From its headwaters west of Hunt, past the confluence of the North Fork of the Guadalupe River outside Kerrville and down to Seidensticker Crossing below Comfort, the Guadalupe River flows over a limestone bed lined with beautiful, huge, old Cypress trees accented by Pecans, Sycamores, Elms, Live Oaks, and others that add to the scenic attraction of the river. Paddlers usually put in at Brinks Crossing as the topmost practical starting point, with numerous access points at short distances downriver to Seidensticker Crossing about 5.5 miles east of Comfort.
As with most of the Guadalupe River, the land adjoining the river is privately owned, and some of the landowners can be downright "assertive" in defending their property from invasions by paddlers. It is best to avoid trespassing except in emergencies. Access should be undertaken only after prior arrangement with the owners on whose land you intend to land. Glass and polystyrene Styrofoam are prohibited on the river and Canyon Lake under penalty of up to $500 in fines. Your compliance with these limitations will make the river cleaner and safer of all users.
The uppermost section of the Guad has shallow banks and recently deposited huge gravel bars downriver from Kerrville. The river is slightly narrower at the top, and shallower with fewer rapids. The gradient increases as it moved to Canyon Lake, then on down south of New Braunfels before leveling out into a basically flatwater river as it flows toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The uppermost part of the Guad is a very gentle river without major hazards other than fallen trees that could pose a danger to anybody paddling or drifting into them. At places the road is very close to the river, but with almost non-existent traffic there are times you will not even know how close it is. Texas Highway 27 "parallels" the river from around Kerrville until Seidensticker Crossing, after which time there are no public roads near the river other than crossovers. Take everything you need, because re-supplying from on the river is almost impossible due to the remoteness of the area.
Kerr, Kendall and Comal Counties in the Southwest Texas Hill Country, near San Antonio, New Braunfels and Kerrville. The river flows from near Kerrville in Kendall County down to Canyon Lake in Comal County, then from Canyon Lake down to the Gulf of Mexico.
Kerrville 15 miles; San Antonio 60 miles; Austin 75 miles; Houston 240 miles; Dallas 280 miles (all distances are approximate and depend upon starting point, destination point on the river and route taken.)
The water quality in the Upper Guadalupe is generally very good. However, it will become muddy after recent local rainfall, and may become cluttered with debris during flood stage conditions. Water will become stagnant during the dog days of summer unless there is adequate rainfall to keep the water flowing.
Early Spring to late June is generally best, followed by late September through early November. With proper cold weather gear the Upper Guad can be enjoyably paddled in the winter when temperatures are permissible and adequate flow is available. Summer paddling is fun when there has been adequate recent rainfall, but expect some dragging, especially in the small rapids, when flows are below about 100 cfs. Expect hot temperatures from June through September. This IS Texas, ya'll!
The upper section of the Guad is generally free of major rapids and drops, but low hanging tree limbs, log jams (especially after floods) and shallow rocky chutes can pose problems resulting in bodily injury or damage to boats and gear. When in doubt - ALWAYS SCOUT! Summer temperatures should be considered a hazard if proper precautions are not taken. Always have protective clothing, sunscreen and plenty of non-alcoholic liquids to prevent dehydration. The Mill Road Crossing has an old low-water bridge which is partially washed out, with a swift, narrow channel running along the left bank around the old crossing. This channel may be clogged with downed trees or other debris, so scout it carefully before attempting to run the Mill Road Crossing.
Brinks Crossing, on river left immediately below the crossing (where a large rock shelf affords temporary parking with adequate room for loading or unloading boats and gear) at 0.0 miles; Highway 480 Crossing in Center Point at about 2.7 miles; FM 1350 Crossing east of Center Point at about 5.0 miles; Roane Road Crossing at about 6.9 miles; Lane Valley Road Crossing at about 8.5 miles; Stieler Crossing at about 9.3 miles; Hermansons Camp Road Crossing at about 11.2 miles; Mill Road Crossing at about 12.1 miles; Seidensticker Crossing, about 4.8 miles below Comfort and IH 10, at about 19.5 miles. Access is adequate at most crossings, but the availability of public parking is very limited. Please be considerate of others when accessing the river, and always park your vehicles where they do not block river access for others. Never park on private property without securing permission from landowners.
There are no public or private campgrounds along the upper section of the Upper Guadalupe River. Primitive camping is available in the City Park in downtown Center Point, just off Highway 480. Improved camping is available at Kerrville-Schreiner State Park on the Guadalupe River at the intersection of Loop 534 and Highway 173, above Brinks Crossing. The State Park features screened shelters, restrooms, dump stations (for trailers), 120 camp sites, water, electricity and a recreation hall with kitchen facilities. Camping along the river may be done on private property, but ONLY with the advance permission of the landowners on whose property you would be camping. If camping on private land or in a public park always leave only footprints and take on photographs. You should always leave the area cleaner than how you found it!
Rentals and shuttles are available from at least one outfitter on the headwaters reach of the Guadalupe River, as well as at least two others located not too far away on the Medina River.
I have paddled the Upper Guadalupe more miles than probably all other rivers I have paddled combined over a period of about ten years. During that time I have witnessed many changes in the character of this river. Land development is starting to creep toward the river, especially along the sections closer to Canyon Lake in Comal County, but also in Kendall County to a lesser degree. The Upper Guad is my personal favorite river to paddle because it is serenely beautiful, seldom crowded, and offers an enjoyable paddle trip for almost any paddler. There are some good Class II drops on the Upper Guad, and at high water levels some of them can become Class III ratings. The Upper Guad is a pool-and-drop river typical of most Texas rivers. I have paddled the Upper Guad in the heat of the summer, cold of winter and all times in between (if there are any times in between!) The giant Cypress trees that line this river make for a beautiful paddling experience in the spring and fall, when the grasses are green and the trees are in full bloom. I highly recommend this river for anybody wanting to experience the joys of canoeing and kayaking, though it is somewhat less suitable for rafting and tubing than the Lower Guad due to the distance between put-in and take-out points (for tubers) and the general lack of any fast-moving water which makes rafting fun. The upper section is also considerably narrower that the middle and lower sections of the Upper Guad, running shallower and slower than the other sections. Headwinds can be a real challenge unless the water is moving, so plan trip distances according to flow rate and wind conditions for the most enjoyable paddle trip.
