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Texas | Prairies and Lakes
Colorado RiverFM 960 Bridge to Hollywood Bottom Park
Lower-Colorado flatwater reach from the official FM 960 Bridge access to LCRA's Hollywood Bottom Park. LCRA publishes both public access points, their coordinates, the 19-mile spacing, Hollywood camping, and the steep-bank and unimproved-access caveats; USGS 08162000 at Wharton provides a direct live condition check.
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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 official FM 960 Bridge access and paddle the distinct lower-Colorado reach to LCRA's Hollywood Bottom Park. Use USGS 08162000 at Wharton with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on steep access, shallow lines, rising water, wind, heat, debris, and private-bank limits.
Access map
Put-in
FM 960 BridgeLCRA describes FM 960 as an unimproved dirt path to a steep river edge. Carry boats carefully and do not treat the shoulder or private banks as a vehicle ramp or parking entitlement.
Take-out
Hollywood Bottom ParkHollywood Bottom Park is open 24 hours and camping is permitted, but confirm current park conditions and take-out logistics before launch.
Road shuttle
Stage Hollywood Bottom Park first, then drive to the FM 960 Bridge access. FM 960 is a TxDOT pedestrian access down a dirt path to a steep river edge rather than a conventional boat ramp; inspect the carry and take-out before committing to the long one-way day.
Additional access notes
- The 200 cfs floor is a conservative community estimate tied to the Wharton gauge, not a go/no-go authority. Below the floor expect shallow or bony lines; high or rising water can increase current and debris hazards.
- This is a long reach with few public exits. Stage the shuttle, leave daylight and weather margin, and do not continue toward downstream dams or private access without a separately verified plan.
- Respect private banks and use only the named public endpoints or lawful hazard exits.
More route and safety guidance
- This is a roughly 19-mile one-way lower-Colorado day with limited public exits; stage the Hollywood Bottom take-out, confirm daylight and weather, and do not launch without a shuttle plan.
- LCRA identifies Hollywood Bottom Park as open 24 hours with camping permitted, but do not infer camping or casual stopping rights on private banks, islands, or sandbars between the named endpoints.
- The lower Colorado can rise quickly after rainfall or releases. Use the live gauge as one input, scout conditions, wear a PFD, and stop well before any unsafe bank, obstruction, or rising-water condition.
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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
Colorado Rv at Wharton, 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
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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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 | Colorado Rv at Wharton, TX |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 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 | CanWePaddle Colorado River Wharton conservative runnable range |
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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 public endpoint pairFM 960 Bridge to Hollywood Bottom Park, 19 river miles
LCRA's lower-Colorado access sequence identifies FM 960 Bridge and Hollywood Bottom Park as consecutive public access points with 19 miles between them.
- Defensible access coordinates29.34, -96.20 to 29.16, -96.04
LCRA publishes rounded GPS coordinates for both public access anchors. They are stored as access anchors, not survey-grade wetted-edge launch points.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-24USGS 08162000 at 233 cfs / 7.53 ft on 2026-08-24 13:15 CDT
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.
- Conservative low-water floor200 cfs minimum-only
CanWePaddle publishes a conservative 200–7,000 cfs estimate for the Wharton section tied to USGS 08162000. Paddle Today uses only the 200 cfs floor and does not treat the estimate as a go/no-go authority.
- Access, camping, and safetySteep FM 960 dirt-path access; Hollywood Bottom camping permitted
LCRA identifies FM 960 as a steep-bank unimproved access and Hollywood Bottom as an open 24-hour access with camping permitted. No private-bank or mid-river camping rights are inferred.
- Route distinctionA separate stretch from the existing Smithville/Plum and Columbus/Bay City trips
This FM 960-to-Hollywood reach is not included in those neighboring trip options.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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