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Texas | Prairies and Lakes
Colorado RiverTexas River School River Camp to FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge
Short lower-Colorado split from the active TPWD Texas River School leased-access camp in east Austin to LCRA's FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge access. TPWD publishes the River Camp access, camping rules, and five-mile spacing to the Highway 973 take-out, while the Austin USGS gauge gives the product-supported flow check for the Austin-to-Bastrop corridor.
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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 from Texas River School River Camp and paddle five lower-Colorado miles to FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge. Use the Colorado River at Austin gauge with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on reservation access, release changes, heat, wind, shallow bars, the FM 973 carry, and private banks.
Access map
Put-in
Texas River School River CampTPWD publishes Texas River School as an active leased-access river camp with a source-backed access anchor. Follow the current gate-code, parking, unloading, fee, and designated-area rules rather than treating the coordinate as a guessed water-entry point.
Take-out
FM 973 / Del Valle BridgeTPWD states that River Camp is five miles upriver from the Hwy 973 take-out. LCRA's map marker 17275 locates the TxDOT-managed FM 973 access area; it is not the wet toe, so follow the current open route from the bridge area to the water on arrival.
Road shuttle
Stage the FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge take-out first, then drive back to Texas River School only after securing the required advance reservation and gate-code access. Scout the FM 973 access before unloading upstream because LCRA describes limited parking and an uneven carry from the bridge area to the river.
Additional access notes
- The Austin gauge is upstream of this selected reach and the threshold floor is broad Austin-to-Bastrop guidance. Treat the app score as conservative and verify visible level and current at Texas River School before launching.
- This route starts at Texas River School, downstream of the urban upstream access sequence where LCRA warns of a low-head dam between US 183 and FM 973. Do not extend the trip upstream without a separate dam-portage plan.
- Do not infer camping or casual private-bank stops from the short rural shoreline, mid-river bars, or islands. Only the Texas River School endpoint campground is included in the route package.
More route and safety guidance
- LCRA describes FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge as limited parking with an uneven carry to the river; scout the take-out path before launching upstream.
- Use Texas River School and FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge as the public access pair, and do not infer legal casual stops or camping from islands, sandbars, or private shoreline.
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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 Austin, 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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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 Austin, 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 | 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 | Texas River Flows lower Colorado Austin-to-Bastrop table |
| 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 shapeTexas River School River Camp to FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge, 5 mi
TPWD states that Texas River School River Camp is five miles upriver from the Hwy 973 take-out, and LCRA lists FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge as a lower-Colorado public access point.
- Public endpoint accessActive TPWD leased access to LCRA-listed TxDOT bridge access
TPWD lists Texas River School as a leased-access fishing, boating, paddling, and camping area open by advance reservation through August 31, 2027; LCRA identifies FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge as a TxDOT-managed river access with limited parking and an uneven carry.
- Access-anchor coordinates30.256179, -97.634178 to 30.2089962, -97.6382568
TPWD publishes the Texas River School River Camp latitude/longitude, and LCRA's map marker 17275 publishes the FM 973 / Del Valle Bridge access-area pin. Treat both as access anchors and select the actual wetted launch or landing only from signed, open paths on arrival.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-13USGS 08158000 at 1160 cfs / 15.34 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
Texas River Flows lists Austin-to-Bastrop levels at 200, 500, 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 cfs; its first tier marks minimum water for floating. Use 200 cfs as a low-water cue and check current local conditions.
- Camping and endpoint rulesEndpoint campground at Texas River School
TPWD publishes eight primitive campsites at Texas River School with reservation, fee, gate-code, fire, pet, and pack-in/pack-out rules. FM 973 is not a campground, and route camping is not inferred from private banks, islands, or sandbars.
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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