We kayaked the San Marcos River from San Marcos to Martindale. This is a great trip for a beginner that lives or is visiting Austin or San Antonio.
Overview
This was a pretty easy route and we’re beginners. It was about fours hours total. I’d say it was between 8 and 10 miles. Don’t let that discourage you, though. You are going with a current, and there are several spots to take out before our take-out spot if you want a shorter route. The water is fed from Edwards Aquafer, so it stays flowing all year. There were 3 portage spots (places where we took the kayak out and walked around.) We’ll go in-depth about those later on in the post. We took an inflatable kayak, but there are kayak rental places all over San Marcos. We didn’t have a guide or anything as it’s off-season and had a blast! We had a reception the entire time and were able to see what was coming our way. I added Google Pins so you can plot your route beforehand.
Where to Put-In
We put in at the Ramon Lucio Park. There is a small parking lot on the Southeast side to park in and it’s only about a 300 ft walk to input your kayak. Parking is free and you bypass the Rio Vista Dam. There was a ton of construction right there when we went. You can take the path from the parking lot to the water entrance, and then there are a few steps to go down.
Here is the Google Maps pin. There will be one for every location I put on here. This way, you will be able to see your trip dams, ect prior to going
https://goo.gl/maps/PnJuHWCVrgHTieMd6
Where to Take-Out
We took our kayaks out at the Shady Grove Campground. Immediately after the 1979 bridge, there is a dock to the right. You can drive your vehicle pretty close, so there won’t be that long of a carry. There is a $5 per person parking/pull-out fee. It’s an honor system during the off-season, and all they take is cash or check. The check-in box is at the house when you first pull in, just next to the door. We took a bike and parked it here and then parked our car up at the top. It turns out that the roads returning to San Marcos aren’t made for cyclists, and we recommend taking two cars if you have them.
Here is the Google Maps pin:
https://goo.gl/maps/dC5cesEK4HVfG6cc6
Portage Spots
There were 3 spots that we decided to pull out and walk around. All of them had “Danger Dam” signs. Here is are what/ where they are, so you can plan for them.
Cape’s Dam
Just a few minutes after getting started, you’ll see the danger signs to the left. Pull out on the cement black sticking out right before and walk around to the left. You’ll be getting in about thigh-high to cross a stream and get to the other side. Keep this in mind for cold temperatures.
Here is the pin
https://goo.gl/maps/t2Txy4dbQviiBBik7
Unnamed Dam
The next dam didn’t have a name on google maps, you will be able to see the old building before you get there. This dam is about an hour and a half from the last one depending on the current. Either way, you will have some time and there is a picture below to see what to look for. We portaged this one to the left as well. You can go around the building and under what’s left of a bridge to it.
Here is the Google Pin
https://goo.gl/maps/bB7ciQLLZXQ3kdNj6
Martindale Dam
Our last portage was Martindale Dam. This one is about 3 miles from the finish. You will hear the water and see a red brick house and barn that looks abandoned, a small dam building, and a silver water tower all to the left. Potage to the right here. There is a short bridge right after you get back in. It looks crazy, but we made it with titling our heads back and not paddling. If it looks like it’s a bit much, you can portage here as well.
Here is the pin on Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/fFyLhuuafitygiAV7
Best Time to Go
Since this is a pretty popular tubing route, the best time to go is after the summer crowds die down, but before it gets too cold. Luckily in Texas, we have warm days throughout the winter. The spring is probably a great time as well. Be sure to look up water levels and the possibility of flooding when you decide to go.
Tips
Check the weather. Area can flood quickly.
Bring wet weather gear if you are going in the fall/ winter. A 75 degree day turns cold quickly after the sun goes behind the trees
Bring water and snacks. This is a four hour adventure.
Wear sunglasses and a hat. we defiently kayaked into a few branches along the way; although, it’s nothing you won’t see tubing.
Bring a life jacket if you aren’t a great swimmer.
Feel free to reach out to us at Dezswayoflife@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Until next time,
Dez and Jordan
