The South Llano River is a beautiful, secluded section of river that starts in South Llano River State Park, and ends at Junction, Texas' City Park. The river is made of small pools and rapids, and it flows through pink granite boulders and bedrock.
What Makes It Great
This is a great river for fishing, and is home to the Guadalupe Bass (Texas' state fish) as well as several other species. This section of the river has no man-made structures or developments impeding it's path, and it is not controlled by dams, but occasional flooding has created several large tree snags along the way that can be hazardous. This flooding also causes the water levels to be higher, which is another hazard to keep in mind. The river runs through mostly private property, as do most rivers in Central Texas, so avoid getting out on the banks unless you need to portage around dangerous obstacles, which is acceptable by Texas State Law.
Who is Going to Love It
The South Llano is a good river for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. There are a few kayak and canoe shuttle services (as well as outfitters) in Llano, so be sure to take advantage of their services if you don't have two vehicles to shuttle with. Enjoy paddling through beautiful high Texas Hill Country on the South Llano River!
Directions, Parking, & Regulations
Driving Directions to Access Site:
Put-in: South Llano State Park: The put-in for this paddling trail is located at the river crossing just inside the South Llano River State Park. To reach the park, travel Interstate 10 to Junction, then go south on US Highway 377 for 5 miles to Park Road 73.
Take-out: Junction City Park. The take-out for this paddling trail is located in Junction's City Park on the north bank of Junction Lake just east of the bridge over the lake. To reach Junction's City Park, travel Interstate 10 to Junction. Follow Main St. or TX-481 Loop to the north side of Junction Lake bridge, also known as South Llano bridge.