Saspamco Paddling Trail

NOTICE: Due to inclement weather, the opening weekend for the paddling trail orginally scheduled for February 4 has been postponed until further notice. Please stay tuned to this website for information regarding the opening of the trail.

River length: approximately 12 miles
Float time: varies depending on flow

Stretching twelve miles along the San Antonio River through southern Bexar and northern Wilson Counties, the Saspamco Paddling Trail will offer a paddling adventure that is unmatched in the San Antonio area.

The trail begins at SARA's river access site on Loop 1604 in Bexar County and ends at SARA's Helton San Antonio River Nature Park near Calaveras, Texas. Although the Helton San Antonio Nature Park is not scheduled to be fully operational for several years, the river access site will be the first area to open and allow visitors a glimpse of future park offerings.

You may be wondering, "what is the origin of the name Saspamco?" Saspamco is a small community in southern Bexar County whose name is an acronym for the the San Antonio Sewer Pipe Manufacturing Company, a company that was the predominant employer in the community until the 1960's. The company has since closed, but the name has remained.

Driving Directions

Note Directions go from the take out point to the put in point.

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Flow Rate

Site Number	USGS Station Name	Flow Sample Time	Flow Volume
08181800	San Antonio River near Elmendorf, TX	02/04 at 3:15 AM	244 ft3/s
ft3/s—Cubic Feet per Second  |  NA—Data is not currently available

Goliad Paddling Trail

The Goliad Paddling Trail is a leisurely 6.6 mile trip from US Highway 59 to Goliad State Park. This trail has been officially designated an Inland Paddling Trail by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The trail was made possible by a partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the San Antonio River Authority, TxDOT, Goliad County and the citizen nonprofit group Canoe Trail Goliad, Inc.

Click here for the Canoe Trail Goliad Phased Development Plan.

Flow Rate

Site Number	USGS Station Name	Flow Sample Time	Flow Volume
08188500	San Antonio River at Goliad, TX	02/04 at 4:00 AM	658 ft3/s
ft3/s—Cubic Feet per Second  |  NA—Data is not currently available

Eagleland and King Williams Paddling Trails

The City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department has a policy allowing citizens to engage in non-motorized water recreation activities in specified bodies of water within the city limits. As of August 1, 2011, no permit will be required for this activity. Please note that boundaries for non-motorized water recreation activity within the city limits are subject to change by the City of San Antonio. There are currently two locations on the San Antonio River within the city limits where non-motorized water recreation activity is allowed by the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department:

Eagleland Zone, San Antonio River

Launch and Recovery Area: Between Eagleland and Lone Star (approximately 20 feet north of railroad bridge)
Boundary: San Antonio River Walk – Eagleland zone from Lone Star railroad trellis to Alamo Street

King William Zone, San Antonio River

Launch & Recovery Area: Guenther Street by San Antonio River Authority, 100 E. Guenther
Boundary: King William zone from Nueva Street to Alamo Street

Please note that these two zones are not connected and are more than 1 mile apart. Participants choosing to utilize both zones must port watercraft 1 mile between zones.

As construction is completed on the Mission Reach Project to the south of Eagleland, the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) and the City of San Antonio will determine when and which sections of the Mission Reach are safe and will be made available for paddling recreation. For updates to this information and for further information about paddle recreation opportunities along the San Antonio River, please visit www.sanantonioriver.org. You can also follow SARA on Facebook and Twitter to receive information related to the San Antonio River.

For more information about other areas within the city limits open for non-motorized water recreation and for a list of City of rules and regulations, please visit the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department online.