Floating the Guadalupe

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Folks if ever there was a time to don a bathing suit and a ton of sunscreen and float down the Guadalupe this is it.

Yesterday my friend Bonnie, her two wonderful daughters and their two young friends all headed to New Braunfels. What a great day!

The key to toobing on the Guadalupe is the release number from Canyon Dam. The dam feeds the Guadalupe and how much water they're releasing determines how fast you float and how full the river is.

Yesterday the release was 565 CFS. GREAT! There have been years when the release was 200 CFS. And that's no fun. You have to paddle the whole way. I must admit if it had been a great deal more it might have gotten scary. But as it was, 565 is just about perfect.

It was the best float trip I've been on in years. We were on the river for about 2.5 hours. Long enough to enjoy going over a couple of spillways, some rapids and some lazy lounging as well.

Thanks to the rain we've had in recent months the Guadalupe is nice and full and the release from Canyon Dam ensures a fun trip. Unlike canoeing or kayaking, tubing doesn't take any special skill. While canoeists may have to strain to keep their canoe straight and kayakers battle the current, tubers just have to make sure their beer doesn't spill. There's no great talent or experience needed. The river just takes you along. So if you've never tubed before don't worry - just try it!

Now's the time! And going during the week is a real plus. All the toob rental/shuttle places are open but the river isn't clogged with beer swilling yahoos.

Speaking of toob rental/shuttle places we picked River Sports Tubes. But there are bunch of places. Just Google Guadalupe river tubing. It costs about $15 a person and that includes everything.

To go tubing on the Guad you hit IH 35 south and go to New Braunfels. There are a number of areas you can tube. Most are off FM 306 or River Road. When you get to the provider you've chosen you park, don your suit and grab your ice chest.

The price of the tube rental usually includes parking, the tube and shuttle service. You can rent an extra tube for your ice chest. NO GLASS OR STYROFOAM on the river. So, grab your tube, slather the sunscreen and jump in!

Each of the tubing rental places have "take out" points where they'll pick you up at the end of your float and take you back to your car. They have it down to a science and it's easy and fun.

Judging from the river yesterday I'd say that kids no younger than 8 or 9 who can swim should go. The tube rental places DO provide life jackets and the river is not very deep. But taking a very small child might not be a great idea. You can ask when you call the rental place.

This is a link to a map of the river and some of the tube rental providers.

So...I recommend you take a vacation day, grab kids and friends and get floatin'. And if you're going and need another person I might be available!
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