See all 2 routes on South Fork Kentucky River
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
South Fork Kentucky RiverRocky Branch Road Access to Kay Wood Road Access
Long middle-to-lower South Fork continuation from Rocky Branch Road Access to Kay Wood Road Access. Current KDFWR guidance still supports this exact chained public float, but the Booneville gauge sat above the official good band during this run.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Rocky Branch Road Access and take out about 19.0 miles downstream at Kay Wood Road Access for a long middle-to-lower South Fork Kentucky River float. KDFWR gives a good Booneville gauge band of 350 to 900 cfs, or 4.8 to 6.0 ft.
Access map
Put-in
Rocky Branch Road AccessRocky Branch is a gravel-and-dirt canoe and kayak access with limited parking and no amenities.
Take-out
Kay Wood Road AccessKay Wood is a carry-down-only access with roadside-style unpaved parking and no amenities.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Kay Wood Road Access, then drive back to Rocky Branch Road Access. Inspect both carry-down landings first because limited parking, mud, and repeated low-water shoals make this a full-day South Fork commitment.
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Access planner
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Rocky Branch Road Access to Kay Wood Road Access is about 19.0 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- Above KDFWR's 900 cfs or 6.0 ft upper good-band limit at Booneville, expect faster current and less forgiving muddy landings on this long route; compare live readings and trends before launch.
- Stay with the named public access points and do not assume side banks, bars, or private-adjacent ground are legal stopping points.
More route and safety guidance
- Plan for a 19-mile commitment with wood, strainers, private banks, limited bailouts, and fatigue before Kay Wood.
- Use only the named KDFWR access chain and verify weather, daylight, shuttle, and current landing conditions before launch.
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Conditions
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Weather
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
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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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, 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 |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 350 cfs to 900 cfs |
| Low threshold | 350 cfs |
| High threshold | 900 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 South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official level band350-900 cfs / 4.8-6.0 ft
KDFWR rates South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville as Low below 350 cfs or 4.8 ft, Good from 350 to 900 cfs or 4.8 to 6.0 ft, and High above 900 cfs or 6.0 ft.
- Chained public route segmentRocky Branch Road Access to Kay Wood Road Access, 19.0 miles
KDFWR lists Rocky Branch Road Access to Cedar Valley Road Access as 2.5 miles, Cedar Valley Road Access to Bishop Bend School Road Access as 4.7 miles, Bishop Bend School Road Access to Hacker Branch Road Access as 3.3 miles, Hacker Branch Road Access to Upper Wolf Creek Ramp as 2.9 miles, and Upper Wolf Creek Ramp to Kay Wood Road Access as 5.6 miles, supporting a 19.0-mile public Rocky-Branch-to-Kay-Wood float on the same access chain.
- Put-in accessRocky Branch Road Access, 37.3206, -83.6648
KDFWR identifies Rocky Branch Road Access as a gravel-and-dirt canoe and kayak access with limited parking and no camping.
- Take-out accessKay Wood Road Access, 37.4594, -83.6509
KDFWR identifies Kay Wood Road Access as a carry-down-only access with unpaved parking and no camping.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-13USGS 03281500 at 1050 cfs / 6.24 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Route characterBroad river, rock bars, occasional riffles
KDFWR describes the South Fork Kentucky River as relatively broad with shallow to medium depths, mud banks, rock bars, and occasional riffles.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on South Fork Kentucky River
All 2Nearby routes within 75 miles
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