See all 5 routes on Elm Fork Trinity River
Texas | North Texas
Elm Fork Trinity RiverHebron Parkway to McInnish Park
North Texas National Water Trail run from the Hebron Parkway kayak launch at Trinity Fork Park to McInnish Park in Carrollton. Trinity Coalition maps the missing middle Elm Fork segment and launch coordinates, LLELA identifies Hebron as the first public take-out below the dam, and the Carrollton USGS gauge gives a direct same-reach flow 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 Hebron Parkway / Trinity Fork Park and take out at McInnish Park for the missing middle Elm Fork segment of the Trinity River National Water Trail. Use USGS 08055500 with TRPA's 100 cfs floor, and cancel when release, wood, water quality, or shuttle conditions are not clean.
Access map
Put-in
Hebron Parkway Kayak LaunchTrinity Coalition map coordinates are public access anchors; follow current launch paths, signs, and park rules rather than projecting a mid-channel water-entry point.
Take-out
McInnish ParkLLELA names Hebron Parkway / Trinity Fork Park as the first public take-out below the dam and the next public downstream access in Carrollton; do not invent private-bank stops or unmanaged road-shoulder access.
Road shuttle
Stage McInnish Park first, then drive back to Hebron Parkway / Trinity Fork Park. This fills the middle Elm Fork gap between the LLELA-to-Hebron and McInnish-to-California route cards.
Additional access notes
- USGS 08055500 was product-live during implementation but below the 100 cfs floor; expect shallow, slow, or scrape-prone conditions at similar readings.
- This segment stays downstream of the strongest LLELA tailwater, but the whole Elm Fork corridor remains release-influenced and wood-prone after floods.
More route and safety guidance
- TRPA says dangerous log jams can develop on the Elm Fork after flooding; cancel when the corridor has fresh wood, rising water, or a blocked line.
- This reach is a park-to-park urban river corridor. Use the mapped public launches and do not substitute private banks, road shoulders, or unmanaged crossings for normal access.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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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
Elm Fk Trinity Rv nr Carrollton, 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
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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 | Elm Fk Trinity Rv nr Carrollton, TX |
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| Preferred range | 200 cfs to 1,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 100 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
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| Main source behind this score | Texas Rivers Protection Association Elm Fork Trinity River guidance |
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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 route shapeHebron Parkway to McInnish Park, about 5.75 mi
Trinity Coalition's LLELA-to-McInnish section map publishes LLELA, Hebron Parkway, and McInnish Park as launch sites and gives the 5.75-mile Hebron-to-McInnish spacing.
- Public access coordinates33.012600, -96.950689 to 32.967440, -96.942685
Trinity Coalition publishes Hebron Parkway and McInnish Park launch coordinates on the National Water Trail section map; LLELA separately names Hebron Parkway / Trinity Fork Park and the next downstream Carrollton access.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-11USGS 08055500 at 91.1 cfs / 3.42 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.
- Threshold posture100 cfs minimum; 200-1,000 cfs ideal; 2,000 cfs maximum caution
TRPA's Elm Fork Trinity page lists the Elm Fork route family, Class I character, year-round season, 100 cfs minimum, 200-1,000 cfs ideal range, 2,000 cfs maximum, and USGS Carrollton current-condition source.
- Safety and accessRelease-influenced urban river with common wood
LLELA warns of strong current below Lewisville Dam, common strainers, fallen trees, and erosion hazards on the Elm Fork; TRPA separately warns that dangerous log jams can develop after flooding.
- CampingNo route camping
This card starts below LLELA's designated campsite area and ends at Carrollton park/open-space access. No reviewed Trinity Coalition, LLELA, Carrollton, Dallas County, or TRPA source supports overnight route camping between Hebron and McInnish.
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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