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Texas | Gulf Coast
Brazos RiverFM 2004 boat ramp to Freeport Municipal Park
Coastal Stephen F. Austin Paddling Trail segment from the FM 2004 boat ramp to Freeport Municipal Park. TPWD publishes the 9.8-mile Gulf Prairie Run and exact endpoints, while the nearby West Columbia USGS gauge gives the best product-supported lower-Brazos flow check before a wind- and tide-sensitive day.
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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 at the FM 2004 boat ramp and take out at Freeport Municipal Park for the official Gulf Prairie Run segment of the Stephen F. Austin Paddling Trail. Use USGS 08116850 near West Columbia with BRA's Brazos flow chart, then make a same-day call on runoff, wind, tide, snags, quicksand banks, and private-property limits.
Access map
Put-in
FM 2004 boat rampTPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates and driving directions, but the downstream Freeport ramp is reached by a shell road behind the levee rather than a staffed paddling trail center.
Take-out
Freeport Municipal Park boat rampThe product-supported gauge is USGS 08116850 upstream at West Columbia. The Freeport flood-gate gauge can show tidal or reverse-flow behavior, so this route uses the upstream lower-Brazos discharge check plus same-day visual, wind, tide, and weather judgment.
Road shuttle
Stage the Freeport Municipal Park take-out first, then drive back to the FM 2004 boat ramp. TPWD says the Freeport ramp is reached by crossing the levee and following a shell road; scout that exit and current parking before leaving vehicles.
Additional access notes
- This route uses a river-wide BRA flow chart rather than a route-specific local paddling band. Treat the gauge reading as a decision aid and still check wind, tide, rain, water quality, and visible bank conditions.
- TPWD says private-bank use outside direct hazard portages can be trespassing. Do not treat levee banks or Gulf Prairie shoreline as casual rest, bailout, or camping areas.
- Coastal heat, thunderstorms, and headwinds can make the last miles into Freeport slower than the 9.8-mile distance suggests.
More route and safety guidance
- This coastal segment adds levee-bounded banks, possible tidal or Gulf wind effects, quicksand-prone banks, low-water snags, alligators, and a simple shell-road take-out at Freeport.
- Use the FM 2004 boat ramp and Freeport Municipal Park as the planned public access pair; keep private-bank use limited to direct hazard portages within the navigable corridor.
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Conditions
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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
Brazos Rv nr West Columbia, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
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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 | Brazos Rv nr West Columbia, 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 |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 501 cfs to 1,200 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Brazos River Authority paddling-flow chart |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 shapeFM 2004 boat ramp to Freeport Municipal Park, 9.8 mi
TPWD identifies Gulf Prairie Run as a 9.8-mile Stephen F. Austin Paddling Trail from the FM 2004 boat ramp to Freeport Municipal Park, usually taking about 4-5 hours depending on water level, flow, and wind.
- Public endpoint coordinates29.0316, -95.4771 to 28.9646, -95.3743
TPWD publishes GPS coordinates for the FM 2004 put-in and Freeport Municipal Park take-out, with driving directions to both public boat ramps.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-09USGS 08116850 at 1,660 cfs / 0.05 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.
- Brazos flow guidance200 cfs below minimum; 501-1,200 cfs ideal; 5,001+ cfs flood
BRA's public river-recreation chart lists 200 cfs or less as below the minimum needed for paddling, 501-1,200 cfs as ideal conditions, 1,200-3,000 cfs as hazardous, 3,001-5,000 cfs as experts-only, and 5,001+ cfs as flood conditions.
- Safety and access contextNo man-made obstructions, low-water snags, quicksand banks, runoff sensitivity, private-bank limits
TPWD says this reach has no man-made obstructions but can have low-water snags, quicksand along banks, rainfall-runoff high flows and poor water quality, and private-property restrictions outside the navigable streambed and hazard portages.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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