If you like to kayak and are near the Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, or Bandera areas, you're going to…read morewant to know about Nichol's Landing (also called Specht's Crossing) on the beautiful upper Guadalupe River before it flows into Canyon Lake. From this spot, you can end your short paddle trip from Guadalupe State Park, or start a longer 3-6 hour trip down to FM 311 or Rebecca Creek Crossing. This small day-use park under an overpass off Old Spring Branch Road has just 20 parking spaces, so depending on when you go, you may need to arrange a drop-off or pickup via friend or river outfitter that doesn't leave a vehicle. There is a dumpster for trash and a couple of porto-johns if you really need to answer nature's call. The signage at the entrance is a bit confusing on when and how you need to pay a fee, the proceeds of which are used to maintain the park. The clear facts are that it's free when there is no attendant on duty. Otherwise (generally weekends & holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, basically summer months from end of May through early September), you pay a fee upon entry based as follows: If parking... $4 per person over age 12 $2 per person age 12 and under If not parking... $1 per person drop-off (any age) Open 9am to sunset, year-round (gates locked at 8:30pm) If you are putting in or taking out, there is a cul de sac where you can park briefly to deal with loading and unloading your 'yaks. The water is less than 50 yards down a couple of pebbly paths. On our recent sunny January Sunday visit, there were very few other vessels on the river and less than 10 people in the park. So peaceful. The Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) of Comal County manages the park and their website is a great source of information on current river conditions, river laws, and any special events that could impact your day on the river. The Texas Parks & Wildlife "Texas Paddling Trail" page also has great info about Nichol's Landing and what you'll see on the river. For the upper part of the Guadalupe and the lower outside of New Braunfels city limits, the rules (enforced with fines up to $500) are: Wear a life vest or other PFD Don't trespass on private property Pets on leash at all times No firearms No fireworks No campfires No camping No glass No styrofoam No plastic containers under 5oz No littering No jumping from bridges, dams, trees, or cliffs

What a nice, clean place to go swimming! This place is…read morelocated near the bottom of a bridge that crosses the Guadalupe River. This spot charges for access to the river, I paid $4 to get in. They seem to have various other charges that can apply if you're just launching a kayak or a tube. The river was clean here! There wasn't trash floating around, and the place was picked up. The water wasn't very deep here, the deepest spots being chest deep, but most of it was about knee deep. Someone has come through here and made lots of little wading pools out of rocks and set up stone dams so your tube doesn't go floating away very easily. There's also lots of shade through here, with many large cypress trees lining the far side of the river. On the near side, there aren't many trees, so many people brought their own canopies. Since there's a charge to get in, this place wasn't so crowded, so it was easy to get a patch of river to myself. There are trash cans provided, and they also give away mesh onion bags for your garbage. There are no restrooms, or changing rooms. Parking was easy, along a paved road and spaces painted in white. The end of the parking lot doubles as a helicopter landing pad for added safety.

This is a wonderful place to bring our dogs for a long walk. Very wide, paved paths. Some trees to…read moreprovide shade. A river runs through it (well, it's a stream anyway), and there are dozens of deer just yards away. A great way to get outdoors and enjoy nature, while getting exercise with our Labradors. If you're in the area, give this park a visit.

We have been searching for a fun, multi-purpose park to spend the day outdoors. Louise Hays Park…read morehas everything from miles of bike / walking paths and many amenities for all ages. We had a great time walking next to the Guadalupe River which loops around for miles. Shady areas under the canopy of the trees and lots of picnic areas inside the park. Fishing seems very popular at the park, and you can see the trout swimming around. We walked for 8 miles on Easter Sunday, and the walking paths never seemed crowded. We shared the paths with other walkers, joggers ,runners, and bikes on the path too.

We arrived early this morning for our first hike of the year. The rangers were very efficient; our…read morereservation was checked and our permit was brought out. We drove out to the water and decided to walk those trails. The trails are all very easy to navigate. The more challenging trails may not have actually been trails at all, but got us down to the river bank for some lovely photos. The grounds and trails are very clean and well maintained. The camp sites look really nice and the bathrooms (I'm told) were Buccees level clean. There's a Discovery center that seemed to be interesting for the littles. I really enjoyed the solitude and the zen. I suspect it probably gets pretty packed though.

Lovely park! Make sure to prepay entrance fee online and discount was offered with military park…read morepass. We parked near the end of the road where you'll find a parking lot with bathrooms and changing facilities. We met our hiking group and trekked off walking along the Guadalupe River. Make sure to bring water shoes with grip cuz you'll cross the river to get to more hiking trails. The water was cool and the flow perfect...depending on the time of the year, it can get quite powerful. The weather was gorgeous - fall vibes of overcast and cooler temps. We hiked a mix of many shaded forest areas and open fields . Captured many pics of the fall changes - leaves turning shades of yellow and orange. And I gotta kick seeing live armadillos scurrying amongst the long grasses. So cute!!! With the great weather and scenery, we hiked a steady pace and clocked in approximately 8.5 miles ! Loved hiking through the river : ) Clean bathrooms and changing rooms were a plus!

A nice enough lakeside park with various amenities, kayaks, inflatables and such. But in the heat…read moreof Summer all of San Antonio descends upon this place, so it's loud, crowded, and crammed with kids. Best to avoid the weekends.

This is the third time I've been here and again I had a great time. This time the park was a mess…read morebecause it was the day after fathers day and people left trash everywhere. Luckily the staff showed up early and in a jiffy the park was clean. The water is nice and there is lots of beach area to chill at. Get there early because it gets full and y won't be able to get in.

The perfect place for a relaxing day with the family!…read more I've been coming to Paradise Canyon since I was 5 years old, and although I hadn't visited since 2019, I was able to bring my family today. It was just as beautiful as I remembered. This place truly lives up to its name. Paradise Canyon is privately owned, family-oriented, and offers something for everyone. There are shallow areas where kids can safely swim and play, as well as deeper sections for adults who want to swim or practice their strokes. The grounds are well maintained, the restrooms are clean, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. It's the kind of place where you can spend the entire day relaxing and making memories with your family. I would recommend Paradise Canyon again and again. It's a true Texas gem.

I love this place. Used to come here as a kid all the time. Water levels are high, it's clear, and…read morerefreshing. Lots of spots for shade, but also spots if you need to get some color. Staff was genuine, and catered to anything we needed. If you need a spot for the summer, this is the place!

I have been going here for years, hiking and mountain biking. I've done a few races also. It is…read moremarked fairly well, but obviously whether can change making trails. Look different and signs get weathered. Always take a map, as they are always passing out at the Ranger station

We always make a stop here to hike, swim, and picnic with our kids. The rangers are awesome and…read morehappy to answer all of our kids questions. The trails are clearly marked and scrambling over the rocks to explore the falls and wading in the river are always a blast. This year we went after a heavy rain and it was awesome to see the river roaring over the falls.