Guadalupe River — Kerrville (Nimitz Lake): River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 24, 10:20 PM UTC
Good to paddle
Levels are within the typical runnable range for this section.
Estimated range
46 cfs
1.3 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 08166200
Runnable ? – 1,000 cfs
What this means today
At 46 cfs the Guadalupe River is 954 cfs under the 1,000 cfs ceiling for this reach. There is no published minimum here, so a low reading may still be too thin to float — the trend below is the better guide.
Over the last 24 hours it has gone from 55 cfs to 46 cfs, 16% down. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 54 cfs and 91 cfs, 40% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Kerrville (Nimitz Lake)
Guadalupe River at Kerrville (Nimitz Lake) is a 3-mile Flatwater float in Texas — no rapids under normal flows, just moving water and the odd riffle. Most paddlers put in at Louise Hays Park, Kerrville and take out at Kerrville-Schreiner Park, a trip that runs about 2 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at below 1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Guadalupe River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 08166200 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
This reach can run year-round in a typical year, though levels still swing with rain and dry spells — the live gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you load the car.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Flatwater
- Length
- 3 mi
- Float time
- ~2 hr
- Best months
- Year-round
- Put-in
- Louise Hays Park, Kerrville
- Take-out
- Kerrville-Schreiner Park
Reading USGS gauge 08166200 — Guadalupe Rv at Kerrville, TX ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Guadalupe River — Kerrville (Nimitz Lake)?
- This section is generally runnable at below 1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Guadalupe River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 08166200 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Guadalupe River — Kerrville (Nimitz Lake) good for beginners?
- This is a flatwater section — no rapids under normal levels — so it's beginner-friendly when the gauge is in range. High water changes everything: cold, fast water is dangerous for anyone.
- When is the best time to paddle Guadalupe River here?
- Typically Year-round, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Guadalupe River — Kerrville (Nimitz Lake)?
- This reach is about 3 miles, roughly 2 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.