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Texas | South Texas Plains
San Antonio River
Riverdale Lane to Goliad State Park
Check current paddling conditions for this San Antonio 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 Riverdale Lane and take out at Goliad State Park for the current full Goliad Paddling Trail. Use USGS 08188500 at Goliad with a conservative 200 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on route length, log jams, no cell service, heat, weather, and the required state-park finish.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Riverdale Lane AccessSARA's current access page says the Hwy 59 landing is closed until further notice because of TxDOT bridge construction. Do not plan the older Hwy 59-to-state-park six-mile route unless that closure is officially lifted.
Take-out
Goliad State ParkThe Riverdale coordinate is an access-address anchor for SARA's published 1777 N. Riverdale Lane trail start, cross-checked by Census and OSM public geocoding. Follow posted local signs to the actual ramp or launch point on arrival.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- SARA's current access page says the Hwy 59 landing is closed until further notice because of TxDOT bridge construction. Do not plan the older Hwy 59-to-state-park six-mile route unless that closure is officially lifted.
- The Riverdale coordinate is an access-address anchor for SARA's published 1777 N. Riverdale Lane trail start, cross-checked by Census and OSM public geocoding. Follow posted local signs to the actual ramp or launch point on arrival.
- SARA labels the Riverdale start available but says launching there requires a significant commitment of time and energy because the full trail is about 18 miles.
- SARA says there is no cell phone access, the landscape is rural, log jams may be present, banks are mostly soft mud, and paddlers should bring ample drinking water.
- Goliad State Park is the planned finish. Confirm current park hours, fee payment, and capacity before leaving vehicles, and do not continue downstream without a separate route plan because TPWD says no other downstream take-outs are documented from the park page context.
Watch for
- Flows near or below about 200 cfs, when the conservative minimum is barely met and the long rural route can slow down around bars, wood, and soft banks.
- Readings approaching TRPA's 2,000 cfs maximum cue, rising water, or fresh rain, when log jams, current, and muddy landings become less forgiving.
- Log jams, floating wood, sweepers, strainers, soft mud banks, no cell service, long heat exposure, and limited bailout options between Riverdale, Ferry Street, and the state park.
- The required state-park take-out and fee-controlled access at the finish.
- Private banks outside the named public accesses and any direct hazard-portage corridor.
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 | San Antonio Rv at Goliad, 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 |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| 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 |
| 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.
- Current route shapeRiverdale Lane to Goliad State Park, about 18 mi
SARA says the trail now begins where Riverdale Lane meets the San Antonio River, ends at Goliad State Park, includes Ferry Street near Branch Nature Park as an additional access, and averages 8-9 hours.
- Hwy 59 closureOlder landing closed until further notice
SARA's June 30, 2025 alert says the Hwy 59 landing is closed for TxDOT bridge construction, while Riverdale, Ferry Street, and Goliad State Park remain open.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 08188500 at 224 cfs / 3.84 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day San Antonio River at Goliad discharge and gage height at 2026-08-09 21:00 CDT during this implementation run.
- 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 Goliad included in the current-conditions gauge set.
- Endpoint coordinates28.67067, -97.54198 to 28.6527, -97.3817
SARA publishes the Riverdale Lane access address; Census and OSM geocoding agree on the access-address anchor, while TPWD publishes the Goliad State Park paddling take-out coordinate.
- CampingEndpoint campground
Goliad State Park publishes walk-in and developed campsites near the route finish; the route package does not infer legal sandbar, soft-bank, or private-bank camping along the river.
- Image decisionNo route-gallery image selected
Bounded SARA, TPWD, Commons, USGS, and same-route review found route context and public web imagery but no clearly rights-clean exact Riverdale-to-Goliad 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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Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
San Antonio River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling San Antonio River?
Paddle Today watches San Antonio Rv at Goliad, TX and uses 200 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this San Antonio River route start and end?
This route starts at Riverdale Lane Access and ends at Goliad State Park, about About 18 mi on the water.
Is this San Antonio River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.