During the hot summer days there is one pastime in Texas Hill Country that keeps the heat at bay and brings friends and family together: river tubing. This official pastime is a top activity during the hot summers in Texas. With beautiful scenery and cool water, the rivers each hold their own unique appeal to why you should tube there rather than somewhere else.
From the short Comal to massive Guadalupe, the rivers of Texas Hill Country offer a variety of fun tubing experiences. Whether you’re looking to just float at a relaxing and slow pace, be adventurous with rapids, or find fun with friends, these Texas rivers are for you.
(Photo Credit: Shanty Tubes Pinterest)
Guadalupe River
The Guadalupe River is “possibly the most popular tubing spot in America” according to Thrillist.com. With the Comal River feeding into the Guadalupe, it has a lot of traffic from visitors. It also has something for everyone, from rapids to gentle, lazy floats. And did we mention drinking is legal while you’re floating? What could be better?
(Photo Credit: bortloff/Flickr)
Comal River
The Comal is the shortest river to tube in Texas. The Comal feeds into the Guadalupe, and with it being shorter, has a more smooth, relaxing feel rather than adventurous with rapids. The fun to be had on the Comal is the Tube Chute which creates a lot of laughs from those who ride. Being in the same town as the Guadaulpe, it’s no shock that both rivers are highly popular.
(Photo Credit: Aaron Baltierra/Flickr)
San Marcos River
The San Marcos is the go-to river for all the college kids from Austin. Just down the road from Austin, it’s not shocking that the river is known for it’s wild atmosphere, and harmless partying. With flat smooth water, the river is perfect for floating and drinking and having a good ol’ time with friends.
(Photo Credit: John Wootton/Flickr)
Frio River
The Frio (yes the same one that George Strait sings about in his hit ‘All My Ex’s Live In Texas’) is a 47 mile long river with secluded beauty, clear water, and enormous cypress trees. This is the river that is known for it’s vast changes as you float along enjoying the cool water on a warm day. The Frio is the gem of Texas, and is also known for it’s swimming holes, (Neal’s Swimming Hole and Blue Hole being just two popular swimming locations).
(Photo Credit: oliviadehavilland.net Brazos River Cabins)
Brazos River
Last but not least, the Brazos. The Brazos is a slow moving, “flatwater” river. There are very few rapids, so it’s just a smooth ride for those who don’t like the adventurous rapids of other rivers. Sadly, this river is dependent on a lake, so if water is not being released from the lake, the water levels of the river can drop drastically, and the river is known to be “low and slow” in late summer.
