Pedernales River — below Pedernales Falls SP: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 25, 4:00 AM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
Estimated range
20 cfs
10.3 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 08153500
Runnable 50 – 1,000 cfs
What this means today
At 20 cfs the Pedernales River is 30 cfs short of the 50 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 20 cfs to 20 cfs. Daily means over the past 6 days have run between 21 cfs and 27 cfs, 21% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling below Pedernales Falls SP
Pedernales River below Pedernales Falls SP is a 9-mile Class II run in Texas — bouncy wave trains and the occasional small rapid. Most paddlers put in at Pedernales Falls State Park (below falls) and take out at Johnson City area crossing, a trip that runs about 5 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 50–1,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Pedernales 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 08153500 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.
Flows here are usually most dependable March–July. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Class II
- Length
- 9 mi
- Float time
- ~5 hr
- Best months
- March–July
- Put-in
- Pedernales Falls State Park (below falls)
- Take-out
- Johnson City area crossing
Reading USGS gauge 08153500 — Pedernales Rv nr Johnson City, TX ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Pedernales River — below Pedernales Falls SP?
- This section is generally runnable at 50–1,000 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 Pedernales River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 08153500 — 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 Pedernales River — below Pedernales Falls SP good for beginners?
- This section is rated Class II. At good levels it suits confident beginners and up, but it can have riffles or small rapids. Scout anything you can't see, and stay off it at high water.
- When is the best time to paddle Pedernales River here?
- Typically March–July, 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 Pedernales River — below Pedernales Falls SP?
- This reach is about 9 miles, roughly 5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.