down access below the dam and do not launch above the dam for this route.
- Old Slate Furnace Park is a KDFWR carry-down site with unpaved parking, picnic tables, and a historic furnace. Land at the park access rather than spreading onto nearby banks.
- KDFWR describes Slate Creek as shallow with abundant rock bars and water willow beds, so low water can turn this short float into a draggy creek walk.
- KDFWR notes limited hours or event restrictions at Lions Club Park. Check same-day park access before leaving a shuttle vehicle.
Watch for
- Low-head-dam hydraulics and boils near Lions Club Park; stay below the dam for this segment and avoid fishing or scouting close to the structure.
- Low water below 100 cfs, when rock bars, shallow shoals, and dragging become likely.
- High water above 200 cfs, when KDFWR moves the creek out of the good band and current, wood, and landings deserve extra caution.
- Woody debris, strainers, stained water, and quick rain response on this small creek.
- Private-bank limits away from KDFWR access sites; use public parks and legal gravel-bar stops rather than climbing banks or yards.
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 | Slate Creek at Highway 713 near Mt. Sterling, 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 | 100 cfs to 200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 200 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 Slate Creek downstream of Howards Mill |
| 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 band100-200 cfs
KDFWR rates Slate Creek from Howards Mill downstream to the Licking River as Low below 100 cfs, Good from 100 to 200 cfs, and High above 200 cfs.
- Official route segmentLions Club Park to Old Slate Furnace Park, 3.7 miles
KDFWR lists Lions Club Park to Old Slate Furnace Park as a 3.7-mile public-access segment on Slate Creek.
- Blue Water Trail contextExcellent half-day float
KDFWR Blue Water Trails describes the Lions Club access-to-Old Slate Furnace Park float as nearly four miles with a quick shuttle, ending at the park on river right just below Mill Creek.
- Put-in accessLions Club Park, 38.1305, -83.7665
KDFWR identifies Slate Creek - Lions Club as a free carry-down site with unpaved parking, year-round 24-hour boat-ramp availability, and a dam note for the creek here.
- Take-out accessOld Slate Furnace Park, 38.1148, -83.7475
KDFWR identifies Slate Creek - Old Slate Furnace as a free carry-down site with unpaved parking, picnic-area availability, and a canoe/kayak launch suitable for carry-down use.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03250190
The official USGS legacy current-conditions page showed May 31, 2026 instantaneous discharge and gage-height values for Slate Creek at Highway 713 near Mt. Sterling during this run.
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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Quick answers
Slate Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Slate Creek?
Paddle Today watches Slate Creek at Highway 713 near Mt. Sterling, KY and treats 100 cfs to 200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Slate Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Lions Club Park carry-down access and ends at Old Slate Furnace Park carry-down access, about 3.7 mi on the water.
Is this Slate Creek 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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