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Texas | Texas Hill Country
Medina RiverRanger Crossing to Bandera City Park
Bandera-area Medina River day trip from Ranger Crossing at Highway 16 to Bandera City Park. American Whitewater publishes this public access-to-access reach, endpoint coordinates, Class I-II context, low-water-crossing hazards, and the direct Bandera USGS gauge; Bandera City Park publishes current day-use rules, no-camping rules, and dam-area restrictions for the take-out.
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch from Ranger Crossing at Highway 16 and take out at Bandera City Park for a 5.9-mile Medina River day trip. Use the direct Bandera gauge, expect shallow dragging when flows are near today's 56 cfs level, and exit cleanly at the city park before the dam-restricted area.
Access map
Put-in
Ranger Crossing at Highway 16The Ranger Crossing coordinate is a source-backed access anchor shared with the upstream Medina card and corroborated by American Whitewater's Ranger Crossing public-access page; it is not a guessed mid-channel water-entry point.
Take-out
Bandera City ParkAmerican Whitewater publishes the Bandera City Park public access coordinate river left upstream of the SH 173 / Main Street bridge. Use posted city-park signs, bank conditions, and the open lower-level parking rules on arrival.
Road shuttle
Stage Bandera City Park first during posted park hours, then return to Ranger Crossing at Highway 16. Use the public access anchors and current signs for parking and bank entry, and make the city park the mandatory take-out rather than continuing toward the dam corridor.
Additional access notes
- Bandera City Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 30 minutes before sundown, charges weekend and holiday entry fees, prohibits camping, prohibits swimming near or standing on the dam, and says water entry is from the river bank only.
- The lower Medina floor is 30 cfs, with 300 cfs as an ideal cue; American Whitewater also publishes a recommended display range. At lower flows, expect exposed gravel and dragging; check the live gauges before launch.
- TRPA says almost all adjacent Medina River property is private. Keep stops to lawful public access and do not treat private banks, cabins, ranch roads, or gravel bars as public bailout or camping options.
More route and safety guidance
- Take out at Bandera City Park before extending into the dam corridor. The city park rules prohibit swimming near or standing on the dam and allow water entry only from the river bank.
- TRPA says almost all land along the Medina River is private and paddlers should use public road crossings for access; do not treat nearby banks, gravel bars, or ranch roads as casual stops or camps.
- Use same-day USGS 08178880, recent rain, local weather, and Bandera-area water-quality information before launch because Hill Country rivers can rise quickly after storms and city water-quality notices can change.
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Station details and river cameras
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Measurement notes and coverage
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River camera · USGS
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Medina Rv at Bandera, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
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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.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Medina Rv at Bandera, TX |
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| Preferred range | 300 cfs to 1,500 cfs |
| Low threshold | 30 cfs |
| High threshold | 2,000 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 Medina River guidance |
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NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Route shapeRanger Crossing at Hwy 16 to Bandera City Park, about 5.9 mi
American Whitewater lists SH 16 / Ranger Crossing at river mile 21.2 and Bandera City Park at river mile 27.12 on its Medina River route page.
- Public access coordinates29.7369976, -99.1232512 to 29.72254, -99.06975
Ranger Crossing is stored using the existing source-backed Medina chain access anchor, corroborated by American Whitewater's Ranger Crossing public-access page; Bandera City Park uses American Whitewater's public access coordinate. These are arrival anchors, not guessed mid-channel water-entry points.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-12USGS 08178880 at 55.8 cfs / 4.26 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.
- Threshold posture30 cfs floor; 300-1,500 cfs ideal; 2,000 cfs ceiling
TRPA says the Medina needs about 30 cfs from town of Medina and below, is ideal around 300-1,500 cfs, and should not be attempted above about 2,000 cfs. American Whitewater's same-day display called about 56 cfs below recommended, so near-floor trips should expect scraping.
- CampingNo camping at Bandera City Park; nearby basecamp only
Bandera City Park rules prohibit camping. TRPA says the only public camping along the Medina River is Pioneer River Resort in Bandera, across SH 173 from the city park area; no private-bank, gravel-bar, road-crossing, or park camping is inferred.
- SafetyLow-water crossings, low bridges, private banks and mandatory city-park exit
American Whitewater flags low-water crossings and Bandera low bridges as hazards, while Bandera City Park rules prohibit swimming near or standing on the dam. The route package requires taking out at the park and not extending into the dam corridor without a separate source-backed plan.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
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