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See all 7 routes on Guadalupe River

Texas | Texas Hill Country

Guadalupe River

Guadalupe River State Park to Nichol's Landing

Check current paddling conditions for this Guadalupe River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.

Route location

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DistanceAbout 5.0 mi
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAbout 2 hr to 4 hr at ordinary levels
ShuttleCar shuttle
A historic bridge crosses the Guadalupe River southeast of Cuero, Texas, above the broad channel.
River contextGuadalupe River southeast of Cuero river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by 25or6to4 via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Conditions

Gauge history and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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Short-route forecast

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Route overview

Quick facts and what's next

Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.

Quick facts

On-water distanceAbout 5.0 miGuadalupe River State Park to Nichol's Landing
DifficultymoderateThe mileage is short, but TPWD frames the state-park trail as rugged and requires a carry around a low-water crossing. The whitewater filter keeps this reach out of casual discovery because fast rises, strainers, and private-bank portage limits can make a simple-looking trip consequential.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage Nichol's Landing first, then drive back to Guadalupe River State Park. Confirm state-park entry, river access, and any current Nichol's Landing parking or access fees before leaving vehicles.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is published. Normal Guadalupe River State Park entrance or camping fees may apply at the put-in, and Nichol's Landing can have access or parking fees. Follow Texas boating/PFD rules and current posted access rules.
CampingOptions nearbyGuadalupe River State Park has drive-up electric campsites, walk-in tent sites, and primitive sites at the put-in, so this route works as an endpoint-campground basecamp trip. Do not infer legal camping from private banks, gravel bars, or the low-water-crossing portage corridor.
SeasonJan-DecThe Upper Guadalupe can run year-round when spring flow, rain, and access conditions line up, but TRPA notes the upper river is rain dependent and dry periods can mean dragging. After storms, treat rising water, debris, and private-bank portage limits conservatively.

Plan ahead

Upcoming outlook

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Launch at Guadalupe River State Park and take out at Nichol's Landing for TPWD's five-mile state-park Upper Guadalupe trail. Use USGS 08167500 near Spring Branch with TRPA's conservative Upper Guadalupe range, then make a same-day call on low-water dragging, the mandatory carry, rising water, wood, and private-bank limits.

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Start

Put-in

Guadalupe River State Park paddling access
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TPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates, but the state-park access is fee-controlled and Nichol's Landing is a simple river-access site rather than a staffed paddling center.

Finish

Take-out

Nichol's Landing (Specht's Crossing)
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The Spring Branch gauge is the product-supported Upper Guadalupe flow check used by this route family and the downstream Nichol's Landing trail. It sits just below this five-mile segment, so still scout the low-water crossing and visible level before launching.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • TPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates, but the state-park access is fee-controlled and Nichol's Landing is a simple river-access site rather than a staffed paddling center.
  • The Spring Branch gauge is the product-supported Upper Guadalupe flow check used by this route family and the downstream Nichol's Landing trail. It sits just below this five-mile segment, so still scout the low-water crossing and visible level before launching.
  • TPWD says private-property use outside portaging hazards can be trespassing. Keep stops to public access points or direct hazard-portage corridors.
  • This route uses broad Upper Guadalupe TRPA flow guidance rather than a manager-published rapid-by-rapid band for the state-park reach. Downgrade the day if weather, gauge trend, or local access conditions are moving the wrong way.

Watch for

  • The mandatory exit and carry around the low-water crossing about 0.5 mile below the park boundary.
  • Flows near or below 100 cfs, when TRPA's Upper Guadalupe minimum is not met and dragging or exposed limestone hazards become more likely.
  • High or rising water after rain, when Hill Country current, strainers, and private-bank portage choices become more consequential.
  • Wood, sweepers, slick limestone, hot-weather exposure, crowded access areas, and the temptation to continue below Nichol's Landing without the separate downstream route plan.

Route gallery

See this route on the water

Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.

A historic bridge crosses the Guadalupe River southeast of Cuero, Texas, above the broad channel.
Guadalupe River southeast of Cuero river-level photo — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by 25or6to4 via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0

Score & sources

Why this score

See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.

Read quality
Checking live inputs.

Pulling the latest gauge and weather. Usually under 10 seconds.

Gauge inputChecking

Waiting on the gauge read.

Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking

Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.

Why
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Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing

These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.

Gauge siteGuadalupe Rv nr Spring Branch, TX
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Target band300 cfs to 1,200 cfs
Low threshold100 cfs
High threshold5,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreTexas Rivers Protection Association Upper Guadalupe flow guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Live Upper Guadalupe gaugeUSGS 08167500 at 347 cfs / 3.28 ft

    USGS Water Services returned same-day Guadalupe River near Spring Branch discharge and gage height at 2026-08-09 23:00 CDT during this implementation run.

    Source

  • Official route shapeGuadalupe River State Park to Nichol's Landing, 5 mi

    TPWD identifies the Guadalupe River State Park Paddling Trail as a five-mile route from the park to Nichol's Landing / Specht's Crossing with a 2-4 hour float time.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates29.8720, -98.4900 to 29.8790, -98.4480

    TPWD publishes GPS coordinates for the Guadalupe River State Park access and Nichol's Landing, with the state park as the put-in and Specht's Crossing / Nichol's Landing as the take-out.

    Source

  • Threshold posture100 cfs minimum; 300-1,200 cfs ideal; 5,000 cfs maximum

    TRPA publishes Upper Guadalupe flow guidance tied to the Spring Branch gauge family; Paddle Today uses the full range conservatively and keeps the route behind the whitewater filter.

    Source

  • Safety and accessLow-water-crossing portage plus private-bank limits

    TPWD says paddlers must exit and carry around a low-water crossing about 0.5 mile below the park boundary, and that use of private property outside direct hazard portages can be trespassing.

    Source

  • CampingEndpoint campground

    Guadalupe River State Park has drive-up campsites with electricity, walk-in tent sites, and primitive sites at the put-in; no private-bank or informal on-route camping is inferred for the five-mile route.

    Source

  • Image decisionNo route-gallery image selected

    Bounded TPWD, state-park, TRPA, WORD, Commons, USGS, and same-route image review found route context and maps but no clearly rights-clean exact Guadalupe-State-Park-to-Nichol's-Landing paddling asset selected for local reuse.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.

More in Texas

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More on Guadalupe River

All 7
FM 3351 Crossing to Guadalupe River State ParkTexas Hill CountryModerate · About 7.8 miFM 766 (Hell's Gate) to FM 236South TexasModerate · About 13.8 miFM 766 (Hell's Gate) to SH 72South TexasModerate · About 6.6 miKreutzberg Canyon Natural Area to Bergheim CampgroundTexas Hill CountryHard · About 12.2 mi

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Quick answers

Guadalupe River paddling FAQ

What water level is good for paddling Guadalupe River?

Paddle Today watches Guadalupe Rv nr Spring Branch, TX and treats 300 cfs to 1,200 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does this Guadalupe River route start and end?

This route starts at Guadalupe River State Park paddling access and ends at Nichol's Landing (Specht's Crossing), about About 5.0 mi on the water.

Is this Guadalupe River route good for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.

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