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Texas | Prairies and Lakes
San Marcos River
SH 90 River Crossing to Zedler Mill Park
Check current paddling conditions for this San Marcos 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
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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 the SH 90 River Crossing and take out at Zedler Mill Park for the official Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail. Use USGS 08172000 at Luling with a conservative 100 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on wood, weather, private-bank discipline, and the mandatory Zedler Mill exit.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
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Put-in
SH 90 River CrossingTPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates and says parking is available at both locations, but this remains a simple public trail access plan rather than a staffed livery take-out.
Take-out
Zedler Mill ParkZedler Mill Park is the planned finish. TPWD warns that a dam lies beyond the mill, so do not drift past the take-out.
Plan this segment
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- TPWD publishes both endpoint coordinates and says parking is available at both locations, but this remains a simple public trail access plan rather than a staffed livery take-out.
- Zedler Mill Park is the planned finish. TPWD warns that a dam lies beyond the mill, so do not drift past the take-out.
- The San Marcos River is navigable here, but TPWD says private-bank use outside direct hazard portages can be trespassing.
- This route uses a conservative minimum-only threshold, not a full ideal-range recommendation. If the Luling gauge is near or below 100 cfs, expect more shallow route-finding and wood avoidance.
Watch for
- The firm Zedler Mill Park take-out above the downstream dam.
- Numerous snags and logjams, especially when water levels are low.
- Small Class I riffles, clear pools, overhanging trees, floating wood, and slick banks at access points.
- 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 Marcos Rv at Luling, 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 | 100 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 River Flows five-level San Marcos / Luling gauge table |
| 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.
- Official route shapeSH 90 River Crossing to Zedler Mill Park, 6.0 mi
TPWD identifies the Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail as a six-mile San Marcos River route usually floated in two to four hours.
- Public endpoint coordinates29.6679, -97.6999 to 29.6671, -97.6519
TPWD publishes the SH 90 River Crossing put-in and Zedler Mill Park take-out coordinates and says parking is available at both locations.
- Direct live gaugeUSGS 08172000 at 118 cfs / 3.93 ft
USGS Water Services returned same-day values for San Marcos River at Luling, TX at 2026-08-09 07:45 CDT during this run.
- Conservative low-water floor100 cfs minimum-only
The Texas River Flows five-level table lists the San Marcos Luling-to-Gonzales segment on the Luling gauge at 100 / 150 / 300 / 1000 / 1500 cfs, with level 1 defined as minimum floating water.
- Safety and access contextSnags, private-bank limits, and downstream dam
TPWD says the route has small Class I rapids and quiet pools, warns that snags and logjams are numerous at low water, explains private-bank limits, and flags the dam beyond Zedler Mill.
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
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More routes to check next
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Quick answers
San Marcos River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling San Marcos River?
Paddle Today watches San Marcos Rv at Luling, TX and uses 100 cfs as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this San Marcos River route start and end?
This route starts at SH 90 River Crossing and ends at Zedler Mill Park, about About 6.0 mi on the water.
Is this San Marcos River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.