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Kentucky | South-Central Kentucky

Drakes Creek

Romanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park

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Today

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Today's conditions

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Quick facts

On-water distance About 6 mi Romanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park
Difficulty easy Warren County and local blueway material frame Romanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park as a common six-mile recreational float. It is generally approachable at ordinary levels, but the Romanza ford hydraulic, strainers, low-water dragging, and quick rises require more judgment than a flatwater park paddle.
Shuttle Car shuttle Stage the take-out at Phil Moore Park, then drive to Romanza Johnson Park. Both parks close at dark, and Warren County warns vehicles left unattended may be locked in until morning, so leave a conservative daylight margin.
Permits None noted No route-specific private paddling permit is known. Use the public park accesses, follow Warren County park rules and Kentucky boating/PFD requirements, and obey any flag-system, weather, or access warnings.
Camping Options nearby Treat this as a daylight county-park float. No camping is known at the access parks for this route.
Season Mar-Nov Spring through fall can work when the creek has enough water, but this route responds quickly to storms. Summer lows can expose shoals, while fresh rain can add swift current, strainers, hydraulics, debris, and water-quality concerns.

Plan

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Access plan

Access, shuttle, and map

Launch at Romanza Johnson Park on Trammel Fork and take out at Phil Moore Park on Drakes Creek for a common Warren County Blueways trip. Use the Drakes Creek near Alvaton USGS gauge as the same-day water check.

Directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap
Start

Put-in

Romanza Johnson Park creek access Open map

Romanza Johnson Park and Phil Moore Park close at dark; do not leave the take-out vehicle past posted hours.

Finish

Take-out

Phil Moore Park carry-down access Open map

The Romanza ford hydraulic is dangerous when water flows over the ford. Avoid the downstream side and skip the route if the ford or current looks wrong.

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Access caveats

  • Romanza Johnson Park and Phil Moore Park close at dark; do not leave the take-out vehicle past posted hours.
  • The Romanza ford hydraulic is dangerous when water flows over the ford. Avoid the downstream side and skip the route if the ford or current looks wrong.
  • Phil Moore Park has more than one carry-down/landing area. Make sure the group agrees on the exact take-out before launching.
  • County flag information is helpful but does not replace USGS gauge, weather, flood, and same-day visual checks.

Watch for

  • Low water below about 100 cfs, when dragging over shoals becomes likely.
  • Strainers, downed trees, rocks, brush piles, and collected debris between islands or bends.
  • Romanza ford hydraulic, swift current after rain, high or rising water, and thunderstorms.
  • Park users, anglers, private-adjacent banks, and limited legal stops outside public access areas.
  • Water-quality concerns after storms and any county, weather-service, or emergency-management warnings.

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Sources

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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend

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Data behind the score Gauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge site Drakes Creek near Alvaton, KY
Discharge Checking
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Ideal range Needs paddler reports
Known low-water floor 100 cfs
High threshold Not calibrated yet
Data confidence behind the range Official and local sources
Gauge observed Checking
Paddle Today updated Checking
Main source behind this score KDFWR Drakes Creek Blue Water Trails minimum-flow guidance
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Notes What to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Route shape Romanza Johnson Park to Phil Moore Park, about 6 mi

    Warren County Parks says Romanza Johnson Park is popular with canoe and kayak users for a 3-4 hour trip ending at Phil Moore Park, and Warren County Blueways material lists the route at about six miles.

    Source

  • Minimum-flow guidance 100 cfs minimum-only

    KDFWR Drakes Creek Blue Water Trail material says at least 100 cfs is best for minimal dragging on Trammel Fork and Drakes Creek. Paddle Today uses that as a conservative low-water floor.

    Source

  • Live direct gauge USGS 03314000 at 279 cfs / 5.28 ft

    USGS Water Services returned same-day discharge and gage height at 08:45 CDT on June 1, 2026 for Drakes Creek near Alvaton.

    Source

  • County safety system Flags, park closures at dark, ford hydraulic, strainers

    Warren County tells paddlers to check the USGS Drakes Creek gauge, warns that Romanza Johnson and Phil Moore close at dark, and calls out the Romanza ford hydraulic as very dangerous when water flows over the ford.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates 36.873116, -86.372368 to 36.8954, -86.3807

    Warren County Blueways map text lists the Romanza/Johnson County Park coordinate, and the KDFWR Phil Moore Park access record lists Phil Moore Park at 36.8954, -86.3807.

    Source

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Quick answers

Drakes Creek paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Drakes Creek?

Paddle Today watches Drakes Creek near Alvaton, KY and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.

Where does this Drakes Creek route start and end?

This route starts at Romanza Johnson Park creek access and ends at Phil Moore Park carry-down access, about About 6 mi on the water.

Is this Drakes Creek 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.

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