Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
South Fork Kentucky River
Kay Wood Road Access to Fish Creek Boat Ramp
Check current paddling conditions for this South Fork Kentucky River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
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Today
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Today's conditions
Gauge
Recent trend
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Checking trend.
Gauge source
-- Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
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Today by hour
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Quick facts
Plan
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Access plan
Access, shuttle, and map
Launch at Kay Wood Road Access and take out 7.9 miles downstream at Fish Creek Boat Ramp for the near-Booneville South Fork Kentucky River segment. KDFWR gives a good Booneville gauge band of 350 to 900 cfs, or 4.8 to 6.0 ft.
Put-in
Kay Wood Road Access Open mapKay Wood Road Access is a KDFWR carry-down site with unpaved parking, no ramp, no listed amenities, and a canoe/kayak suitability note. Keep the launch compact and avoid blocking Kay Wood Road or nearby private land.
Take-out
Fish Creek Boat Ramp Open mapFish Creek Boat Ramp is a KDFWR single-lane paved ramp with unpaved parking and no listed amenities. It is the planned exit; do not drift past Booneville without a separate downstream plan.
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Access caveats
- Kay Wood Road Access is a KDFWR carry-down site with unpaved parking, no ramp, no listed amenities, and a canoe/kayak suitability note. Keep the launch compact and avoid blocking Kay Wood Road or nearby private land.
- Fish Creek Boat Ramp is a KDFWR single-lane paved ramp with unpaved parking and no listed amenities. It is the planned exit; do not drift past Booneville without a separate downstream plan.
- KDFWR notes that some South Fork access sites have private adjacent property and limited parking. Stay with the named public accesses and do not use private banks for scouting, parking, or picnics.
- The Booneville gauge is close to this segment and directly tied to the KDFWR bands, but same-day rain, debris, and ramp conditions still control the launch decision.
Watch for
- Rock bars, shallow riffles, mud banks, and occasional dragging when the Booneville gauge is below 350 cfs or 4.8 ft.
- High water above 900 cfs or 6.0 ft, when KDFWR moves the river out of the good band and current, wood, and landings require extra caution.
- Strainers, fresh flood wood, undercut or muddy banks, bridge approaches, fishing lines, and limited eddies along private banks.
- Rain-driven rises in the upper Kentucky River watershed, especially after storms on Red Bird River, Goose Creek, Bullskin Creek, or South Fork tributaries.
- Remote rural shuttle logistics, limited amenities, spotty cell service, and late-day darkness if the group spends too long fishing or stopping.
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Sources
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Why this score Today'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.
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Outlook Tomorrow and weekend
This is a cautious early look. If the data is too thin, we leave it out.
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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 | South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, 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 | 350 cfs to 900 cfs |
| Low threshold | 350 cfs |
| High threshold | 900 cfs |
| Data confidence behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Official level band 350-900 cfs / 4.8-6.0 ft
KDFWR rates South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville as Low below 350 cfs or 4.8 ft, Good from 350 to 900 cfs or 4.8 to 6.0 ft, and High above 900 cfs or 6.0 ft.
- Official route segment Kay Wood Road Access to Fish Creek Boat Ramp, 7.9 miles
KDFWR lists Kay Wood Road Access to Fish Creek Boat Ramp as a 7.9-mile public-access segment on the South Fork Kentucky River access mileage table.
- Put-in access Kay Wood Road Access, 37.4594, -83.6509
KDFWR identifies Kay Wood Road Access as a free carry-down site off KY 28 / Kay Wood Road with unpaved parking, no amenities, and canoe/kayak suitability.
- Take-out access Fish Creek Boat Ramp, 37.4906, -83.6894
KDFWR identifies Fish Creek Boat Ramp as a free single-lane paved ramp off Fish Creek Road with unpaved parking and year-round 24-hour boat-ramp availability.
- Route character Broad river, rock bars, occasional riffles
KDFWR describes the South Fork Kentucky River as relatively broad with shallow to medium depths, mud banks, rock bars, and occasional riffles.
- Live-gauge support USGS 03281500
The official USGS legacy current-conditions page showed 605 cfs and 5.41 ft at 2026-06-01 05:30 EDT for South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville during this run.
Verify it yourself Check the source links
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Quick answers
South Fork Kentucky River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling South Fork Kentucky River?
Paddle Today watches South Fork Kentucky River at Booneville, KY and treats 350 cfs to 900 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this South Fork Kentucky River route start and end?
This route starts at Kay Wood Road Access and ends at Fish Creek Boat Ramp, about 7.9 mi on the water.
Is this South Fork Kentucky 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.
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