Tubing the Guadalupe River Below Canyon Lake: A Planning Guide
Where to tube the Guadalupe below Canyon Dam, how outfitter shuttles work, how to check river flow, and the local rules on glass, foam and life jackets.
Tubing the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake is the classic summer day out in this part of the Hill Country. You rent a tube, ride a shuttle, and drift for a few hours under cypress trees in water that comes out of the bottom of Canyon Dam. This guide covers where people tube, how the outfitters work, how to check the flow before you go, and the rules on this stretch of river. If you are staying with us at Sienna Ridge RV Park, on FM 306 on the north side of Canyon Lake, the outfitters at the Horseshoe are a short drive away.
Where do people tube below Canyon Lake?
The tubing stretch starts at Canyon Dam and runs downstream toward New Braunfels. River Road, which Visit New Braunfels describes as a roughly 10-mile road between Canyon Lake Dam and Loop 337, follows the river through this section and gives access to campgrounds, swimming holes and tubing outfitters along the way.
What is the Horseshoe?
The Horseshoe is a loop in the river near FM 306. American Whitewater’s guide to the Canyon Dam to First Crossing reach places two FM 306 crossings at the top and bottom of the Horseshoe. Because you get in and out near the same road, it is a popular short float. Some outfitters let you run the loop as many times as you like in a day.
Can you put in on your own?
Mostly, no. American Whitewater lists public lots on either side of the Canyon Dam outlet. For the FM 306 crossings, 4th Crossing and 2nd Crossing, it lists no public parking and says to arrange access through an outfitter. The land along the banks is private, too. River Sports Tubes warns that once you start tubing, you can’t stop along the way, and the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) lists no trespassing among its river laws. Plan to start and finish where your outfitter tells you.
How do the tube outfitters work?
Outfitters along FM 306 and River Road rent tubes, give you a place to park, and shuttle you between the put-in and take-out. Our rentals list includes Guadalupe River tube outfitters along River Road for this reason.
As one example, River Sports Tubes has two locations on FM 306 and says it sits in the middle of the Horseshoe Loop. Its site describes three trips:
- Short Float: the Horseshoe Loop, as many laps as you like until closing, with a float time of half an hour to 2 hours depending on river levels.
- Medium Float: about 1.5 miles from the end of the Horseshoe to just past the 4th Crossing bridge, 2 to 4 hours.
- Long Float: both together, about 2.5 miles and 3 to 6 hours.
Trip times depend on how much water is in the river. When we checked in October 2026, its site said only the Horseshoe float was available because of low water. It also lists a minimum age of 5, one shuttle trip included with a rental, and a last launch time of 5 PM. Prices, hours and trip options change, so check the outfitter’s site or call before you go.
From the park, River Sports Tubes’ main location at 12034 FM 306 is about 5 miles away, roughly a 10-minute drive.
How do you check the river flow?
The Guadalupe below the dam is a released river. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) posts the forecasted Canyon Reservoir release on its conditions page. American Whitewater explains that GBRA controls releases when the lake is at 909 feet or below. When floods push the lake above 909 feet, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes control.
To see what the river is actually doing, look at the USGS gauge Guadalupe River at Sattler (site 08167800), which USGS operates with GBRA. The WORD homepage also shows the latest Sattler reading. Flow is given in cubic feet per second (cfs).
What flow is good for tubing?
WORD publishes a guide to release levels, and it stresses that these are recommended levels only:
- Up to 500 cfs: recreational
- 500 to 750 cfs: challenging
- 750 to 1,200 cfs: strenuous
- 1,200 to 3,000 cfs: extreme caution, tubing not recommended
- 3,000 cfs and up: dangerous, guided rafts suggested
Outfitters set their own limits. River Sports Tubes’ flow chart says no river tubing at 1,200 cfs and above. If the flow is high or changing fast, wait for another day.
How cold is the water?
Colder than you might expect. Canyon Dam releases water from the bottom of the lake. Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine describes tailrace water at 56 to 60 degrees, cold enough for trout to survive 10 or more miles downstream. American Whitewater puts it at about 60 degrees at the dam. Visit New Braunfels notes that dam releases cool the river considerably, which feels great in August and can feel like a shock when you first slide in.
When is tubing season?
Most people float in the warm months, and summer weekends are the busiest. WORD explains that under a Comal County contract with GBRA, when the lake is between 909 and 910 feet, flood water is released at a minimum of 250 cfs, generally from April through August. Outside those conditions, flows can drop, and outfitters cut back trip options in low water. Check the outfitter’s hours for the day you plan to go.
What are the rules on this stretch?
The river below Canyon Dam, until the New Braunfels city limits, is in unincorporated Comal County, inside WORD’s district. WORD’s water laws say:
- No foam products on the water.
- No glass products on the water.
- No open plastic containers of 5 ounces or less on the water.
- No littering, and no trespassing on private property.
- Children 12 and under must wear life jackets when boating, kayaking, canoeing or rafting, and every boat needs a life jacket for each person on board.
WORD ordinances carry a fine of up to $500. WORD’s FAQ says New Braunfels’ disposable container ban (the “can ban”) does not apply to the Guadalupe inside the WORD district; on the Guadalupe, the city’s rules begin at Gruene Bridge. Visit New Braunfels also says jumping from bridges, dams or trees into the Guadalupe is not allowed outside city limits.
WORD’s safety advice is to play sober, because alcohol and water don’t mix.
Do you need a life jacket on a tube?
River Sports Tubes says life jackets are required by law on boats and craft but not for tubes, and it hands them out free with a rental. Wear one if you are a weak swimmer, if you have kids along, or if the flow is up. That’s especially worth it in cold water.
How do you stay safe on the river?
- Know the flow before you go. Check GBRA and the Sattler gauge the morning of your float, and again if it has rained upstream.
- Respect the old dams. American Whitewater notes that multiple tuber deaths have happened at Kanz Dam on this reach. Ask your outfitter about hazards on your route.
- Watch the weather. WORD says to get out of the water during lightning storms or high winds.
- Tell someone your plan. WORD suggests filing a float plan and never swimming alone.
- Keep your trash. WORD says tubers leave over 75,000 pounds of trash on the Guadalupe every summer. Bring a mesh bag and pack it all out.
What should you bring?
- Water shoes or strapped sandals. WORD doesn’t recommend flip-flops on the rocky river bottom.
- Sunscreen and a hat. Trips run longer than you think.
- Plenty of drinking water, in containers that follow the rules. There is little to no drinking water on the river.
- A waterproof phone case or dry bag. Leave jewelry and extra keys behind.
- A cooler, if you want one. River Sports Tubes says Canyon Lake has no cooler size limit, but coolers over 48 quarts may not fit in its cooler tubes.
Staying near the river
Sienna Ridge has 50 full-hookup sites with 30 and 50 amp service and room for rigs up to 75 feet, so you can park the RV and spend the day on the river. See our sites and current rates, get directions, or call the office at (830) 268-0509 (open daily, 8 AM to 5 PM). When you’re ready, book your site.
