Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth

Brazos RiverFuller's Folly River Ranch to Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp

Short TPWD leased-access Brazos River float upstream of Lake Granbury, from Fuller's Folly River Ranch to Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp. TPWD publishes the active leased access, endpoint coordinates, 4.1-mile downstream route, day-use rules, and contact requirements, while USGS 08090800 at Dennis gives a direct same-reach flow check.

Route location

Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.

Open access map
DistanceAbout 4.1 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeShort half-day float when the Dennis gauge is comfortably above the floor
ShuttleCar shuttle
A sandy, wooded southeast Texas river corridor.
River contextTexas river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jill Carlson via Wikimedia Commons
View primary source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Trip details

Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.

Permits, camping and season
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is published. Follow Texas boating and PFD rules, use the TPWD leased-access sites only during posted daylight windows, contact each property at least 24 hours ahead, and obey any current lease or property rules.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat the paddle route as day-use only. TPWD describes private accommodations at Fuller's Folly and Sandy Bottoms, but those are separate reservation-based services and not public route camping rights; do not infer legal camps from bars, private banks, or ranch land.
SeasonJan-DecThis upper-middle Brazos segment is short enough for year-round day use when access and flow cooperate, but shallow readings near the 200 cfs floor, upstream reservoir releases, storms, summer heat, and private-bank limits all require same-day judgment.

Access and shuttle

Launch at Fuller's Folly and take out at Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp for TPWD's short leased-access Brazos float upstream of Lake Granbury. Use the Dennis gauge with BRA's conservative Brazos flow chart, then confirm access, current, weather, and private-bank limits before driving the shuttle.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Fuller's Folly River Ranch
DirectionsOpen map

TPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates as leased-access site anchors. Final water entry and exit should follow current signs, property instructions, and safe bank conditions rather than a projected mid-channel point.

Finish

Take-out

Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp
DirectionsOpen map

Fuller's Folly access is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset and requires at least 24-hour advance contact by email or backup phone.

Road shuttle

Stage Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp first after confirming access availability, then return to Fuller's Folly River Ranch. Both sites require advance contact and liability forms for TPWD leased-access users, so do not assume a drop-in shuttle will work.

Additional access notes
  • Sandy Bottoms access is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset and requires at least 24-hour advance text contact, with a liability form before access.
  • The current Dennis gauge reading during implementation was just above BRA's 200 cfs lower floor. At similar levels, expect more paddling, exposed gravel or sand, and possible dragging.
  • BRA notes that upstream reservoir releases and storms can change Brazos flow. Recheck the hydrograph and weather before leaving a vehicle.
More route and safety guidance
  • BRA warns that Brazos paddling conditions can change with rain and upstream reservoir releases, and that flows above 1,200 cfs become hazardous for less-skilled paddlers.
  • Stay on the named leased-access route and public navigable channel; do not treat private banks or nearby ranch roads as casual rest, scout, or bailout options.
Terms and safety
Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------
Detailed weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Station details and river cameras

Sources and methodology

Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.

Data reliability: checking
Data status
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

Waiting on weather.

Next stepChecking

Waiting on enough data to give the next step.

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.

  • Checking data sources and update times.
Water levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBrazos Rv nr Dennis, TX
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range501 cfs to 1,200 cfs
Low threshold200 cfs
High threshold5,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial data source
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreBrazos River Authority paddling-flow chart
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
Published 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 shapeFuller's Folly to Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp, 4.1 mi

    TPWD says Fuller's Folly is a put-in for a 4.1-mile float downstream to the leased access at Sandy Bottoms River Company.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinates32.619550, -97.893810 to 32.580406, -97.892005

    TPWD publishes current leased-access coordinates for Fuller's Folly River Ranch and Sandy Bottoms River Trail Camp; both are recorded as access anchors and not guessed wetted-edge points.

    Source

  • Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-10USGS 08090800 at 217 cfs / 2.43 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • Access rules and campingAdvance contact, daylight access, liability form, separate private accommodations

    TPWD requires advance contact and liability forms at both leased-access sites, limits access to daylight windows, and describes lodging or accommodations as separate private-property services rather than route camping rights.

    Source

Check the source links
Other routes nearby

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.