Texas | Hill Country
Colorado River
FM 580 Bridge to Colorado Bend State Park
Check current paddling conditions for this Colorado River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at the TPWD-listed FM 580 access and paddle the distinct 14.9-mile Bend-to-Colorado Bend State Park reach. Use direct USGS 08147000 with a conservative 100 cfs minimum-only screen, then make a same-day call on weather, rising water, debris, shallow lines, primitive access, and park conditions.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
FM 580 Colorado River accessTPWD lists FM 580 as primitive kayak/canoe access with no ramp; carry boats carefully and do not treat shoulders, fences, or private banks as public parking or access.
Take-out
Colorado Bend State Park river accessColorado Bend State Park provides the planned public take-out, launch facilities, camping, and day-use access, but reservations, fees, capacity, road flooding, and closures can change.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- TPWD lists FM 580 as primitive kayak/canoe access with no ramp; carry boats carefully and do not treat shoulders, fences, or private banks as public parking or access.
- Colorado Bend State Park provides the planned public take-out, launch facilities, camping, and day-use access, but reservations, fees, capacity, road flooding, and closures can change.
- The 100 cfs floor is a conservative community planning cue, not a safety certification. Below it expect shallow, rocky, or scrape-prone lines; above it, rising water, debris, and thunderstorms can still make the reach unsafe.
- American Whitewater identifies steep canyon banks, light rapids, private camps, and limited public exits. Leave daylight and weather margin and use only named public endpoints or clearly lawful emergency exits.
- Do not extend the route beyond Colorado Bend State Park or assume access at private camps and shoreline features.
Watch for
- Flow below about 100 cfs, falling water, exposed rocks, shallow riffles, and scraping.
- Rapid rises after storms, debris, strainers, and stronger current around bends or canyon walls.
- Primitive FM 580 carry, park reservation/closure status, limited exits, heat, wind, and fading daylight.
- Private banks and unverified camps or shoreline landings.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Colorado Rv nr San Saba, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Southwest Paddler Colorado River Texas minimum flow |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route shape and difficultyBend / FM 580 Bridge to Colorado Bend State Park, 14.9 mi, Class I-II
American Whitewater names the reach, mileage, gradient, difficulty, direct gauge, and route features including FM 580, Gorman Falls, and the park take-out.
- Public put-in accessFM 580 / Colorado River, 31.1004, -98.5147
TPWD's Middle Colorado River public-access table identifies FM 580 as a free San Saba County kayak/canoe launch with primitive access and no ramp.
- Public take-out and campingColorado Bend State Park, 31.0183, -98.4467
TPWD identifies the park as a public Colorado River access with camping, day-use fees, and an easy launch; reserve entry/camping and check closures before launch.
- Product-supported live gaugeUSGS 08147000, Colorado Rv nr San Saba
USGS Water Data for the Nation and Water Services provide the direct discharge and stage source used by the product for this Colorado River reach.
- Conservative low-water floor100 cfs minimum-only
Southwest Paddler lists a 100 cfs minimum flow for this Colorado River section; Paddle Today uses it only as a conservative low-water screen, not a safety certification.
- Safety and logisticsLong day, limited exits, primitive FM 580 carry, park reservation
American Whitewater notes steep cliffs and light rapids; TPWD notes the primitive FM 580 carry and park access/camping rules. Private camps and banks are not treated as public access or camping.
- Image decisionNo route-gallery image selected
The bounded review did not identify a clearly rights-clean exact FM 580-to-Colorado Bend paddling image for local reuse; the route ships without a gallery asset.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Colorado River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Colorado River?
Paddle Today watches Colorado Rv nr San Saba, TX and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Colorado River route start and end?
This route starts at FM 580 Colorado River access and ends at Colorado Bend State Park river access, about About 14.9 mi on the water.
Is this Colorado River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.