What water level is good for paddling Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton)?

This section is generally runnable at above 100 cfs. Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.

How do I check Drakes Creek levels?

We read USGS gauge 03314000 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.

Is Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton) good for beginners?

This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.

When is the best time to paddle Drakes Creek here?

Typically March–October, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.

How long does it take to float Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton)?

This reach is about 5 miles, roughly 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.

Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton): River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?

Class I5 mi · ~2.5 hrDrakes CreekKentucky

Verdict · updated Aug 27, 6:45 PM UTC

Too low to paddle

Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.

54 cfs

4.2 ft gauge height

USGS gauge 03314000

Runnable 100 – ? cfs

0100200230

What this means today

At 54 cfs Drakes Creek is 46 cfs short of the 100 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.

Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 55 cfs to 54 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 55 cfs and 76 cfs, 14% lower at the end of the week than the start.

Paddling Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton)

Drakes Creek at Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton) is a 5-mile Class I run in Kentucky — easygoing moving water with light riffles and nothing technical. Most paddlers put in at Phil Moore Park (US 231) and take out at KY 2629 bridge (Old Scottsville Rd), Alvaton, a trip that runs about 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace.

Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at above 100 cfs. Much below that and Drakes Creek gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 03314000 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.

Flows here are usually most dependable March–October. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.

7-day flow trend

Daily mean flow (cfs), past 7 days. Shaded band = runnable range.

Section facts

Difficulty: Class I
Length: 5 mi
Float time: ~2.5 hr
Best months: March–October
Put-in: Phil Moore Park (US 231)
Take-out: KY 2629 bridge (Old Scottsville Rd), Alvaton

Reading USGS gauge 03314000 — DRAKES CREEK NEAR ALVATON, KY ↗

FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton)?: This section is generally runnable at above 100 cfs. Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
How do I check Drakes Creek levels?: We read USGS gauge 03314000 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
Is Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton) good for beginners?: This section is rated Class I. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
When is the best time to paddle Drakes Creek here?: Typically March–October, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
How long does it take to float Drakes Creek — Phil Moore Park to KY 2629 (Alvaton)?: This reach is about 5 miles, roughly 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.

Nearby sections

Too low · 94 cfs