See all 7 routes on Guadalupe River
Texas | South Texas
Guadalupe RiverFM 766 (Hell's Gate) to FM 236
Complete official Guadalupe Valley trail from Hell's Gate to FM 236. TPWD still documents the full 13.8-mile route and all three public accesses, and the Cuero USGS gauge gives a direct same-river condition check before the remnant-dam portage and long downstream 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 Hell's Gate and take out at FM 236 for the full official Guadalupe Valley trail. Use USGS 08175800 at Cuero with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on weather, current, wood, and the remnant-dam portage before committing to the full distance.
Access map
Put-in
FM 766 (Hell's Gate)TPWD identifies FM 766, SH 72, and FM 236 as public access points with posted GPS coordinates, but all are still bridge-side highway accesses rather than improved park ramps.
Take-out
FM 236TPWD identifies Hwy 183 as an emergency take-out between SH 72 and FM 236 if the planned finish becomes impractical or the group needs to shorten the day.
Road shuttle
Stage FM 236 first, then drive back to FM 766. Inspect both bridge-side access points before leaving vehicles because they are simple highway accesses rather than staffed ramps or park marinas.
Additional access notes
- The Cuero Guadalupe can see rainfall-driven high flows and undesirable water-quality conditions. Bring your own drinking water and treat storm runoff conservatively.
- This route uses a conservative minimum-only threshold, not a full ideal-range recommendation. Even at moderate readings, the remnant-dam portage and long shuttle still require attention.
More route and safety guidance
- This full trail adds mileage below SH 72, so high or rising water can turn a short technical issue into a longer judgment problem with fewer easy bank options.
- Use only the named public bridge accesses and respect private banks except when a hazard portage within the navigable corridor is necessary.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
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
Guadalupe Rv at Cuero, 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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- 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 | Guadalupe Rv at Cuero, 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 |
| Water temp | Checking |
| 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 five-level Guadalupe / Cuero gauge 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.
- Gauge check during route review · July 3, 2026USGS 08175800 at 408 cfs / 7.33 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
The Texas River Flows table sets the first floating-water tier for Gonzales-to-Victoria at 200 cfs on the Cuero gauge. Treat this as a low-water cue; the source does not define an ideal or upper range.
- Official route shapeFM 766 to FM 236, 13.8 mi
Current TPWD trail material identifies the full Guadalupe Valley Paddling Trail at about 13.8 miles and says paddlers can do the entire stretch or one of the shorter official segments.
- Exact public launch coordinates29.1472, -97.3177 to 29.0514, -97.2647
TPWD publishes FM 766 (Hell's Gate), SH 72, and FM 236 as current public access points with GPS coordinates and bridge-side driving directions.
- Dam and bailout contextRemnant-dam portage plus Hwy 183 emergency take-out
TPWD warns that the remnants of a dam about 2.5 miles below FM 766 must be paddled around and identifies Hwy 183 as an emergency take-out between SH 72 and FM 236.
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
More on Guadalupe River
All 7Nearby routes within 75 miles
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