Mexican Creek

Mexican Creek is used as a natural outflow for the Medina Lake spillway.  When the Edwards Aquifer is high, the creek can maintain a consistent spring-fed base flow for long periods of time.  When Medina Lake is above conservation pool and water flows over the spillway into Mexican Creek, the creek becomes a hard-core Class IV+/V run that require significant whitewater experience and a bomb-proof roll.  Given the difficulty involved with accessing it and running it safely at those levels, paddlers have recommended that first-timers go with paddlers who have run it before.  Mexican Creek tends to be shallow and have few eddies, and to quote Texas Whitewater, 'a swim here would be like being dragged over a cheese grater after having gone through a wash cycle-- repeatedly.'  Texas Whitewater suggests being comfortable with classic IV+ runs, such as The Numbers or Five Falls of Chatooga Section IV, as prerequisites.  Refer to the book for further beta.

To determine if Mexican Creek is running, check the USGS gauge for Medina Lake.  'Texas Whitewater' suggests that 0.1' over the spillway (1064.3') corresponds to 125 cfs (low) and 0.5' over the spillway (1064.7') corresponds to 600 cfs (high.)  Beta from other paddlers suggests a lake level of 1064.4-1064.7' as a first-time level, then work up from there.  Only a handful of pro-level boaters have ever run Mexican Creek above 1065'.

Note: Medina Lake near San Antonio is experiencing historically low water levels, as of January 2025, the lake is reported to be only about 2% full, the lowest it has been in at least 60 years. This is due to a combination of factors including severe drought conditions, increased evaporation from the lake's surface, seepage of water into the Edwards Aquifer, plus various water management issues. Currently it's been over 5 years since the lake surface was h

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