Warm Rio Vista Play Park for winter paddling practice

[kayakmamma]

Rio Vista Play park consists of three drops-one larger and two small. At the current low water level, (which could continue with the present drought in Texas) the larger drop is still amazingly excellent for surfing, spins, and lots of play moves-but not loops. The second drop is small but is excellent for front surfing, and squirting. The third drop is tiny at the current level, but still super fun for spins, side-surfing, and hand surfing. Taken in combination, this man made play park is also great for slalom work. Beginning sometime in December coach Jim Stuart will start a slalom camp every Saturday morning. 14 or so gates will be hung all through these drops, and it is quite challenging. Coach Stuart used to be a National team coach, and the practices are free. Even when the temps are cold outside, the water always stays about 70 degrees. It is nice all winter long! You should check it out, or better yet come to the slalom practices if you can.
Rio Vista Play park is located in San Marcos, Texas about 25 minutes south of Austin.

[Donald]

The nice thing about Rio Vista is it is 70F during winter or summer so.... It feels warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And it gets mightly hot in west Texas during the summer. The perfect playspot when west Texas is not in a drought and the San Macros is marginally pumping water out of the auqafer. It still runnable though even at current levels. Get down there if you can.

[FarPastGone]

I suppose I will weigh in on this considering I lived in San Marcos for 4 years will I went to undergrad at Texas State and since my family lives about 30 minutes away so I still visit a lot.

The San Marcos River emerges from the Edwards Aquifer (the same aquifer responsible for Comal and Barton Springs) right on campus of Texas State and flows for 1/2 a mile or so through a series of parks (Sewell, Lions Club, Rio Vista) until it reaches Rio Vista. The river is extremely clean and clear, it maintains a consistent temperature of around 72F, usually (even in the worst drought times) is able to manage a base flow of 80-200 cfs, and is home to several endemic endangered species. Lorraine did a good job summarizing the park itself, it is less dynamic at lower flows, but if flows are good (150cfs <) and you can cram yourself into a small boat then you can do some cool stuff in the top feature (all but loop). Also there are lights so you can stay up late and play. San Marcos itself is a cool college town, similar to Fayetteville without the Greek life aspect and some of the great topographic relief, but know the bars are easy to get kicked out of.

If you are considering taking a trip down there, make it a couple days and plan to do more than just play at Rio Vista. There is actually a lot of fun mountain biking around the area and some so-so climbing. Lost Maples State Park and Enchanted Rock State Park (one of my favorite places in the world) are both well-deserved visits. There is also some good whitewater in the Hill Country just don't plan on paddling it because it either won't be running for a few years until the current drought is over or you won't be able to get on it because some radicalized property owner barricaded himself and the surrounding river off from the rest of the world.

Here is a peak at some of the goods though (check this video for some Mexican Creek footage - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI-9NgzsNsA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)!

- Matt

[tomOzarkVideo]

Sweeet info!!!!!

I'll be making it out there VERY soon!

Of course.. I'll need a good deal on an old CHEAP playboat. \\ Will it ever end with the boats??

[kayakmamma]

Hey Tom, my husband asked the same question just the other day, and I told him, "No, it will never end with the boats". I'd like a stand up paddle board, a Dagger Axiom, etc. etc.

[RomanLA]

I took my XP10 there for it's maiden voyage last weekend. I was able to carve up the middle wave pretty well. I got on the top wave, but it was flushy. I never even saw a playboat stay in it more than 10 seconds. The bottom hole was great for sidesurfing and I was able to get some spins it...yes in a 10ft boat!

[tomOzarkVideo]

Hey Tom, my husband asked the same question just the other day, and I told him, "No, it will never end with the boats". I'd like a stand up paddle board, a Dagger Axiom, etc. etc.

Yep. Fun runner, rockstar, remix 69, sup. a hero for the mrs.