See all 9 routes on Tradewater River
Kentucky | Western Kentucky
Tradewater River
Fishtrap Bridge Ramp to Granger Landing Ramp
Route planning details, access notes, and local verification guidance.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
Use the gauge context and hourly forecast to verify local conditions before launching.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
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 Fishtrap Bridge Ramp and take out at Granger Landing Ramp for a long lower Tradewater day. Because no gauge sits on this exact reach, use the upstream Providence gauge as a conservative same-river check and stand down quickly when flashy weather pushes the river out of band.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Fishtrap Bridge RampFishtrap is a small bridge landing with minimal parking and no amenities, so settle the vehicle plan before launching.
Take-out
Granger Landing RampGranger Landing is an uncomplicated public ramp near Sturgis, yet the lower river still runs past private banks and limited shoreline services. Do not assume open stopping points away from the ramp.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Fishtrap is a small bridge landing with minimal parking and no amenities, so settle the vehicle plan before launching.
- Granger Landing is an uncomplicated public ramp near Sturgis, yet the lower river still runs past private banks and limited shoreline services. Do not assume open stopping points away from the ramp.
- 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 Fishtrap-to-VFW and VFW-to-Granger segments, so it needs a fuller daylight, hydration, and fatigue plan than either shorter float alone.
Watch for
- Flashy post-rain rises, muddy current, fresh wood, and strainers on bends or in braided channels.
- The Providence gauge is upstream of this route, so treat it as a conservative proxy rather than a perfect lower-reach forecast.
- Longer-mileage fatigue, sparse services, slick bridge or ramp exits after storms, and limited legal bailout options.
- Private banks across most of the corridor and the temptation to over-commit just because the river itself is gentle at ordinary flows.
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
Data and sources
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 | Tradewater River near Providence, 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 | 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 used as an upstream proxy |
| 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 chainFishtrap Bridge Ramp to Granger Landing Ramp, about 20.1 mi
KDFWR lists Fishtrap to VFW as 9.5 miles and VFW to Granger as 10.6 miles, supporting a combined public Tradewater route of about 20.1 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 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.
- Take-out accessGranger Landing Ramp, 37.5463, -88.0189
KDFWR lists Granger Landing Ramp as a free paved public ramp with published coordinates near Sturgis.
- Proxy live gaugeUSGS 03384100 at 195 cfs / 12.50 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day June 26, 2026 discharge and gage-height values for Tradewater River near Providence during this run. The gauge is upstream of this route and is used conservatively as the closest official same-river signal in KDFWR guidance.
- Route characterFlashy rural river with wood and braided channels
KDFWR describes the Tradewater as a gentle but extremely flashy river with woody debris, braided channels, riffles, runs, and deeper pools along this lower corridor.
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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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Tradewater River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Tradewater River?
Paddle Today watches Tradewater River near Providence, KY and treats 5 cfs to 50 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Tradewater River route start and end?
This route starts at Fishtrap Bridge Ramp and ends at Granger Landing Ramp, about About 20.1 mi on the water.
Is this Tradewater 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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