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Kentucky | Daniel Boone Country
Upper Cumberland River
4 Mile Ramp to Artemus Rock Access
Check current paddling conditions for this Upper Cumberland River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route snapshot
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Today
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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 4 Mile Ramp and finish at Artemus Rock Access for the official 9.8-mile Upper Cumberland segment north of Pineville. Use the Williamsburg gauge and expect a quicker push whenever the river is above the 300 to 700 cfs good band.
Put-in
4 Mile RampOpen mapArtemus is a rough gravel-bar access that KDFWR says may be muddy or unsuitable for some vehicles. Confirm the take-out before launching upstream.
Take-out
Artemus Rock AccessOpen mapThis segment has clean public endpoints, but most shoreline between them is private. Do not count on random bars or bridge shoulders as substitute stops.
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Artemus is a rough gravel-bar access that KDFWR says may be muddy or unsuitable for some vehicles. Confirm the take-out before launching upstream.
- This segment has clean public endpoints, but most shoreline between them is private. Do not count on random bars or bridge shoulders as substitute stops.
- Higher-water days can make the route feel simpler at first and more pushy later, especially if wood has shifted into bends.
Watch for
- Shallow riffles and rock gardens during lower water.
- Fresh wood, strainers, and faster current after rain.
- Muddy footing and awkward recovery at Artemus.
Route gallery
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Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
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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 | Cumberland River at Williamsburg, 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 | 300 cfs to 700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 700 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR Upper Cumberland recommended Williamsburg flow band |
| 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 segment4 Mile Ramp to Artemus Rock Access, 9.8 mi
KDFWR lists this exact Upper Cumberland site-to-site mileage.
- Official level band300-700 cfs or 3.0-3.8 ft good
KDFWR rates the Williamsburg gauge as Low below 300 cfs or 3.0 ft, Good from 300 to 700 cfs or 3.0 to 3.8 ft, and High above that.
- Put-in access4 Mile Ramp, 36.7930, -83.7534
KDFWR access detail confirms the public ramp under the US-25E bridge north of Pineville.
- Take-out accessArtemus Rock Access, 36.8240, -83.8440
KDFWR access detail confirms the public gravel-bar take-out south of Artemus and warns that it can be rough and muddy.
- Live-gauge supportUSGS 03404000 at 1010 cfs / 4.20 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day values for Cumberland River at Williamsburg, KY at 2026-07-03 18:00 EDT during this run.
- Camping postureNo documented public camping at either endpoint
KDFWR access detail for 4 Mile lists camping as None, and Artemus is documented as a rough access rather than an overnight facility.
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.
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Quick answers
Upper Cumberland River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Upper Cumberland River?
Paddle Today watches Cumberland River at Williamsburg, KY and treats 300 cfs to 700 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Upper Cumberland River route start and end?
This route starts at 4 Mile Ramp and ends at Artemus Rock Access, about About 9.8 mi on the water.
Is this Upper Cumberland 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.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.