See all 5 routes on Elm Fork Trinity River
Texas | North Texas
Elm Fork Trinity RiverMcInnish Park to California Crossing Park
North Texas National Water Trail run from McInnish Park through Elm Park and Bird's Fort Trail Park to California Crossing Park. Trinity Coalition maps the official launch sequence and distances, while 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
Run the Elm Fork from McInnish Park through the official Trinity River National Water Trail access chain to California Crossing Park. This is a practical North Texas day trip when USGS 08055500 is above TRPA's 100 cfs floor, wood is clear, and the shuttle is staged before park-hour constraints become an issue.
Access map
Put-in
McInnish ParkTrinity 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
California Crossing ParkMcInnish Park, Elm Park, Bird's Fort Trail Park, and California Crossing Park form the mapped access chain; do not invent private-bank stops or unmanaged road-shoulder access.
Road shuttle
Stage California Crossing Park first, then drive to McInnish Park. Elm Park and Bird's Fort Trail Park are mapped intermediate launch/take-out options for shorter trips or bailouts.
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Access planner
Choose your launch and take-out
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
McInnish Park to California Crossing Park is about 9.3 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.
Additional access notes
- USGS 08055500 was product-live during implementation but below the 100 cfs floor; expect slow/shallow travel and possible dragging at similar readings.
- Trinity Coalition says access, infrastructure, river conditions, and dams can change; review the interactive map before launching.
More route and safety guidance
- TRPA says dangerous log jams can develop on the Elm Fork after flooding; inspect current conditions and be ready to cancel when the corridor has fresh wood or rising water.
- This reach is an urban river corridor with park-to-park access. Do not substitute private banks, road shoulders, or unmanaged crossings for the mapped public launches.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
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Conditions
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Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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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
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
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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- Checking evidence cautions.
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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| Rain last 24h | Checking |
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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 |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Texas Rivers Protection Association Elm Fork Trinity River guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
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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 shapeMcInnish Park to California Crossing Park, about 9.25 mi
Trinity Coalition's segment map publishes McInnish Park, Elm Park, Bird's Fort Trail Park, and California Crossing Park as launch sites and gives the 1.5, 6.25, and 1.5 mile access spacing.
- Public access coordinates32.967440, -96.942685 to 32.868524, -96.923634
Trinity Coalition publishes coordinates for McInnish Park, Elm Park, Bird's Fort Trail Park, and California Crossing Park on the National Water Trail section map.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-10USGS 08055500 at 87.9 cfs / 3.41 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 dam contextLog jams, dams, and changing access
TRPA warns dangerous log jams can develop after flooding, and Trinity Coalition says all dams on the National Water Trail should be treated as hazardous and avoided unless current map guidance is reviewed.
- CampingNo route camping
Carrollton posts day-use park hours for its parks, California Crossing is a Dallas community park with parking but no campground, and no reviewed Trinity Coalition, TRPA, Carrollton, or Dallas source supports route camping.
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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