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Texas | Prairies and Lakes
Colorado RiverPlum Park to Buffalo Trail Park
Long lower-Colorado day from LCRA's Plum Park to Buffalo Trail Park in La Grange. LCRA publishes both public access points and the 18-mile spacing, while the La Grange USGS gauge gives a same-reach flow check for the rock-garden finish.
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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 Plum Park and paddle the long lower-Colorado reach to Buffalo Trail Park in La Grange. Use USGS 08160400 above La Grange with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on shallow rock gardens, wind, heat, releases, debris, and private-bank limits.
Access map
Put-in
Plum Park on the ColoradoLCRA publishes rounded access coordinates for Plum Park, while the City of La Grange map resolves Buffalo Trail Park more precisely; treat both as access anchors, not exact wetted-edge launch coordinates.
Take-out
Buffalo Trail ParkThe City of La Grange says Buffalo Trail Park provides Colorado River access for canoe trips, but the park page also notes bridge construction context. Confirm the boat-ramp approach before committing to the shuttle.
Road shuttle
Stage Buffalo Trail Park in La Grange first, then drive upstream to Plum Park. This is a long one-way day with limited public exits, so confirm both access points, daylight, weather, and vehicle logistics before launching.
Additional access notes
- This route uses a conservative minimum-only threshold from lower-Colorado community guidance. If the La Grange gauge is near or below about 200 cfs, expect shallow route-finding, exposed cobble, and a slower long day.
- Plum Park camping requires river arrival or prior arrangement; Paddle Today does not treat mid-river islands, gravel bars, or private banks as generally legal campsites.
- Rainfall runoff and upstream release changes can alter current, debris, water quality, and sandbar availability on this lower Colorado reach.
More route and safety guidance
- Low water can expose shallow cobble, Buffalo Wallow Rapid, and the La Grange rock garden, while high or rising water can add stronger current, wood, and harder take-outs.
- Use Plum Park and Buffalo Trail Park as the planned public access pair, and do not infer legal camping or casual stop rights from islands, sandbars, or private banks.
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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 abv La Grange, 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 abv La Grange, 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 |
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| Main source behind this score | Southwest Paddler lower Colorado / La Grange table |
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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 access sequencePlum Park to Buffalo Trail Park, 18 mi
LCRA lists Plum Park on the Colorado and Buffalo Trail Park as public lower-Colorado access points, with Plum Park 18 miles above Buffalo Trail Park by the river-mile spacing table.
- Public endpoint accessLCRA park put-in and City of La Grange boat-ramp take-out
LCRA manages Plum Park and identifies Buffalo Trail Park as a City of La Grange access; the city park page describes Buffalo Trail Park as a public boat-ramp park with Colorado River access for canoe trips.
- Access-anchor coordinates29.9700, -97.0000 to 29.900700, -96.886257
LCRA publishes a rounded Plum Park coordinate; the City of La Grange's Buffalo Trail Park map link resolves the public park access anchor. Paddle Today stores both as access anchors rather than survey-grade wetted-edge launch coordinates.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-10USGS 08160400 at 95.9 cfs / 3.12 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.
- Conservative low-water floor200 cfs minimum-only
Southwest Paddler publishes lower-Colorado / La Grange guidance with 200 cfs as minimum, 500-3,000 cfs as optimum, and 5,000 cfs as maximum; Paddle Today uses only the conservative 200 cfs floor.
- Safety and route characterLong Class I day, Buffalo Wallow Rapid, La Grange rock garden
Houston Canoe Club's same-route report documents the Plum Park put-in, Buffalo Trail Park take-out, 19.03 river miles, 500 cfs La Grange gauge condition, shallow-rock hazards, Buffalo Wallow Rapid, and the La Grange rock garden.
- CampingNo on-route camping documented
Plan for nearby lodging or confirm a separate campground before your trip.
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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