Written by Ben the Grate on 30 Apr, 2002
Janie's is the outfitter we ALWAYS use when we float the Guadalupe. They sit right at the end of the best short run of the river, and they're always friendly and helpful. They are located on River Road between the first and second bridges, about…Read More
Janie's is the outfitter we ALWAYS use when we float the Guadalupe. They sit right at the end of the best short run of the river, and they're always friendly and helpful.
They are located on River Road between the first and second bridges, about 4.5 miles from the junction of Hwy 45 and River Road.
Tube rentals vary per season, but a basic price list is below for peak season:
River Use Fee - $6 per person Open bottom tube - $6 Closed bottom tube - $8 Cooler tube - $10 (canned beer only, no glass bottles)
They also rent kayaks, canoes, and rafts at a high charge.
They will ask you to leave your keys as a deposit, which is NICE because you don't have to keep track of them. BUT this also means you MUST get back to Janie's before they close, or you won't be able to get into your car!!! In peak season they close around 7pm, which means you should NEVER start your float after 3pm.
Some people ask about tube reservations, and this is rarely necessary at Janie's unless you're floating 4th of July, Memorial, or Labor day weekends, in which case you should just arrive EARLY (around 9am) to ensure that you get a tube. Expect a wait of about an hour to get everything set up and get on the shuttle. Other than that, you can usually be on the river within 30 minutes of arriving.
Janie's sells ice, sodas, beer, waterproof bags, glasses straps, watersocks, swimsuits, and everything else that you might have forgotten at home.
Contact info-
Janie's Riverbank 6000 River Road New Braunfels, TX 78132 (830) 625-4928
Written by Christine on 27 Feb, 2001
There are all kinds of funky, bbq and down-home restaurants on the other side of the river in Austin that are hopping, even mid-day on a weekday. There's fancier dining fare on 6th Street but the area gets overrun by students; more mature or…Read More
There are all kinds of funky, bbq and down-home restaurants on the other side of the river in Austin that are hopping, even mid-day on a weekday. There's fancier dining fare on 6th Street but the area gets overrun by students; more mature or daring diners might be comfortable in the Warehouse district just south of it. We had only one night to experience the full glory of Austin's nightlife, but since we're not country fans we weren't sure what to expect. Don't fret- this isn't the place to hear mellow country tunes you may hear on the radio- and there's something for everyone. We actually ended up at the wonderful (and apparently infamous) Dueling Piano Bar on 6th Street. Two exuberant musicians perform all night, taking requests, razzing the audience, and generally encouraging chaos, dancing on tables, and public displays of bad singing by guests. As a clue to what goes on here, there was a sign behind one of the pianos proclaiming the venue, "Best Place to Humiliate an Out-of-Towner 2000" by the Austin Chronicle.Close
Written by Mermaid on 12 Oct, 2000
Barton Creek flows forty-one miles from its headwaters in Dripping Springs to the Colorado River, wandering through Hays and Travis counties. It averages more than thirty feet in width at times which designates it as a navigable creek by the Texas Constitution. While Barton Springs…Read More
Barton Creek flows forty-one miles from its headwaters in Dripping Springs to the Colorado River, wandering through Hays and Travis counties. It averages more than thirty feet in width at times which designates it as a navigable creek by the Texas Constitution. While Barton Springs flows year-round, Barton Creek responds more to spring and fall rains. During times of drought, the creek may dry up and leave only a few swimming holes. When it is dry, you can still see wagon ruts in the limestone bed that were carved out when the creek bed was used as a route into town.
Floating Barton Creek in an inner tube, canoe, kayak or boat is a favorite local pastime. Keep safety in mind and always wear a lifejacket, even if you are an experienced swimmer. The creek is shallow and dotted with trees and rocks which can easily upset your boat. Other hazards to watch out for are fire ants, water and land snakes, poison ivy and prickly plants. Wear sunscreen and river shoes or tennis shoes to protect your feet. Never float during rain or thunderstorms or during periods of flooding as the water can become muddy and hide hazards. Drink lots of water. Never boat or tube alone.
A number of swimming holes dot Barton Creek and are accessible from the Greenbelt. Catfish Pool is just below the junction of Barton Creek and Hebbingston Hollow. A small footbridge traverses the north side. Sculpture Falls has rapids and secluded sunbathing, just below Dam #7. Campbell's Hole has a small pebble beach and is a reliable pool. It’s located about one mile upstream from Barton Springs. Legend has it that Robert E.Lee, made numerous trips here while stationed at a camp to the west; Sam Bass, Bonnie and Clyde, and Jesse James also used the small cave above the pool as hideouts. Gus Fruh Pool is another reliable swimming hole even during droughts. It’s located near 2632 Barton Hills Drive (respect private property). Triple Falls and Gus Fruh Park are at the three-mile mark on the trail and have large boulders and deep water. Twin Falls can be accessed at Loop 360 across from the entrance to Barton Creek Mall. You will find a rope swing and good swimming under two small waterfalls. Most access points have rest rooms and picnic tables. Of interest is Airman’s Cave, a 2.1-mile long cave. It is the longest cave in the country with an average height of only three feet. Only five percent of the cave is tall enough to stand up in, and usually one person gets stuck every year and has to be rescued. For experienced spelunkers only!
