See all 2 routes on South Fork Kentucky River
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
South Fork Kentucky River
Rocky Branch Road Access to Kay Wood Road Access
Check current paddling conditions for this South Fork Kentucky River 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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Checking trend.
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
Checking the next several hours.
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.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
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.
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.
Prepare this trip
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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.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Rocky Branch is a gravel-and-dirt canoe and kayak access with limited parking and no amenities.
- Kay Wood is a carry-down-only access with roadside-style unpaved parking and no amenities.
- The current Booneville gauge reading was above the official good band during this run, so expect faster current, muddier landings, and a longer day than the mileage alone suggests.
- Stay with the named public access points and do not assume side banks, bars, or private-adjacent ground are legal stopping points.
Watch for
- Low water below 350 cfs or 4.8 ft, when shallow shoals, rock bars, and dragging become more likely over a long day.
- High water above 900 cfs or 6.0 ft, when the broad river moves faster and muddy landings become less forgiving around bends and wood.
- Wood, strainers, mud banks, occasional riffles, private banks outside the access sites, and fatigue from repeated line scouting.
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 | 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Target band | 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 |
| 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 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.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03281500 at 1050 cfs / 6.24 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day values of 1050 cfs and 6.24 ft at 2026-07-13 08:30 EDT for South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville during this run, above the official good band.
- 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.
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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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
South Fork Kentucky River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling South Fork Kentucky River?
Paddle Today watches South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, KY and treats 350 cfs to 900 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this South Fork Kentucky River route start and end?
This route starts at Rocky Branch Road Access and ends at Kay Wood Road Access, about About 19.0 mi on the water.
Is this South Fork Kentucky River 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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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.