Upper San Marcos River Trip

City Park to San Marcos River Retreat 6.5 miles 4.5 hours on average (rental or shuttle customers)

City Park or Ramon Lucio to Old Bastrop 5 miles 4 hours on average (shuttle customers only)

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Let the sounds of the crowds and city fade away as you immerse yourself in nature. It is easy to forget how close you are to civilization as this trip has the feel of a wilderness expedition. This is considered to be the most scenic section of the river, and travels outside of town into the countryside 5 miles, ending past the confluence with the Blanco River.  Paddlers can expect to have this section all to themselves as it is not suitable for tubing due to the confluence of the two rivers and the dams. For this trip we will park and meet at the downriver take out near Martindale (the finish line). You will leave your vehicle and be shuttled 6.5 miles upriver to the starting point at Ramon Lucio Park or City Park in San Marcos. Here after a brief orientation, the trip will begin. Customers will paddle the 6.5 miles downriver back to where their vehicles are parked at the takeout, and where we will meet you to pick up the boats. Participants will see endangered wild rice, clear flowing springs, migratory birds, waterfalls, and the point at which the Blanco River and San Marcos River join. You might even get lucky and spot one of our elusive river otters or a bobcat as one of our customers has in the past. There are two or three dams (depending on starting location) that must be portaged on river left, requiring boats to be carried (not dragged) over uneven terrain to go around the hazard. This trip is not recommended for those who have mobility issues or are having their first introduction paddling experience. On average customers complete this section in 4.5 hours but this will depend greatly upon your personal paddling speed. The effort is well worth the reward as we consider this the gem of the hill country river trails. 

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Old Bastrop to Scull Bridge

(The tube float - 4 miles) 

3 hours on average​

Shuttle customers only no rentals available 

Paid parking

​This trip contains fun riffles and small rapids popular with tubers. Unlike the serenity of the Upper San Marcos River Trip this section will be filled with happy college students taking a break from studying and living it up during the warm months. Those who do not wish to be part of large crowds partying should avoid this section during weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day during the peak tubing season. During the offseason this is a very enjoyable paddle that takes an average of 2 to 3 hours to complete. Customers can park at the take-out at Scull Bridge and be shuttled upriver to the Old Bastrop bridge or San Marcos River Retreat where the trip will begin.

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Scull Bridge to Staples Dam 

(7 miles)

4 hours on average

Scull Bridge to Shady Grove 1 1/2 miles.

 This section is well shaded, and the pace is slower than the section that precedes it due to the lake like conditions created by dams. The Martindale Dam must be portaged (boats must be carried not dragged) on the river right. Just below the dam there is a small wooden bridge that at high water levels must be portaged around as well. Trees have a tendency to lodge under the bridge creating an unseen hazard just below the surface. We will meet and park at Staples dam and then shuttle upriver to Scull Bridge. Parking permits may be obtained at Shady Grove Campground to use their private parking and take out. Public access is available at the bridge at Staples Dam for those just getting a shuttle but the private access is much easier.

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FM 1979 to FM 1977 Staples Dam

(Shady Grove - Staples Dam 5 1/2 miles) 

3 hours on average

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This is the same section as Scull Bridge to Staples Dam but allows you to start just below Martindale Dam and avoid all portages. The first half of the trip is sporty with small rapids and tight turns followed by a flatwater experience for the second half of the paddle. Parking permits from Shady Grove Campground are needed to access the private property at Stapes Dam. Public access is available at the bridge for those just getting a shuttle, but the easier private access provided by Shady Grove Campground is recommended. For this trip you must first go to the Shady Grove Campground and obtain a blue parking permit from the honor box located at the campground office front porch. You must fill out the blue envelope according to the instructions and write Canoe SMTX after your name. Next, remove the tag found within the envelope and hang it from your rearview mirror with the big bold numbers facing outward. Finally, seal $5 cash per person inside the envelope and deposit it through the mail slot on the office front door. After you have your blue permit, it is about a 10 minute drive to the second location to park at the Staples Dam (located by the stilt house). This is where you will meet the shuttle vehicle at the designated time. We will shuttle you up-river to the starting point so that your vehicle will be waiting for you at the end of your trip. Please follow all campground rules and respect the property as they are providing a valuable resource for the paddling community and we are their guests. 

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All of the options listed above can be combined to create a 16 mile trip from City Park to Staples Dam! For those interested in farther trips or multi-day trips, we will go as far as Fentress or Luling but there will be additional shuttle fees and these longer trips are subject to shuttle availability as anything beyond Staples Dam is outside of our standard service area.

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