The primary source for the river is a series of springs in northern Kendall County. The river flows generally eastward for 87 miles (140 km) through Kendall County, Blanco County and Hays County. Near San Marcos, it takes a southerly turn and joins with the San Marcos River. While paddling you'll witness dramatic green - tree filled outcrops and rocky bluffs.
The river is dammed in more than ninety places, and Texas state law has ceded ownership of most of the riverbed to private landholders. Keep a lookout for no trespassing signs and warnings. Always respect private land ownership!
The river is generally quite shallow, and it briefly dips below ground in some areas in the Hill Country. As with many of the rivers in the Texas Hill Country, there is great variability in the Blanco River's flow.
A Poem from our Trip:
In Springtime, when the earth awakens to life, and upstream snowmelt feeds the rivers, clear and cold.
A pack raft calls, its essence like a knife, to cut a path through rapids wild and bold.
The thaw has brought the forest back to green, and birdsong fills the air with sweet delight,
As paddles dip and splash, a rhythmic scene, A dance upon the water, day or night.
The world around, a symphony of sound, The roar of falls, the rustling of the trees,
As through the canyon walls we all resound, In harmony with nature's melodies.
So let us take our pack rafts to the stream, And revel in the magic of this dream.
Holding our breath, let us enjoy this time, moment by moment, the heat is coming and soon we will melt just like the springtime snow that feeds our passion for the water.
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