Texas | Hill Country
Blanco RiverFischer Store Road to John Knox Ranch
Short TPWD-supported Blanco River run from the Fischer Store Road bridge to the John Knox Ranch River Access near Wayside Drive. TPWD publishes the 3.6-mile route, active leased take-out, put-in no-parking rule, reservation and gate-code requirements, and same-river gauge checks.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch by drop-off at Fischer Store Road bridge and take out at John Knox Ranch River Access for TPWD's 3.6-mile Blanco River float. Use USGS 08171000 at Wimberley with a conservative 800 cfs minimum floor, and verify the Fischer Store visual gauge, weather, and John Knox access confirmation before launch.
Access map
Put-in
Fischer Store Road BridgeFischer Store Road bridge is the route put-in, but TPWD says no parking is available there. Plan a drop-off or a legal off-route shuttle solution rather than leaving a vehicle at the bridge.
Take-out
John Knox Ranch River AccessJohn Knox Ranch is a private property participating in TPWD leased public access. Email 24 hours in advance for confirmation and gate code, stay inside posted daylight hours, and expect limited parking with no overflow parking.
Road shuttle
Reserve John Knox Ranch River Access at least 24 hours in advance and stage the take-out only after receiving confirmation and the gate code. Then use Fischer Store Road bridge as a drop-off put-in; TPWD says no parking is available at the bridge.
Additional access notes
- The John Knox coordinate is the TPWD access anchor. Final boat exit should follow current ranch instructions, river stage, and safe bank conditions on arrival.
- Do not substitute the longer TPWD FM 1492 alternate without separate planning; TPWD says the FM 1492 take-out is only a north-bank spot and no free parking is available there.
More route and safety guidance
- American Whitewater rates the containing Fischer Store Road-to-RM 12 reach Class I-II and warns that the 2015 flood changed conditions; expect low-water crossings, wood, root wads, and possible changed lines.
- Do not continue downstream past John Knox Ranch without a separate plan. American Whitewater documents downstream post-flood strainer and cable hazards in the Wayside/Wimberley corridor, and the FM 1492 alternate take-out is not a supported endpoint here.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Blanco Rv at Wimberley, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Blanco Rv at Wimberley, TX |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
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| Wind | Checking |
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| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Blanco Fischer Store Road-to-RM 12 flow guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shapeFischer Store Road bridge to John Knox Ranch, 3.6 mi
TPWD says John Knox Ranch River Access serves as the take-out for a 3.6-mile float from the Fischer Store Road bridge, with a shorter out-and-back option and a longer FM 1492 alternate that is outside this route package.
- Access rulesActive John Knox lease, reservation and gate code required
TPWD lists the John Knox lease as active from March 1, 2022 through August 31, 2027, requires confirmation 24 hours in advance for the gate code, limits parking, and says Fischer Store bridge can be used only with drop-off because parking is not available there.
- Endpoint coordinates30.000583, -98.200361 to 29.968451, -98.192709
The put-in uses the USGS Fischer Store Road gage coordinate at the bridge/gage corridor, while TPWD publishes the John Knox Ranch River Access coordinate as the take-out access anchor; final entry and exit should follow current site instructions and safe bank conditions.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-10USGS 08171000 at 11.0 cfs / 3.64 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Threshold and classificationMinimum-only 800 cfs; Class I-II containing reach
American Whitewater ties the Fischer Store Road-to-RM 12 reach to the Blanco River at Wimberley gauge, rates it Class I-II, and records 800 cfs as the low runnable cue. Paddle Today uses only the conservative floor for this shorter TPWD subreach.
- CampingNo route camping inferred
The TPWD lease page describes daylight river access and pack-in/pack-out public use, not public route camping. John Knox Ranch is a separate camp/program property, so overnight use requires separate arrangements and is not part of this paddle route.
- Safety and flood monitoringFlash-flood and post-2015 debris caution
John Knox Ranch describes 2015 flood impacts and active river monitoring, while American Whitewater warns that post-flood conditions and downstream strainers/root wads can change the character of this Blanco corridor.
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