See all 10 routes on Upper Cumberland River
Kentucky | Daniel Boone Country
Upper Cumberland RiverVarilla Ramp to Barbourville Ramp
Full upper-corridor Upper Cumberland route from Varilla Ramp to Barbourville Ramp at Thompson Park. KDFWR lists the public chain as Varilla to 4 Mile at 13.8 miles, 4 Mile to Artemus at 9.8 miles, and Artemus to Barbourville at 5.1 miles, supporting this 28.7-mile combination on the official Williamsburg gauge ladder.
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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 Varilla Ramp and finish at Barbourville Ramp for a full Upper Cumberland corridor route built from the official Varilla-to-4-Mile, 4-Mile-to-Artemus, and Artemus-to-Barbourville segments. Use the Williamsburg gauge and plan conservatively whenever the river is outside the 300 to 700 cfs good band.
Access map
Put-in
Varilla RampThis is a long committed route with sparse services and few realistic legal stop options away from the named accesses.
Take-out
Barbourville RampArtemus sits mid-corridor as a rough gravel-bar access rather than a clean casual bailout. Do not assume it will solve problems easily once the route is underway.
Road shuttle
Leave the downstream vehicle at Thompson Park in Barbourville, then drive back to Varilla Ramp. This is a full upper-river commitment with a long day on the water rather than a casual split float.
Additional access notes
- Barbourville is the intended public finish with the cleanest downstream services, including Thompson Park campground support.
More route and safety guidance
- Artemus sits mid-corridor as a rough gravel-bar access that may be muddy or awkward, so it is not a casual bailout if conditions deteriorate.
- Most banks outside the named accesses are private and services are sparse, so treat this as a genuine point-to-point commitment rather than a casual float with easy exits.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
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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
Cumberland River at Williamsburg, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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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 | Cumberland River at Williamsburg, KY |
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| Preferred range | 300 cfs to 700 cfs |
| Low threshold | 300 cfs |
| High threshold | 700 cfs |
| Evidence strength 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 |
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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 chainVarilla -> 4 Mile 13.8 mi plus 4 Mile -> Artemus 9.8 mi plus Artemus -> Barbourville 5.1 mi
KDFWR lists all three public site-to-site mileages on the Upper Cumberland corridor page, supporting this 28.7-mile combination.
- 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 accessVarilla Ramp, 36.7447, -83.6103
KDFWR access detail confirms a public concrete ramp with small gravel parking east of Pineville.
- Take-out accessBarbourville Ramp, 36.8603, -83.8893
KDFWR access detail confirms the public Thompson Park ramp with paved parking and park amenities.
- Camping supportThompson Park RV campground with full hookups
KDFWR says the Barbourville ramp sits in Thompson Park, which includes an RV campground with full hookups.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-09USGS 03404000 at 1070 cfs / 4.29 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.
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 Upper Cumberland River
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