Texas | Hill Country

Llano River

Martin / Simonsville Crossing to Keller's Landing

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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DistanceAbout 3.8 mi
DifficultyHard
Typical timeShort Hill Country connector
ShuttleCar shuttle
A sandy, wooded southeast Texas river corridor.
River contextTexas river corridor context; not this route or current conditions; route imagery unavailable — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Jill Carlson via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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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 history & hourly forecastDetailed view

Recent trend

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Quick facts and what's next

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

DifficultyhardThe route is hidden as whitewater because TRPA rates the Llano Class II-II+ and the selected endpoints are public-crossing access anchors that require same-day bank, parking, and sign checks.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is published. Use only public or permission-backed access, obey posted no-trespassing or use-restriction signs, and follow Texas boating and PFD rules.
CampingOptions nearbyTreat this as a day route with no public on-route camping selected. TRPA identifies the endpoints as access anchors and tells paddlers to respect no-trespassing and use-restriction signs; do not infer legal camping from private banks, gravel bars, or nearby ranch roads.
SeasonJan-DecTRPA describes the Llano as year-round when weather and flow cooperate, but this main-stem reach is rainfall-sensitive. Low summer water can expose limestone ledges, while thunderstorms can create fast rises and debris.

Upcoming outlook

These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

Launch at Martin / Simonsville Crossing and finish at Keller's Landing / US-87 for a 3.8-mile main Llano connector. 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.

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Start

Put-in

Martin / Simonsville Crossing
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Both endpoints are route-source access anchors, not guaranteed wetted-edge launch coordinates. Pick the actual water entry and landing from current signs, parking, bank condition, and safe carry paths.

Finish

Take-out

Keller's Landing / US-87
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Keller's Landing / US-87 is also the put-in for the downstream Keller's-to-Castell route family, and TRPA describes the US-87 access as steep and muddy.

Plan this segment

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Access caveats and watch for

Access caveats

  • Both endpoints are route-source access anchors, not guaranteed wetted-edge launch coordinates. Pick the actual water entry and landing from current signs, parking, bank condition, and safe carry paths.
  • Keller's Landing / US-87 is also the put-in for the downstream Keller's-to-Castell route family, and TRPA describes the US-87 access as steep and muddy.
  • 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.
  • If either endpoint 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 access anchors.
  • Heat, sun exposure, wind, narrow road shoulders, muddy carries, snakes, and pack-in/pack-out discipline at undeveloped crossings.

Why this score

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

Read quality
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Gauge inputChecking

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Weather inputChecking

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Next stepChecking

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Today'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.
Gauge, thresholds, and timing

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

Gauge siteLlano Rv at Llano, 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 band100 cfs to 500 cfs
Low threshold65 cfs
High threshold5,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreTexas Rivers Protection Association Llano River guidance
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
What 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 shapeMartin / Simonsville Crossing to Keller's Landing / US-87, 3.8 mi

    TRPA lists this as a 3.8-mile main Llano run and gives endpoint map links for the Martin / Simonsville and Keller's Landing access anchors.

    Source

  • Endpoint coordinates30.640650, -99.167714 to 30.660737, -99.109219

    The route reuses the source-backed Martin / Simonsville and Keller's Landing access anchors from adjacent implemented Llano reaches. Trip details distinguish these from final water-entry points selected from current signs and bank conditions.

    Source

  • 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 09:00 CDT during this implementation run.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • CampingNo route camping selected

    TRPA identifies the endpoints as access anchors 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.

    Source

  • SafetyClass II-II+, fast rises, wood, US-87 bank condition, and private banks

    TRPA lists the Llano as Class II-II+ and notes Keller's Landing has steep, muddy access; the route package records Hill Country storm response, strainers, low-water scraping, and private-bank discipline.

    Source

  • 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 Martin/Simonsville-to-Keller's reusable paddling asset selected for local reuse.

    Source

Check the source links

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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 Martin / Simonsville Crossing and ends at Keller's Landing / US-87, about About 3.8 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.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.