You can’t say you have enjoyed or experienced Texas until you have spent at least 2 hours or more on the beautiful, cool, and clear Guadalupe River. It doesn’t get much better than toobing, kayaking, or rafting down the Guadalupe River with 1000’s of your new found friends, on a hot day, with a tube full of cool beverages. And then after some good times rafting the river, you need to get ready for a good time rocking and rolling to great music.
The other option and Texas Outside’s Favorite is to raft/tube the section of the Guadalupe River just below the Canyon Lake Dam. Hideout on the Horseshoe “takes roughing it” out of staying in the Guadalupe River area – they have some outstanding accommodations on a bluff overlooking the river and the surrounding hill country. Another great choice for cabins, tent camping, or RVs is Rio Raft. They have some good sites and cabins along the banks of the river and a complete rental service (tubes, rafts, kayaks) and shuttle service – they’ll take you up river and you can float right back to your cabin or campsite. Then you can walk to Jazzy’s on the River for some fantastic BBQ. Here is a review of Rio Raft.
There are plenty of tube, raft, and kayak rentals in the area – most of which have shuttle services and trips of various lengths. The Guadalupe River is very popular during the summer months so be prepared for lots of fellow tubers out to have a good time. You need to also check with the outfitter about the alcohol rules for the stretch of water you plan to tube. Do not bring glass and make sure you pick up your trash – keep the river clean. Be aware that in several spots on the river you will find river cops in the middle of the river looking for glass, DWT’s (drunk while toobing), littering, and underage drinking.
After toobing, you need to contiue Rockin’ & Rollin” to some live music at River Road Ice House – a great venue with fun crowds and some of the best Texas bands around. River Road Ice is a very fun bar, with an outdoor stage, picnic tables on the grass, lively and friendly crowd, and excellent bands like Cory Morrow, Roger Creager, Honeybrown, Kevin Deal, Jack Ingram, and Jason Borland just to mention a few names.
Besides tubing, rafting, or kayaking the Guadalupe River, there are a number of other fun things to see and do in the area, some of which include:
- boat, fish, dive, swim, or just enjoy the view of Canyon Lake
- have a very good diner at Jazzy’s Restaurant
- hike the trail along the Guadalupe River at the base of the Canyon Lake dam and then stop by the Dam Red Barn for drinks, pool, shuffleboard, and karaoke
- take a drive along the scenic River Road which meanders through the hill country and along the Guadalupe River
- explore New Braunfels, Wimberly, or San Marcos
- hit the links at some of the nearby courses – our favorite is The Bandit which is a Texas Outside Top Ten Favorite course
Live.Play.Enjoy…..Rock, Roll, Ride the Guadalupe River