Guadalupe (Lower), TX

Gauge Information

River Description

The put-in is at First Crossing (Dam 6 on River Road), which can be accessed by taking River Road from Gruene or New Braunfels. The first rapid on the run is Hueco Springs, the most challenging route is river-right (there is a sneak far-right next to the bank), at high water the rock in the middle is completely submerged which creates an intimidating hole. There is a wave train river-left which is a nice surf wave above 2500 CFS. The next feature on this stretch is Slumber Falls which cuts river-right, at lower water levels there is a surf wave and typically a nice wave train to practice enders and wave wheels, but at higher water the feature washes out. The next rapid is Slant Wave which is run on river-left, Slant is a great surf wave when the water is 1500-3500 CFS. The smaller wave on river-right is also a lot of fun when the line of boaters in the eddy waiting for Slant is too long. Next up is Truman Falls (Clutter Rapid), the river flow cuts to the left and creates a chute of fast moving water over several large boulders. During the summer months kayakers can be found at the bottom of this rapid watching the tuber carnage as they attempt to navigate this tricky rapid. After short flat-water paddle you will go through a boulder garden known as Gruene Rapid, there is usually a large audience cheering you on at the biker bar on river right. Gruene Rapid is a great place to practice eddy ferries, bow stalls, stern squirts, and peel-outs. The low water crossing should be portaged to river-right. Many boaters end there run here due to the ample parking and easy shuttle service. However for those wishing to continue on there is one additional rapid known as Dog Leg. Once past dog leg you will come to the Common Street Wave, as the name implies, the wave just upstream from the Common Street Bridge in New Braunfels. Common Street wave is a popular park-and-play spot.