See all 3 routes on Llano River
Texas | Hill Country
Llano River
Keller's Landing to Castell 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 Keller's Landing / US-87 and finish at TPWD's Castell Crossing lease for a 12-mile main Llano run. Use USGS 08150700 near Mason with TRPA's 65 cfs floor, keep the route behind the whitewater filter, and skip the trip if access, weather, or wood conditions are unclear.
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
Keller's Landing / US-87Keller's Landing / US-87 is a route-source access anchor, not a developed TPWD launch. TRPA says the easiest access is on the southeast side by a steep muddy bank, so final water entry depends on current signs, parking, and safe bank conditions.
Take-out
Castell CrossingCastell Crossing is an active TPWD leased access through August 31, 2027, with daylight public use, designated parking, and no overnight camping.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Keller's Landing / US-87 is a route-source access anchor, not a developed TPWD launch. TRPA says the easiest access is on the southeast side by a steep muddy bank, so final water entry depends on current signs, parking, and safe bank conditions.
- Castell Crossing is an active TPWD leased access through August 31, 2027, with daylight public use, designated parking, and no overnight camping.
- Do not infer legal access or camping from private banks, gravel bars, ranch roads, or low-water crossings between the named endpoints.
- If the US-87 access is posted, washed out, muddy beyond safe carry, or lacks legal parking, skip the route rather than inventing a private alternate.
Watch for
- Class II-II+ Llano current, ledges, shallow limestone shelves, strainers, and blind swiftwater lines that need scouting.
- Fast rises after Hill Country storms. Recheck USGS 08150700, 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 exits between US-87 and Castell Crossing.
- Heat, sun exposure, wind, muddy access, roadside parking constraints, and pack-in/pack-out requirements at the public take-out.
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 nr Mason, 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 shapeKeller's Landing (US-87) to Castell Crossing, 12 mi
TRPA lists Keller's Landing to Castell Crossing as a 12-mile main Llano route and identifies the access as steep and muddy from US-87.
- Endpoint coordinates30.660737, -99.109219 to 30.704516, -98.958782
The put-in uses the USGS/American Whitewater US-87 access and gauge coordinate for Keller's Landing. TPWD publishes the Castell Crossing leased-access coordinate.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 08150700 at 347 cfs / 7.07 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day Llano River near Mason discharge and stage at 2026-08-11 00:15 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
TPWD says overnight camping is not allowed at Castell Crossing. No legal on-route campsite was selected, and private-bank or gravel-bar camping is not inferred.
- SafetyClass II-II+, steep muddy put-in, fast rises and private banks
TRPA lists the Llano as Class II-II+, describes steep muddy access at US-87, and links river-safety guidance; the route also carries Hill Country storm and private-bank caveats.
- Image decisionNo route-gallery image selected
Bounded TRPA, TPWD, American Whitewater, Commons, USGS, and same-route web review found route-context photos but no clearly rights-clean exact Keller's-to-Castell 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
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Llano River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Llano River?
Paddle Today watches Llano Rv nr Mason, 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 Keller's Landing / US-87 and ends at Castell Crossing, about About 12.0 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.
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See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.