Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort
Kentucky · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03289500 — ELKHORN CREEK NEAR FRANKFORT, KY · NWS forecast point PKMK2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Very high — big-water conditions well above the seasonal norm
At 651 CFS, this gauge is running 576% of normal for late July — above the 113 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1916–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor Elkhorn Creek
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Frankfort
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge PKMK2, issued by WFO LMK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Jones Lane floods. Water approaches Georgetown Road (US 460).
- 15.0 ft Georgetown Road (US 460) floods in village of Forks of Elkhorn.
-
Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft North Scruggs Lane floods near Elkhorn Campground. Portions of Peaks Mill Road flood near Sullivan Lane and Saufley Bottom.
- 13.0 ft Switzer (County 1689) and Indian Gap Roads flood. Goshen Road floods at back entrance to Two Creeks subdivision.
-
Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Stillhouse Hollow Road floods.
- 11.0 ft Schoolhouse Road floods.
-
Action 8.0 ft
- Right now 3.53 ft
NWS forecast: 3.50 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Frankfort
Daily values from USGS gauge 03289500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Frankfort
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 17.96 ft | 35,900 CFS | Mar 4, 1997 |
| 17.50 ft | 31,000 CFS | Sep 2, 1932 |
| 17.20 ft | 30,000 CFS | Jan 1, 1937 |
| 15.75 ft | 26,200 CFS | Apr 4, 2015 |
| 15.26 ft | 28,700 CFS | Feb 16, 1989 |
| 14.99 ft | 23,300 CFS | Apr 5, 2025 |
| 14.69 ft | 22,100 CFS | May 3, 2010 |
| 14.50 ft | 22,400 CFS | Apr 14, 1948 |
| 14.35 ft | 23,200 CFS | Mar 5, 1964 |
| 14.32 ft | 20,800 CFS | Apr 5, 2008 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort
This gauge measures Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort, Kentucky — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Canoe Kentucky's flagship run; best smallmouth creek in KY.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 113 CFS for late July, from 86 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort — common questions
What is the current flow on Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort?
As of the last reading on this page, Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort was running 651 CFS at a gage height of 3.53 ft, or 576% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03289500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 113 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1916–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 03289500, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge PKMK2.