Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Tygarts Creek
Olive Hill Depot Trailhead and Campground Access to Carter Caves State Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Tygarts Creek route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Today
Get the answer fast, then scan the route.
Start with the verdict, current conditions, route plan, and quick facts before you commit to the drive.
Today's conditions
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
Best window today
Checking weather.
Today by hour
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Quick facts
Plan
Dial in the shuttle, distance, and access.
Use this section once the route looks viable and you need to turn it into an actual trip plan.
Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Olive Hill Depot Trailhead and Campground Access and take out 12.5 miles downstream at Carter Caves State Park near the KY 182 bridge. KDFWR warns that below 150 cfs the route is hard to finish in a day and above 300 cfs the gorge becomes more challenging.
Put-in
Olive Hill Depot Trailhead and Campground AccessOpen mapOlive Hill Carrydown is a KDFWR public carry-down site through Tygarts Creek Rail Trail Park with paved parking but no listed restrooms, dock, or ramp amenities.
Take-out
Carter Caves State Park / KY 182 bridge accessOpen mapCarter Caves State Park is a KDFWR public carry-down access with unpaved parking near the KY 182 bridge. Use the access area and wooden-step take-out cue rather than spreading out on park or private banks.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Olive Hill Carrydown is a KDFWR public carry-down site through Tygarts Creek Rail Trail Park with paved parking but no listed restrooms, dock, or ramp amenities.
- Carter Caves State Park is a KDFWR public carry-down access with unpaved parking near the KY 182 bridge. Use the access area and wooden-step take-out cue rather than spreading out on park or private banks.
- KDFWR says the take-out steps are on river left about 150 yards upstream of the KY 182 bridge after the Devil's Backbone turns and Smoky Creek confluence. Missing them can complicate the exit.
- The 12.5-mile length leaves little margin for late starts, low-water dragging, fishing delays, or scouting stops.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles, shoals, and boat dragging below about 150 cfs.
- Borderline Class II rapids, faster current, and harder ferry/eddy moves above about 300 cfs.
- Strong current pushing into overhanging bluffs, especially through tight bends in the gorge.
- Wood, fallen treetops, strainers, blind corners, and fresh storm debris.
- Remote gorge logistics, limited intermediate exits, daylight pressure, and park/access rules at Carter Caves.
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.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Sources
Check the data behind today's call.
Use this section when the page shows stale data, limited confidence, or a call you want to verify before driving.
Why this scoreToday's data confidence is checking
Data confidence mostly comes down to three things: how direct the gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking data confidence notes.
- Checking data confidence cautions.
OutlookTomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Tygarts Creek near Greenup, 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 | 150 cfs to 300 cfs |
| Low threshold | 150 cfs |
| High threshold | 300 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR Tygarts Creek Blue Water Trail level guidance |
| 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.
- KDFWR level guidance150-300 cfs guarded window
KDFWR says less than 150 cfs makes this reach hard to finish in a day and more than 300 cfs increases difficulty with borderline Class II rapids and strong current against overhanging bluffs.
- Public route shapeOlive Hill Depot to Carter Caves, 12.5 mi
KDFWR describes a 12.5-mile Blue Water Trail float from Olive Hill Depot Trailhead and Campground Access to the KY 182 bridge at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
- Endpoint coordinates38.2993, -83.1745 to 38.3676, -83.1089
KDFWR access-detail records list Olive Hill Carrydown and Carter Caves State Park as public carry-down-only Tygarts Creek accesses with coordinates and parking information.
- Live direct gaugeUSGS 03217000 at 222 cfs / 3.68 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day discharge and gage height at 09:45 EDT on June 1, 2026 for Tygarts Creek near Greenup.
- Take-out cueWooden steps on river left before KY 182
KDFWR says to look for wooden steps cut into the left bank about 150 yards upstream of the KY 182 bridge after the Devil's Backbone turns and Smoky Creek confluence.
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
Photos, paddler notes, and updates.
See what others have shared, then add a condition report, upload photos, or flag anything that needs fixing.
Share your trip
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
Tygarts Creek paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Tygarts Creek?
Paddle Today watches Tygarts Creek near Greenup, KY and treats 150 cfs to 300 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Tygarts Creek route start and end?
This route starts at Olive Hill Depot Trailhead and Campground Access and ends at Carter Caves State Park / KY 182 bridge access, about About 12.5 mi on the water.
Is this Tygarts Creek 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.