Pedernales

1. Hye to Johnson City (16.7 miles)

Reach banner
DifficultyII-IV
Length16.6 mi
Avg Gradient16 fpm
GaugePedernales Rv Nr Fredericksburg, Tx
Flow Rate as of 24 minutes
24 cfsbelow recommended
Reach Info Last UpdatedJuly 12, 2015

River Description

The Upper Perd doesn't go very often, but when it goes, it goes big.  The river bed is extraordinarily wide (often well over 100 yards), so even thousands of cfs on this run will still be surprisingly shallow.  Many whitewater boaters won't bother with this stretch until it gets near 10,000 cfs.  For more specific beta, see Texas Whitewater.  Difficulty rating and range of recommended flow are taken from the book.

Distances and gradient measured using GIS tools in 2015.

River Features

Roadside park along RM 1

Distance: 0 mi
Access Point
Roadside park along RM 1

RM 1320 Low-Water Crossing (Sandy Crossing)

Distance: 3.53 mi
Access Point
Portage
Hazard
RM 1320 Low-Water Crossing (Sandy Crossing)

Known to be hazardous at high water.  Limited parking available along the highway right-of-way at river right.

Levi Deike Ln (Low-Head Dam/Low-Water Crossing)

Distance: 5.11 mi
Other
Levi Deike Ln (Low-Head Dam/Low-Water Crossing)

Runnability unknown (current beta needed)

Low-Head Dam

Distance: 5.28 mi
Hazard
Low-Head Dam

Runnability unknown

Low-Head Dam

Distance: 5.58 mi
Other
Low-Head Dam

Runnability unknown

North Grape Creek Confluence

Distance: 9.66 mi
Other
North Grape Creek Confluence

Reference point

U.S. 281 Bridge

Distance: 16.4 mi
Other
U.S. 281 Bridge

Reference point

LCRA Pedernales River Nature Park

Distance: 16.7 mi
Access Point
LCRA Pedernales River Nature Park

Public parking/access at river right

Trip Reports

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CP
Carolyn Peterson

May 20, 2016

A local said it is runnable if it is at least touching the bridge. This correlated with about 7000 cfs on the USGS gauge site.