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Texas | South Texas Plains
San Antonio RiverCR 125 River Access Site to Helton Nature Park
Official shorter SASPAMCO day route from the CR 125 / Graytown midpoint access to John William Helton Nature Park. TPWD publishes this 6.43-mile option with endpoint coordinates, SARA confirms the access chain and current downstream closure, and the Elmendorf USGS gauge gives a product-supported same-river condition check upstream of the run.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch from the CR 125 / Graytown midpoint access and take out at Helton Nature Park for the shorter official SASPAMCO day route. Use USGS 08181800 near Elmendorf with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on low water, log jams, rainfall, water quality, soft banks, and the firm Helton finish.
Access map
Put-in
CR 125 River Access Site / Graytown ParkTPWD publishes CR 125 and Helton coordinates for the 6.43-mile SASPAMCO option, and SARA confirms Graytown Park and Helton as public River Authority access points.
Take-out
John William Helton - San Antonio River Nature ParkSARA's current alert keeps the southern SASPAMCO section downstream of Helton temporarily closed because of large log jams. Do not continue past Helton toward CR 117 or Floresville until SARA lifts that closure.
Road shuttle
Stage the Helton Nature Park take-out first, then drive back to the CR 125 River Access Site / Graytown Park. TPWD lists about 5.2 road miles between the midpoint access and Helton via FM 1303.
Additional access notes
- Helton Nature Park has day-use amenities, river access, and campground reservations, but overnight use needs a separate campground booking rather than an informal riverbank plan.
- This route uses conservative corridor-level TRPA flow guidance and the upstream Elmendorf gauge, not a manager-authored exact-segment gauge table. If the gauge is below about 200 cfs, expect a slower, scrape-prone, debris-sensitive trip.
- Coordinates are access anchors from TPWD/SARA context. Follow posted launch paths and current site conditions on arrival rather than projecting mid-channel points.
More route and safety guidance
- The active SARA closure is downstream of Helton Nature Park, so this route must end at Helton and should not be extended toward CR 117 or Floresville until SARA lifts that alert.
- TPWD warns that low water can expose snags and that heavy rain or high water can create dangerous temporary flows and undesirable water quality.
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Conditions
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
San Antonio Rv nr Elmendorf, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
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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 | San Antonio Rv nr Elmendorf, TX |
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| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Water-level guidance unavailable |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Local route guidance |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Texas Rivers Protection Association San Antonio 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.
- Official route shapeCR 125 to Helton, 6.43 mi
TPWD identifies CR 125 River Access Site to Helton - San Antonio River Nature Center as the shorter 6.43-mile SASPAMCO option, with 2-4 hour float-time guidance.
- Public access chainCR 125 / Graytown Park to Helton Nature Park
SARA says SASPAMCO includes access points at Graytown Park on the San Antonio River and John William Helton Nature Park, with amenities and parking along the rural park chain.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-11USGS 08181800 at 152 cfs / 9.56 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 posture200 cfs minimum-only; 300 cfs ideal cue; 2,000 cfs maximum caution
TRPA lists San Antonio River flow guidance as rarely below 200 cfs, ideal at 300 cfs, and maximum at 2,000 cfs, with SARA and USGS current-condition references.
- Closure boundaryDownstream of Helton closed; this route ends at Helton
SARA's current alert says the southern SASPAMCO section downstream of Helton Nature Park remains temporarily closed because of large log jams, so Paddle Today does not publish a continuation from this finish.
- CampingEndpoint campground
SARA's Helton Nature Park page lists campgrounds, river and paddle-trail access, and campground reservations with an overnight fee at the take-out.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on San Antonio River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
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