The Austin Chronicle published an excellent guide to hiking in the Barton Creek Greenbelt and floating Barton Creek in their April 17, 1992 issue, reprinted in April 18, 1997.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt officially opened in 1985. It is a 7.8-mile trail for hiking and bicycling. Several swimming holes dot the trail. Rock climbers also practice on the limestone cliffs. The trail is rocky and semi-primitive and cuts through scenic wildflowers, trees, limestone cliffs,…Read More
The Barton Creek Greenbelt officially opened in 1985. It is a 7.8-mile trail for hiking and bicycling. Several swimming holes dot the trail. Rock climbers also practice on the limestone cliffs. The trail is rocky and semi-primitive and cuts through scenic wildflowers, trees, limestone cliffs, caves, meadows, swimming holes and waterfalls. The trail varies from narrow ledges to wide walkways. Wildlife is abundant in the park. Hiking in the Greenbelt will really give you the feeling of being far away in the wilderness, not in the middle of the city, which it really is. The trail extends from Zilker Park to Lost Creek, with a trailhead at Zilker Park just west of the pool. You can also access the trail where Spyglass intersects with Barton Skyway; behind Barton Hills Elementary School on 2010 Homedale Drive; at the Gus Fruh Access at 2642 Barton Hills Drive; at Loop 360 near the office buildings behind Brodie Oaks; and at Camp Craft Road at the intersection of Scottish Woods Trail. The Loop 360 and Gus Fruh sections are wheelchair-accessible. Dogs are permitted on leash only. For up-to-date trail conditions, call 472-1267.
A new trail is being built that will connect Southwest Parkway with the Greenbelt at the MoPac Bridge. This 1.5-mile dirt trail will parallel Gaines Creek. Construction will be performed by thirteen members of the National Civilian Community Corps, which was created by Congress in 1993. No public funding will be used.
When enjoying the Barton Creek Greenbelt, remember to pack your trash and leave the trail better than you found it. The trail is open 5:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M.
People often ask about the pecan tree directly across from the diving board on the west side of the pool. No one knows exactly, but it is probably several hundred years old. In 1970, people feared it would die so a backup tree was planted…Read More
People often ask about the pecan tree directly across from the diving board on the west side of the pool. No one knows exactly, but it is probably several hundred years old. In 1970, people feared it would die so a backup tree was planted behind it. Support poles were built around the original tree and the trunk gutted and rebuilt. The older pecan tree finally succumbed but the stump was saved as a lifeguard throne.
The floor of the pool is made of limestone and Buda gravel mixed with clay, which acts like cement. There are three general sections to the pool. The wading area extends from the upper dam all the way to Bedicheck’s rock where it drops off steeply to sixteen feet. This is where the diving board is located over the main spring. The area between the diving board and the lower dam is deep, from ten to sixteen feet. There used to be a high dive in this section but it was removed in the 1970s. The strip on the north side of the pool from the lower dam to the lifeguard stand near the entrance is about four feet and has a gravel bottom. It was once used as a lap lane. Lap lanes are not designated at Barton Springs but lap swimming is very popular. Serious swimmers hit the pool early in the morning to avoid the crowd and have an unspoken agreement about how to divide up the lanes. Some swim between the sidewalks, while others prefer to swim the whole length.
Since the 1930s there has been an informal policy of leaving the front gate closed but accessible to early bird swimmers, but recently an iron fence with a lock was put in to keep children from entering unattended and to comply with city codes. Large pecan and cottonwood trees provide plenty of shade and either side of the pool is surrounded by grassy slopes. During the peak summer hours it can get very crowded, with the teenagers hanging out on the east slope and everyone else on the flatter west bank. Floats are allowed only in the deepest section near the dam. You can still sunbathe nude inside the women’s dressing area on a few grassy areas that are open to the sky, but it is an unwritten policy. The Polar Bear Club at Barton Springs, which has over one hundred members, swims year-round. One member, Jill Carr, swam in such cold weather that her hair froze when she exited the water!
