Parts of the Brazos are absolutely beautiful and paddling is quite enjoyable. Except after heavy local rainfalls, the upper sections tend to run low and slow, though the river picks up a faster current the farther you paddle downriver, especially below Waco. There are dams below Possum Kingdom Lake, Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney, none of which is navigable, making continual downriver trips difficult due to the long shuttles required. The Brazos is also characterized by high southwest headwinds that can literally blow you back upriver if you stop paddling. In fact, the winds may be the biggest hazard on the Brazos River, so plan accordingly because it can slow down a trip by several hours and make you wish you were dead! It is fed by several smaller rivers including the Bosque and the Paluxy, among others.

The Upper Brazos, between Possum Kingdom Lake and Mitchell Ford offers some scenery that is most enjoyable, including some 500+ foot tall cliffs around the lake, and dense vegetation along the river banks. This gives way to flatter terrain and scrub brush the rest of the way though central Texas. Alligators have been found on the Brazos as high up as College Station and Huntsville, though they are not known to be a problem. There are few other hazards on this river other than the aforementioned winds and the hot Texas summertime temperatures and direct sun exposure - those can combine to cause dehydration and muscle fatigue, as well as sunburns and windburns. However, those negatives aside, the Brazos is the first river many people paddle, particularly because short, relatively safe trips can be taken without great fear of dangerous waters. If you fall out of the boat, then STAND UP!