Mile | Location | Note |
---|---|---|
0 |
Spring Lake GPS: 29.893485,-97.930922 |
Start |
0.25 |
Spring Lake Dam Portage island left, right, or middle with the middle being the most popular. Hazardous footing in some spots. Can only be seen on race day (private property). |
Portage |
1.25 |
Rio Vista Dam Can be portaged left or right or can be run through small spillway in center of dam. It and the salt water barrier are the only dams that can be run. ALL OTHERS MUST BE PORTAGED. |
Portage |
1.86 |
Thompson's Island Dam Approximately 1/4 mile past I-35 bridge, Thompson's Island Dam will be on river right with mill race continuing down left channel to Thompson's Island Bridge. You can portage the dam and get into old river stream or take left channel to Thompson's Island road bridge. |
Portage |
2.20 |
Thompson's Island Road Bridge Portage right at end of mill race. Carry boat beside road to re-enter river above road bridge with yellow handrail. You cannot cross the road and must go under this bridge in the race. |
Portage |
4.67 |
Blanco River Confluence Obvious right turn at confluence. |
|
5.27 |
Cummings Dam Portage right or left |
Portage |
5.86 |
Westerfield Crossing Low clearance at higher water levels. River current increases with small rapids down to Cottonseed Rapids. |
Low Clearance |
9.12 |
Cottonseed Rapids One of the best known on the San Marcos River. It can be run at most water levels. Can be scouted by stopping on river right when you see the old concrete dam. |
Caution!!! |
9.58 |
Scull's Crossing Good clearance at all but extremely high water. |
|
10.66 |
Martindale Dam Must be portaged on the right. |
Portage |
10.76 |
Martindale Low Water Crossing Just past Martindale Dam, approach with caution. Fast current Portage Right leading up to and under bridge with rocks below bridge at low water. Portage right if necessary. |
Low Clearance Portage Right |
11.35 |
FM 1979 This next section of river has some fast current with sweepers and small rapids. Still water the last two miles above Staples Dam. |
|
16.62 |
Staples Dam FM 1977
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THIS CHECKPOINT BY 3:00PM SATURDAY GPS: 29.782312,-97.83131 |
Checkpoint #1 |
26.05 |
Fentress Hwy. 20 Bridge The river continues to be fast at average water levels with tight sweeping corners and stumps. |
|
29.15 |
Prairie Lea Bridge #1 Good clearance at all but extremely high water. A sweeping left hand turn upstream of the bridge can make the approach difficult to see. At high water it should be approached with caution. Portage right if necessary. |
|
30.47 |
Prairie Lea Private Bridge A private bridge with a small rapid just upstream. |
Low Clearance |
31.65 |
Prairie Lea #2 The river down to Stairtown is especially tight and winding with logs and sweeping corners. |
|
33.17 |
Stairtown Bridge The river from here to Luling 90 continues to be tight and winding with logs and possible small jams. |
|
39.62 |
Luling 90
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THIS CHECKPOINT BY 8:00PM SATURDAY GPS: 29.667722,-97.69978 |
Checkpoint #2 |
45.56 |
Luling (Zedler) Dam and Hwy 80 The dam, about 400 yards past Luling water intake on left. Portage right. The portage is obvious in daylight. If dark, approach with caution, pulling over well above dam. |
Portage |
49.68 |
IH-10 The river below Luling Dam is similar to below Luling 90 with some current below the dam for a couple of miles then slowing. |
Difficult Access |
56.03 |
Broken Dam Rapid (Son of Ottine) An old broken rock dam that is runable at all but extremely low water. Run just right of center or far left. |
Caution |
60.21 |
Palmetto Bridge & Park
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THISCHECKPOINT BY 8:00AM SUNDAY GPS: 29.589948,-97.585067 |
Portage Checkpoint #3 |
67.95 |
Sladen Cemetary Bridge The river gets slower as you get closer to the confluence of the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers. This is usually the last section for log jams. |
|
76.67 |
Gonzales 90A The river gets slow and wide from here to Gonzales Dam. |
|
79.17 |
Old Iron Bridge |
No Access |
81.26 |
Guadalupe River Confluence The Guadalupe River flows in from the right, obvious left turn. Boils and eddies at high water. |
|
84.46 |
