The Medina River is a short, narrow, beautiful river that is reminescent of the Upper Guadalupe because of the physical nature of its topography. Starting in northwest Bandera County, it winds about 116 miles through Bandera, Medina and Bexar Counties to its confluence with the San Antonio River just southeast of the City of San Antonio. The Medina is a narrow river averaging about 30-40 feet wide and is lined with Bald Cypress trees, though not nearly as many as before the flood of 2002. Nearby, Live Oak and rugged Cedar are abundant. The Medina cuts through limestone bluffs and outcroppings with abundant free-flowing springs to feed the river, especially after heavy rains. With no prominent hazards to fear almost anybody can enjoy this gorgeous river as long as they are prepared for a very tight, technical stream with sharp turns and debris piles. The river demands strong control skills and good decision-making about when to scout and portage, both of which are occasionally necessary. However, all property adjacent to the river is privately owned, so stay in the river channel and do NOT trespass on private land. Texas 16 runs alongside the river most of the way, but is a little-traveled road that, most of the time, you will not know is there. The rapids are small (Class I-II) and the real challenges on the Medina are making those tight technical turns. Long boats (over 14 feet) are not recommended due to difficulty making sharp "S" and "Z" turns that are fairly frequent on the short 29.6 miles of the river where paddlers generally prefer to go. Covered wagon tracks are embedded into the limestone river bottom from the 1800's.
Bandera and Medina Counties in the Southwest Texas Hill Country, near Fredericksburg and Kerrville. The river flows from near Lost Maples State Park in Bandera County down to the San Antonio River in Bexar County just south of downtown San Antonio, with Lake Medina located on the Bandera-Medina County line. Most paddling is done on stretch between Medina and Bandera Falls, just above Medina Lake.
Kerrville 24 miles; San Antonio 45 miles; Austin 120 miles; Houston 275 miles; Dallas 330 miles (all distances are approximate and depend upon starting point, destination point on the river and route taken.)
The water quality in the Medina River is generally very good, running clean and clear most of the time. 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, and some walking may be required, so wear good shoes.
Early Spring to late June is generally best, followed by late September through early November. The Medina depends upon flow from springs and local rain runoff, so expect less than desirable conditions during prolonged droughts. 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 Medina 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. Several low-water bridges cross the river all along this reach, and caution should be exercised when approaching them. Most are not runnable due to insufficient water in the landing zones below them. Look for the best portage around the bridges. If the flow is high enough to avoid portages, then it is probably too high to safely paddle the river. Swift currents in high-water conditions make navigation difficult for experienced boaters and probably impossible for those with less experience. At flows above about 200 cfs the swift currents can carry a lazy paddler into trouble before he or she has time to recover. 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.
Patterson Avenue Bridge off Texas 16 just southwest of Medina at 0.0 miles; County road crossing off Texas 16 at 2.0 miles; Texas 16 crossing just below the FM 2828 intersection at 3.0 miles; Peaceful Valley Road bridge off FM 2828, just downriver from Winans Creek at 8.0 miles; Ranger Crossing (roadside park) off Texas 16, about 4 river miles below Peaceful Valley Road, at 12.0 miles; Roadside park at FM 470 at 12.5 miles; Hudspeth (City) Park in Bandera, between Silver Spur bridge and the dam, at 17.5 miles (Do NOT run the dam if bouys are stretched across the river due to a strong hydraulic current that has taken more than a few lives over the years); FM 689 crossing at 17.6 miles; English Crossing (FM 1077) crossing at 28.6 miles; Ruede's Camp on river left, just below Bandera Falls and English Crossing, at 29.6 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.
Pioneer River Resort (866-371-3751), located at 1202 Maple Street and SH 173, offers tent and RV camping, a swimming pool, hot tub, showers, flush toilets, a banquet hall, camp store and other amenities on the banks of the Medina River in downtown Bandera. Adjacent to the Patterson Street bridge is a small, shaded area with very limited camping space. The roadside parks below Peaceful Valley Road and at FM 470 (road to Tarpley) are available for camping with limited areas. Jellystone Park in Bandera is a privately owned campground and RV park at Hwy. 173 and the river. If camping on private land or in a public park always leave only footprints and take only photographs. You should always leave the area cleaner than how you found it!
There are at least five or six known commercial outfitters offering rentals, shuttles and/or river information on or near the Medina River in the vicinity of the Towns of Medina and Bandera.
The Medina is a gem of a river, and trips here have always been among my favorites. What the Medina lacks in big drops and technical water is more than offset by the scenic beauty and the solitude one finds on the river. Except for the area near Pioneer River Resort (formerly Jellystone Park), or during the annual Medina River Cleanup, I have never seen any other boaters on the river when I was there. You just have to catch the Medina after a good local rainfall, when the flow is above 150 cfs for the most enjoyable trip.
The Medina River has numerous Class I to II rapids and a couple of small waterfall drops. Most of these rapids are located between Hudspeth Park (Bandera City Park) and English Crossing. Some are tight and somewhat technical, so caution needs to be exercised. Boat scouting is usually adequate. The river is lined with giant, bald cypress trees that shade the river channel most of the time. There are places where the river flows fairly straight for long distances under the canopies of those trees. Access is great, and people in the area are very friendly, especially to boaters.
Beware of the Medina River in flood stage. Its tight, technical turns and the potential for strainers can be hazardous at flows over 300 cfs. It is imperative that you take care not to trespass on private property except with advance permission from landowners. Almost all property abutting the river is privately owned except at county or state road rights-of-way.