This is a great place to stop and rest on Lake Austin Boulevard just north of Oyster Landing—a very popular little strip of trendy restaurants and shops. The boat launch has a dock where you can swim up to fifty feet out from the shore.…Read More
This is a great place to stop and rest on Lake Austin Boulevard just north of Oyster Landing—a very popular little strip of trendy restaurants and shops. The boat launch has a dock where you can swim up to fifty feet out from the shore. An open water swim is held here each September. There are a couple of picnic tables and bathrooms for public use. The LCRA headquarters is located across the street and has information about Lake Austin and other facilitiesClose
Decker Lake is a great alternative to Lake Travis when summer sizzles and everyone and their cousin is out on the lake. Although it is smaller, it never seems to get crowded, and it’s conveniently close to Austin. Acquired by the City of Austin in…Read More
Decker Lake is a great alternative to Lake Travis when summer sizzles and everyone and their cousin is out on the lake. Although it is smaller, it never seems to get crowded, and it’s conveniently close to Austin. Acquired by the City of Austin in 1968, the lake is 3,802 acres with 1,269 acres dedicated to sailing and skiing. Decker Lake boasts one-and-one-half miles of accessible shoreline and wide, open grassy banks. There are two boat ramps, plenty of parking, picnic areas and shade areas, an open playfield and volleyball courts. As for swimming, there is a dedicated sandy beach and the lake has a muddy bottom. Shorelines are reedy or grassy, and the lake is quiet and peaceful. Swimming is at your own risk, as there are no lifeguards on duty.
The park is laid out in two branches, and camping facilities front the lake on either side.
Before you head out to Decker Lake, make arrangements to visit the Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary next door. The Sanctuary is open by appointment only and tours are available. Two hundred acres of East Texas forestry meets the Blackland prairie at the park, and oak and elm trees integrate with the grasslands. The Blackland prairie is an endangered habitat made up of several types of grasses. The park is a unique geographic area offering great views from its hilltops. Five acres of the park are covered with gayfeather, a spiky purple flower which blooms in the fall. Birds nest in the wetlands along the shoreline of Decker Lake, and abundant wildlife, such as deer, armadillos, owls, hawks, osprey and snakes make their homes here.
Written by Mermaid on 20 Oct, 2000
The LCRA receives no tax money or state assistance and operates on revenue generated from wholesale electric and water sales. The LCRA supplies electricity to over one million Texans. They have a base of forty-four wholesale customers, including thirty-three cities and eleven cooperative utilities. The…Read More
The LCRA receives no tax money or state assistance and operates on revenue generated from wholesale electric and water sales. The LCRA supplies electricity to over one million Texans. They have a base of forty-four wholesale customers, including thirty-three cities and eleven cooperative utilities. The LCRA also manages parks; recreational facilities; and several soil, energy and water conservation programs. The LCRA spans fifty-eight counties from San Saba to Matagorda. The water levels of each lake fluctuate with rainfall and controlled flow. Weather conditions in Central Texas can change rapidly so always be careful when swimming. Each Highland Lake has multiple coves, creek mouths and inlets for exploring. You can swim at just about any place where you can publicly access the water, but please respect private property boundaries. Below Longhorn Dam the river is slow flowing. It is safe for swimming in terms of water quality. However, wherever signs are posted to not swim, obey. Water currents and boats can pose hazards. Releases at a rate of 1,500 cubic feet per second, or approximately two miles per hour, generally occur between March and October. The water levels and velocities will vary during this time. From October to March, releases are cut back to 300-350 cfs, less than one mile per hour. Certain water and land use regulations apply to LCRA managed camping, boating and recreational facilities. For a full list, call (512) 473-4083. Call the Lake Information Hotline at (800) 776-5272 x. 3333 or (512) 473-3333. The hotline provides lake levels, hydrogenation schedules, and emergency flood conditions. Close
Twenty floods between 1900 and 1923 caused the state to finally take notice. Hundreds of lives had been lost and the damages were running in the millions of dollars. Flooding was recorded on the first floor of the capitol and ruined millions of acres of…Read More
Twenty floods between 1900 and 1923 caused the state to finally take notice. Hundreds of lives had been lost and the damages were running in the millions of dollars. Flooding was recorded on the first floor of the capitol and ruined millions of acres of farmland. Up to this point, efforts to dam the Colorado River had been conducted by private enterprise, which at the time did not have the technical skills or resources to build a dam of large scope. In 1915, a group of landowners living in Travis, Bastrop, Fayette, Matagorda and Wharton Counties, who were interested in flood control, power development, irrigation, and growing rice, formed the Colorado River Improvement Association. An act passed by Congress in 1916, called the Rivers and Harbor Act, enabled surveys along the Colorado River bed to improve navigation, although there was little interest because the railroad and growing highway system were now being used for transportation. In 1918, the Army Corps of Engineers released a report identifying three potential dam sites above Austin, but the state made little effort to realize the plans. No one yet fully realized the potential and