See all 4 routes on West Fork Trinity River
Texas | North Texas
West Fork Trinity RiverWhite Settlement Road to Panther Island
Short Fort Worth West Fork Trinity connector from White Settlement Road to Panther Island. Trinity Coalition maps this about 4.5-mile National Water Trail leg with public launch coordinates, while TRWD and Trinity Trails corroborate the launch network and the Fort Worth USGS gauge gives a same-reach flow check.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at White Settlement Road and finish at Panther Island for the short upstream Fort Worth connector on the Trinity River National Water Trail. Use USGS 08048000 with TRPA's conservative 100 cfs floor, then make a same-day call on mud, wood, water quality, dam awareness, and access closures.
Access map
Put-in
White Settlement RoadThe Trinity Coalition map publishes White Settlement Road and Panther Island coordinates as launch-site anchors. Follow current signs and launch paths on arrival rather than projecting mid-channel coordinates.
Take-out
Panther IslandThe Trinity Trails launch guide describes White Settlement access from the Isbell Road parking lot down to a concrete platform and Panther Island access from the public beach or Henderson Street area.
Road shuttle
Stage Panther Island first, then drive back to White Settlement Road. This is the short upstream connector into the existing Panther-to-Handley West Fork route; do not continue downstream without the separate longer-route plan.
Additional access notes
- TRWD says White Settlement Trailhead and Panther Island Pavilion are part of the Fort Worth paddling access network, and local managers had to agree to maintain the improved access for National Recreation Trail status.
- Trinity Coalition says river conditions, access sites, infrastructure, and dams can change and that users must investigate current conditions while planning a trip.
- TRPA's 100 cfs minimum and 200 cfs ideal cue are broad West Fork guidance. At very low readings, expect scraping, mud, slow travel, and more effort than the short mileage suggests.
More route and safety guidance
- TRPA warns the West Fork has steep, muddy banks, log jams, a narrow channel, and high-water hazards; do not treat the short mileage as a no-check float.
- TRWD and Trinity Trails tell paddlers to check USGS water conditions before launching; rising stormwater, poor water quality, and trail or event closures can change the route quickly.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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
W Fk Trinity Rv at Ft Worth, TX. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | W Fk Trinity Rv at Ft Worth, 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 |
| Preferred range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | 100 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 West Fork Trinity River guidance |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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 systemTrinity River National Water Trail
Trinity Coalition says the National Water Trail covers 130 river miles with 21 official launch sites across the West Fork, Clear Fork, Elm Fork, and main stem.
- Route shape and coordinatesWhite Settlement Road to Panther Island, about 4.5 mi
The Clear and West Forks map publishes White Settlement Road at 32.760046, -97.387100 and Panther Island at 32.759716, -97.338446, with about 4.5 miles between launch sites.
- Access corroborationWhite Settlement Trailhead and Panther Island launch network
TRWD says it controls Fort Worth paddling trails with access at White Settlement Trailhead and Panther Island Pavilion, and the Trinity Trails launch guide gives White Settlement launch handling and Panther Island launch handling.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-08-11USGS 08048000 at 14.6 cfs / 0.72 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 posture100 cfs minimum-only; 200 cfs ideal cue; 2,000 cfs maximum caution
TRPA's West Fork Trinity quick info lists Class I water, a 100 cfs minimum, 200 cfs ideal flow, and 2,000 cfs maximum, with West Fork USGS gauges linked for current conditions.
- CampingNo route camping
Fort Worth park code restricts city park and recreation-area use outside posted open hours or permit contexts, and no reviewed trail source supports informal overnight river camping on this urban connector.
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 West Fork Trinity River
All 4Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.