Gonzales Dam There is a cable strung 15-20 feet above the water 500 yards above the dam with a warning sign on it. Generating building on left side of the dam is usually well lighted at night. Portage take out approximately 30 yards above the dam on river right. Approach with caution, keeping to right side on approach. Marked by tree with sign and blinking light at night during race. At normal or lower water you can put back in just below the dam past the rock riprap. There are large rocks and an eddy pushing you back towards the dam. At high water, this short portage is very dangerous and the longer portage is best. Use the same take out but instead of going down to the short put in, go right through the opening in trees for about 50-75 yards. Then angle left for about 200 yards to put in. Portage on Left is Texas Paddling Trail dock. Dock is approximately 30 yards above the dam. Carry boat up to road and around the building through the gate and down to the river. |
Portage Right or Left |
85.79 |
Gonzales 183 (Gravel Bar)
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THIS CHECKPOINT BY 4:00PM SUNDAY GPS: 29.484275,-97.448221 |
Checkpoint #4 |
122.60 |
Hochheim Hwy 183
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THISCHECKPOINT BY 7:00AM MONDAY GPS: 29.314262,-97.30321 |
Checkpoint #5 |
147.41 |
Cheapside Bridge (766) GPS: 29.147265,-97.317855 |
|
153.98 |
FM 3402 / Heaton St. (Old Cuero-San Antonio Rd) DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THISCHECKPOINT BY 3:00PM MONDAY |
Checkpoint #6 |
156.90 |
Cuero Hwy 87 |
|
161.22 |
Cuero 236
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THISCHECKPOINT BY 7:00PM MONDAY GPS: 29.051293,-97.265117 |
Checkpoint #7 |
178.12 |
Thomaston Bridge This section has some rapids with standing waves at normal water level, but are usually washed out at high water. |
|
186.83 |
Nursery (447) Note: For the Texas River Marathon, there is a deadline of 1:00 p.m. |
|
199.84 |
Victoria City Park Boat Ramp
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THIS CHECKPOINT BY 9:00AM TUESDAY GPS: 28.824706,-97.01542 |
Checkpoint #8 |
212.11 |
Hwy 59 Bypass (Old Victoria Loop 175 Bridge) As the river current slows there is a slight possibility of log jams in this section, but usually just fallen trees blocking a portion of the river. |
|
221.40 |
Coletto Creek Confluence Flowing in from the right it is a good landmark for time. It is the halfway point to Swinging Bridge. |
|
231.27 |
Swinging' Bridge (off Canal Road)
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THIS CHECKPOINT BY 8:00PM TUESDAY GPS: 28.651783,-96.962229 |
Checkpoint #9 |
237.23 |
Railroad Crossing This next section has the possibility of some of the largest log jams. Some years as many as several large jams. At high water, there are several cuts flowing off the river to the right. |
|
248.50 |
Salt Water Barrier
DEADLINE-YOU MUST REACH THISCHECKPOINT BY 6:00AM WEDNESDAY GPS: 28.505861,-96.885209 |
Checkpoint #10 |
251.21 |
Tivoli Hwy 35 Bridge This section can have small log jams but is usually kept open by fishing boats. |
|
255.05 |
Traylor Cut It's a cut to the left that goes to the upper end of the San Antonio Bay. Usually not taken because of the increased time in the bay. Take the right channel and stay in the river. |
|
256.23 |
Wooden Bridge The last public access point. |
|
258.68 |
Guadalupe River and San Antonio Bay Confluence There are several routes to cross the bay. One course is to enter the bay turning right after 50-100 yards and follow the right shoreline to Foster Point, then angle left to the end of the spoil bank and around the island turning left to the Seadrift flagpole and pavilion on the seawall. Another course is to come out of the river and across straight to the opposite shore then turn right and follow the shoreline to end of the spoil bank. There are three cuts through the spoil island to the barge canal. Do not enter the barge canal but continue to the end of the spoil bank, then left to Seadrift. At the end of the spoil bank you will have to cross the barge canal. Make sure there are no barges coming down the canal. Let any boat pass before attempting to cross. The depth of the canal can make large waves and be dangerous to cross. At night a row of lights on the seawall and car lights on the road above the seawall are landmarks to look for. |
|
264.65 |
Bill Sander Memorial Park – Seadrift 1522 Swan Point Rd, Seadrift, TX 77983 DEADLINE 1:00 PM WEDNESDAY
|
FINISH |