Kentucky · Frankfort, KY
Elkhorn Creek float season
Gauge 03289500 on the Forks of the Elkhorn through the palisades below Frankfort. The Bluegrass State's beloved paddling creek, mixing limestone palisade scenery and playful riffles just minutes from the capital.
Right now at this gauge
loading CFS
Checking the live gauge…
Well above typical for this date
Live reading from the USGS gauge page for Elkhorn Creek. Provisional data — subject to revision.
The year on this river
In a typical year at the Frankfort gauge, the Elkhorn Creek runs fullest Jan–Mar and leanest Aug–Oct. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past March days at this gauge ran above 796 CFS; the September median is 62 CFS.
| Month | Typical flow (CFS) | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| January | 639 | |
| February | 763 | |
| March | 796 | |
| April | 541 | |
| May | 300 | |
| June | 172 | |
| July | 113 | |
| August | 88 | |
| September | 62 | |
| October | 65 | |
| November | 119 | |
| December | 423 |
Record context
This gauge has measured daily flow since 1916 — 110 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 25,000 CFS, in February 1989. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.
Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.
More Kentucky float rivers
-
Cumberland River
Cumberland River Blueway at Williamsburg above Cumberland Falls
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Green River
Munfordville through Mammoth Cave National Park to Green River Ferry
Fullest: Jan–Mar
-
Red River
Red River Gorge scenic stretch from Copperas Creek to Clay City
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Rockcastle River
Lower Rockcastle narrows from KY 80 toward Bee Rock
Fullest: Feb–Apr
Common questions
When is the Elkhorn Creek usually at its fullest?
At the Frankfort gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Jan–Mar, with the single highest monthly median in March (about 796 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.
What is a typical summer flow on the Elkhorn Creek?
The July median at this gauge is about 113 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Late summer is this river's lean season, so expect readings to drift down as the season goes on.
Is the Elkhorn Creek safe to float right now?
No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 86 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.
Which USGS gauge does this page use?
USGS gauge 03289500 (ELKHORN CREEK NEAR FRANKFORT, KY), chosen because it best represents the Forks of the Elkhorn through the palisades below Frankfort. Daily records here reach back to 1916.
Data: USGS gauge 03289500, approved daily records 1916–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.