Pecan Park Retreat

Known as the "River of the Innocents" to the Spanish Monks who "discovered" her, the San Marcos is one of the largest spring fed rivers in Texas. Average flow at the headwaters (known as the Aquarena Springs) is 130 cubic feet per second, and even during the driest of summers there has always been sufficient water for canoeing and other water sports. It is recognized as one of the most unique ecosystems in the world, with several endangered species living in its cool, 72 degree waters.

Canoeing or Kayaking the San Marcos

It is a great river for beginners because it has enough current to keep it interesting but rarely so much that it is dangerous. We always recommend that folks begin at City Park in San Marcos and end up at our campground. That is a six-mile trip and involves mostly flat water with just a few swift places. It generally takes about five to six hours which allows time for basic instruction and lunch. The most dangerous places on the river are the dams (three between San Marcos and Pecan Park Retreat). Only the first, Rio Vista Falls, which is now a series of three rapids, is runnable (for whitewater boaters only)- the others should be portaged. As always, it is important to have someone along who is familiar with the river, and the group should be kept together to avoid misplacing someone.

If folks decide to continue downstream from our campground (and any section downstream of us should be for whitewater boaters only) they may choose from a trip to Sculls Crossing (4 miles); Martindale (6 miles); or Staples (11 miles). Downstream trips involve whitewater. One should always check on river conditions and/or have someone along who is familiar with the stretch of river being run. Talk to us if in doubt.

Tubing the San Marcos River: The best tubing on the San Marcos River is the upper river (City Park to Rio Vista Rapids) and the section of river from our campground down to Sculls crossing.

The upper tubing stretch is approximately one mile long and takes about one hour. San Marcos Lion's Club operates a tube rental at City Park, as well as a shuttle service (they call it the river taxi service) by which they haul you back to City Park from Rio Vista Rapids.

If you choose to tube in the vicinity of our campground, there are several options. The easiest trip is to tube from one end of our campground to the other, which takes approximately thirty minutes. To do that, you merely carry your tube to site 20 where you launch, and then you float to site 8 where you take out

If you choose to go downstream to Sculls Crossing (four miles-approximately 4 hours), you will have to move your pick up vehicle(s) downstream before your trip (be sure to ask us about parking at Sculls), or you will have to have someone meet you there.

Under no circumstances should a person attempt to tube from San Marcos to Pecan Park Retreat. Cumming's Dam, located approximately 1.5 miles upstream from Pecan Park causes a long lake - not difficult for a canoe to traverse, but too long and slow for a tube. Persons who have attempted to tube from town to Pecan Park have taken as long as twelve hours and were impossible to distinguish from white prunes once they got here.

Tubes are available from the San Marcos Lion's Club at City Park. 512-396-5466.

Be sure to check out the Activities Page to see other river related activities.

Private Property

The land along the San Marcos River is privately owned. Stay in the river between your put-in and take-out points, and be sure you know the section of river your are running. When in doubt, ask us beforehand.

River Trip Distances and times:

Canoe or Kayak Trips

Route	Distance (miles)	Average Time (hours)
City Park to Pecan Park Retreat	6	3
Thompson's Island to Pecan Park	4	2
Pecan Park to Scull's	4	2
Pecan Park to Martindale	6	3
Pecan Park to Staples	11	6

Tube Trips

Route	Distance (miles)	Average Time (hours)
City Park to Rio Vista Dam	1	1
City Park to Thompson's Island	2	2
County Rd. 101 to Pecan Park	1	1
Pecan Park to Scull's	4	4

A Mile by Mile Canoe or Kayak Guide to the Upper San Marcos River (by Tom Goynes)

.75 Mile: Rio Vista Falls. Have everyone pull in on the left side. I usually have them dock sideways and then I pull all the canoes out of the water and park them perpendicular to the wall (take up little space). Show the group the slot. Emphasize that only one canoe at a time is to be on the water approaching the slot. Kneeling is very important here. Life Jackets essential. Station one man on each side of the second and third slots (be careful, the current is strong) to make sure that folks don't get stuck broadside in the second or third slots. These guys will also be available to catch the swamped boats and to direct traffic to the bank, and to tie up and bail any water out of the boats. There are some logs in the river immediately below the bridge. Emphasize leaving the rapids one canoe at a time, making sure the lead canoe has cleared the obstacles before the next canoe starts.

1 Mile: IH 35

1.25 Mile: Cape's Dam (beginning of Thompson's Island). Not a runnable dam (at least, not safe for open canoes). Have everyone pull in on the tip of the island (there is some concrete there). Pull the canoes out as they arrive to make room for the next one. Portage to the calm water at the end of the concrete. Go down the right channel. There will be some small rapids as you approach the bridge. Watch for a very large Bald cypress tree on the left, very impressive.

2 Miles: Cape's road (a small bridge over the river). Immediately upstream of the bridge on the left side, there is an old Sycamore stump that leans out over the channel. Canoes tend to be pulled into it sideways (I've seen lots of folks turn over, but never seen anyone hurt or a canoe damaged). Good place for them to learn the importance of reading the current. If you want to avoid the flips in the first place you should station a man above the tree to direct traffic to the right. Lots of current in this area. It is a hard place for novices to find a parking place - but that's life. Just downstream of the bridge there are some limbs to dodge and even a rock in the middle of the river. If you plan to eat lunch in this area (the island, downstream of the bridge, is state property - John Stokes Park) I would pick the first good parking place on the left that you can find (it will be right across from the discharge point for the state fish hatchery - some water coming into the river on the right side).

2.5 Miles: The river will slow down. Lots of trees to dodge.

4.5 Miles: Blanco River enters on the left. I would recommend waiting here for the stragglers to catch up (also make sure that no one beats you to this point). Once you have everyone there warn them to stay to the right as they approach Cumming's Dam.

5 Miles: Cumming's Dam (tower on left side). Very dangerous dam. Don't shoot it. Don't let the kids dive off it. Don't paddle back up toward the waterfall to "surf" - stay away from the hydraulic. We always pull out on the right (on the gravel bar) then I send most of the guys down the trail to the bottom. Dump the canoes that have lots of water. Then have at least three guys, one on each side and one to work the stern rope lift the canoes over the dam and slide them down the buttress. The folks at the bottom will be moving them out of the way.

5.5 Miles: Westerfield Crossing

6 Miles: Pecan Park Retreat. Take out at the gravel bar where the yellow take-out sign is and carry the canoes up the hill.