See all 9 routes on Tradewater River
Kentucky | Western Kentucky
Tradewater RiverBellville Road Access to Fishtrap Bridge Ramp
Longer Providence-area Tradewater float from Bellville Road Access to Fishtrap Bridge Ramp. KDFWR supports the chained 15.9-mile public route with official access-to-access mileage, public endpoint coordinates, and the Providence gauge sitting in the upstream corridor.
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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 Bellville Road Access and take out at Fishtrap Bridge Ramp for a longer Providence-area Tradewater day. Use the Providence gauge as the route check, but stay conservative whenever recent rain leaves discharge elevated or fresh wood moving through the channel.
Access map
Put-in
Bellville Road AccessBellville is a carry-down access with unpaved parking beside private property. Keep vehicles and banks tight to the documented access area.
Take-out
Fishtrap Bridge RampFishtrap is a simple bridge landing with a small gravel lot and no amenities. Confirm the final take-out line before you launch so the lower bridge exit does not turn into an avoidable scramble.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Fishtrap first, then drive back to Bellville through Providence. This is a committed rural shuttle, so inspect both bridge accesses before launching and leave enough daylight for a full-day Tradewater plan.
Additional access notes
- KDFWR limits bank and wade fishing to the public access areas because adjacent property is private. Do not plan on informal bank stops or camping along the route.
- This route effectively combines the official Bellville-to-Montezuma and Montezuma-to-Fishtrap segments, so it needs a fuller daylight, hydration, and fatigue plan than either shorter float alone.
More route and safety guidance
- Woody debris, braided channels, and strainers are ordinary hazards on this corridor even when the official gauge is near the recommended band.
- All three public landings sit in rural private-bank country. Use the signed accesses and do not treat mid-route banks as open public stops.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Tomorrow and the weekend
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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
Tradewater River near Providence, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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 | Tradewater River near Providence, KY |
| Discharge | Checking |
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| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
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| 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 | 5 cfs to 50 cfs |
| Low threshold | 5 cfs |
| High threshold | 50 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 Tradewater River at Providence |
| 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 route chainBellville Road Access to Fishtrap Bridge Ramp, about 15.9 mi
KDFWR lists Bellville to Montezuma as 9.2 miles and Montezuma to Fishtrap as 6.7 miles, supporting a combined public Tradewater route of about 15.9 miles.
- Official level band5-50 cfs / 10-15 ft at Providence
KDFWR rates the Providence gauge low below 5 cfs or 10.0 ft, good from 5.0 to 50.0 cfs or 10.0 to 15.0 ft, and high above 50.0 cfs or 15.0 ft.
- Put-in accessBellville Road Access, 37.3810, -87.8001
KDFWR lists Bellville Road Access as a free carry-down launch with unpaved parking and published coordinates.
- Take-out accessFishtrap Bridge Ramp, 37.3988, -87.9049
KDFWR lists Fishtrap Bridge Ramp as a free carry-down access with published coordinates at the bridge landing.
- Gauge check during route review · July 10, 2026USGS 03384100 at 741 cfs / 17.68 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.
- Camping supportNo endpoint campground support
KDFWR treats Bellville and Fishtrap as simple access sites rather than campgrounds, so this route ships as a day-trip float without camping assumptions.
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 Tradewater River
All 9Nearby routes within 75 miles
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