Kayak Love

North Carolina · river

Buckeye Creek above Buckeye Lake near Cannon Gap

Live conditions for this USGS-monitored stretch of water, updated every 15 minutes.

89of 100

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Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions

Photograph taken near Buckeye Creek above Buckeye Lake near Cannon Gap
Nearby on Wikimedia Commons — Elk River Trail October 2022 12 (Elk River).jpg by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0. Taken within 10km of this location — it may not show the launch itself.

Wind

11 mph

gusting to 19 mph

Air temp

66°F

4% chance of rain

River flow

5.42 cfs

normal for this date

Best day to paddle this week

Thursday · 100

  • Today

    79

  • Wed

    98

  • Thu

    100

    Best

  • Fri

    87

  • Sat

    95

  • Sun

    97

  • Mon

    91

Scored from each day's peak forecast wind, heat, and rain chance — river flow isn't forecastable, so check back before you load the boat.

Wind, next 12 hours

mph
Hourly wind forecast
HourWind (mph)Gusts (mph)
5a1119
6a1019
7a1119
8a1118
9a920
10a1221
11a1120
12p1019
1p1018
2p1016
3p814
4p613

Is this flow normal for August 18?

Today's 5.42 cfs is 117% above the median for this date — which counts as normal water here.

The median flow on this date is 3 cfs, across 6 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.

Why this score

  • Wind11 mph — noticeable but manageable-11

We don't have launch notes for this one

This page is built from the USGS gauge at this location, so the flow and weather are real — but we haven't verified where to put in, what the hazards are, or whether this stretch is legal or sensible to paddle. We'd rather say that than invent it. The links below are where to find out.

We also don't have a verified safe-flow range here, so the Paddle Score reflects weather only. Judge the flow number against local knowledge, not against our score.

Do your own homework

We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.

Nearby water

All paddling spots in North Carolina