Sunscreen (put it on before you get here), a hat that ties on, water shoes or old sneakers, a water bottle, and a dry towel in the car. Leave your phone in the car or bring a waterproof pouch that you have tested in a sink first. Every August someone learns their "waterproof" pouch wasn't.
Yes, in a cooler tube ($12–15, required). Cans and plastic only — glass is banned by county ordinance and the fine is $500. No styrofoam coolers either; they crack on the first rapid and we spend September picking white crumbs out of the reeds. Hard-sided coolers up to 48 quarts fit our tubes.
Kids 8 and up do fine in tubes at normal flow. Under 8, take a raft — they sit inside with you instead of in their own tube. Every kid under 13 wears a lifejacket, ours are free in all sizes including toddler. If flow is above 400 CFS we'll recommend rafts for anyone under 12, and above 500 we stop renting to families with young kids entirely.
Cubic feet per second — how much water is moving past you, controlled mostly by Canyon Dam upstream. Under 100 CFS you'll scrape gravel and paddle a lot. 150–350 is the sweet spot. Above 500 the river's pushy and we shorten trips. Above 700 we close. We post the number every morning at 7:30 on the News page and at the counter.
At 200 CFS, about 2.5–3 hours from our ramp to the fourth crossing. At 120 CFS it's closer to 4 and you'll paddle. At 350 it's under 2. The counter staff will give you today's honest estimate — it's their job to know.
Lightning within 10 miles clears the river — our buses sweep the crossings and pick everyone up. Full refund or rain check if we close, your choice. Texas summer storms usually blow through in an hour, so a lot of people just wait it out at the pavilion and go back in.
Weekdays, no — walk up any time before 3pm. Summer Saturdays, strongly recommended. July 4th week, required, no exceptions, we mean it. Book by phone or the contact form.
In a raft or canoe, yes, if she's the kind of dog who's okay with water and strangers. In a tube, we don't recommend it — claws and tubes disagree, and the mid-float rapids are stressful for most dogs. Water for dogs is free at the outpost and the pavilion is shaded.
At the outpost, and yes. One lot, 300 spaces, no shuttle-to-your-car nonsense at the end of the day — the bus drops you back where you parked. On July 4th weekend we open the overflow field next door.
Light rain, sure — you're getting wet anyway and the river's empty. Off-season (October to April) the office is open weekdays for group bookings, and we'll do private kayak rentals for experienced paddlers if flow and weather cooperate. Call ahead.
On the river, yes, in cans, in a cooler tube, if you're 21+. TABC and county deputies patrol on busy weekends and they check coolers at the crossings. Be smart: the combination of sun, water and a twelve-pack ends more floats early than the weather does. Our drivers can refuse boarding to anyone who can't board safely.