See all 3 routes on Llano River
Texas | Hill Country
Llano River
James River Crossing to Martin / Simonsville Crossing
Check current paddling conditions for this Llano River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
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
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Launch at James River Crossing / FR-2389 and finish at Martin / Simonsville Crossing for a six-mile main Llano run. Use USGS 08151500 with TRPA's 65 cfs floor, 100-500 cfs preferred window, and 5,000 cfs high-water ceiling, then make a same-day call on weather, wood, and legal access.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
James River Crossing / FR-2389Both endpoints are TRPA route-map access anchors at public road crossings, not guaranteed wetted-edge launch coordinates. Pick the actual water entry and landing from current signs, parking, bank condition, and safe carry paths.
Take-out
Martin / Simonsville CrossingDo not use private roads, ranch gates, private banks, or posted areas as alternate access if either crossing is crowded, washed out, or signed against use.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Both endpoints are TRPA route-map access anchors at public road crossings, not guaranteed wetted-edge launch coordinates. Pick the actual water entry and landing from current signs, parking, bank condition, and safe carry paths.
- Do not use private roads, ranch gates, private banks, or posted areas as alternate access if either crossing is crowded, washed out, or signed against use.
- The Martin / Simonsville crossing is the selected take-out anchor for this six-mile route; continuing downstream enters the separate Martin/Simonsville-to-Keller's and Keller's-to-Castell route family.
- If either public crossing lacks legal parking or safe bank access on arrival, skip the route rather than inventing a private alternate.
Watch for
- Class II-II+ Llano current, shallow limestone shelves, riffles, strainers, and blind swiftwater lines that need scouting.
- Fast rises after Hill Country storms. Recheck USGS 08151500, radar, and upstream rainfall before launch and during the shuttle.
- Low-water scraping near the 65 cfs floor and changing lines even inside the 100-500 cfs preferred range.
- Private banks and limited legal exits between the two public road crossings.
- Heat, sun exposure, wind, narrow road shoulders, muddy carries, snakes, and pack-in/pack-out discipline at undeveloped crossings.
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.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
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.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Llano Rv at Llano, 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 |
| Target band | 100 cfs to 500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 65 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 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 Llano River guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- Route shapeJames River Crossing / FR-2389 to Martin / Simonsville Crossing, 6 mi
TRPA lists this as a six-mile main Llano run between public road crossings and gives separate map links for both endpoints.
- Endpoint coordinates30.650638, -99.250613 to 30.640650, -99.167714
TRPA map links resolved to these access anchors. Trip details keep them as arrival/access anchors, not guaranteed wetted-edge launch points.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 08151500 at 343 cfs / 2.39 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day Llano River at Llano discharge and stage at 2026-08-11 07:00 CDT during this implementation run.
- Threshold posture65 cfs floor; 100-500 cfs ideal; 5,000 cfs ceiling
TRPA publishes Llano flow guidance with a 65 cfs minimum, 100-500 cfs ideal window, and 5,000 cfs maximum caution tied to the Llano gauge family.
- CampingNo route camping selected
TRPA identifies the endpoints as public road crossings and warns paddlers to respect no-trespassing and use-restriction signs. No legal on-route campsite was selected, and private-bank or gravel-bar camping is not inferred.
- SafetyClass II-II+, fast rises, wood, public-crossing limits, and private banks
TRPA lists the Llano as Class II-II+ and warns paddlers to use proper river-safety judgment; the route package records Hill Country storm response, strainers, low-water scraping, and private-bank discipline.
- Image decisionNo route-gallery image selected
Bounded TRPA, Commons, USGS, and same-route web image review found route-context photos but no clearly rights-clean exact James-River-to-Martin/Simonsville reusable paddling asset selected for local reuse.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
Llano River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Llano River?
Paddle Today watches Llano Rv at Llano, TX and treats 100 cfs to 500 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Llano River route start and end?
This route starts at James River Crossing / FR-2389 and ends at Martin / Simonsville Crossing, about About 6.0 mi on the water.
Is this Llano River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.