resources of the Colorado, so the only thing that kept the interest going was public outcry about repeated flooding. In 1919 the Army Corps of Engineers formally recommended that a dam be built above Austin to control the river. Although development of the river was slow going, it was prudent in the long run. Nowhere in the country had a project of such magnitude been considered. With more floods in 1919, 1921 and 1922, funding was finally pushed through for surveys of several floodplains throughout the nation. A massive flood of the Mississippi in April 1927 covered 1,200 miles from St. Louis to New Orleans, and caused national outcry and attention. This prompted Congress to authorize $325 million to expand the duties of the Army Corps of Engineers to include flood control. The building of Hoover Dam in 1928 was a great influence because of its massiveness and the use of new technology, proving that such a feat of engineering was possible. Alvin J. Wirtz, an attorney, and a lobbyist and state senator from Seguin, encouraged a development company called the Insull Utility Company of Chicago to take an interest in the Colorado. The firm was also working on a project on the Guadalupe River. A man named Holleman showed up one day to protest the building of the dam and fatally shot an employee. The development of the Colorado was an emotional one, and there is a long history of conflicting interests and people taking it all very seriously. In 1931, construction began at a dam at the site that General Johnson had earlier recommended and created 2,000 jobs. The dam was to be two miles long and 137 feet high, but before it was completed, the Insull Utiltity Company went bankrupt. Wirtz organized the Colorado River Company and began looking for a new financier. Meanwhile, the population along the Colorado grew. Wirtz got a break from James P. ‘Buck’ Buchanan, a friend and U.S. Representative whose district included Burnet County to Bastrop County, split by the Colorado. Buchanan had been a longtime advocate for control of the river and sat on the appropriations committee. Before the New Deal, most large development projects had been conducted by private sector entrepreneurs. But when Franklin Delano Roosevelt came into office, everything changed. The government had a new role supporting local efforts to change, fix, and build things. FDR announced the National Recovery Act and formed the Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Public Works Association. Wirtz applied for federal funds for his project, but was turned down. He then enlisted Buchanan to persuade FDR to fund four dams. Buchanan went directly to FDR and asked him to consider the dam as a birthday present to him. The funds were awarded on the condition that the Lower Colorado River Authority be created to manage them. Governor Ma Ferguson signed the bill in November 1934. In a mass meeting at Hamilton Dam sponsored by the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado River Improvement Association, it was unanimously decided by the crowd to rename the dam for Buchanan. They had no authority, and federal law dictates that a dam cannot be named for a living person, but these little technicalities were of no concern to Central Texans, and they succeeded in changing the name. When Buchanan suddenly died of a heart attack in 1937, Lyndon Baines Johnson ran for his seat and won. The LCRA set to work building six dams, two reservoirs and four pass-through lakes, to be known as the Highland Lakes, a 150-mile chain of water. Buchanan Dam was finished in 1937, Roy Inks Dam in 1938, Tom Miller Dam in 1940, J.J. Mansfield Dam (named for the Chairman of the Rivers, Harbors and Navigation Committee) on Lake Travis in 1941, Wirtz Dam on Lake LBJ in 1950, and Max Starcke Dam on Lake Marble Falls in 1951. The largest of these lakes are Buchanan and Travis, which contain 380 billion and 300 billion gallons respectively. During the construction of Mansfield Dam, a workman from the Brown and Root Company purportedly fell into a deep concrete pour and became entombed inside. Supposedly, his body remains there. At 7,100 feet long, Mansfield Dam is one of the longest dams in the country. It is designed to withstand a flood peak of 748.9 feet. Normal levels are 681 feet. Lake Travis has about 260 billion gallons of flood storage control capacity, which means that Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan water levels will fluctuate dramatically as water is alternatively stored and released. Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, and Lake Austin were constructed primarily for hydroelectric power generation, so their water levels don’t vary as much. The construction of the dams has largely eliminated flooding and has provided a dependable water supply and endless recreational opportunities. The water is used for municipal and industrial water supply and agricultural irrigation. The City of Austin is the biggest municipal user. Some of the water simply evaporates, but most just flows into Matagorda Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The Colorado also maintains ecological systems. In 1995, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission designated the stretch of the Colorado between Austin and La Grange as an “exceptional aquatic habitat.” The state owns the water in the Highland Lakes, while the LCRA manages it. Close
The Colorado River has been used by people for centuries. Historians agree that the Caddoan Indians called the Colorado River ‘Kanahatino’, and other tribes called it the ‘Pashohono’. Spanish explorers called it both the San Clemente and La Sablonniere because of its numerous sandbanks. The…Read More
The Colorado River has been used by people for centuries. Historians agree that the Caddoan Indians called the Colorado River ‘Kanahatino’, and other tribes called it the ‘Pashohono’. Spanish explorers called it both the San Clemente and La Sablonniere because of its numerous sandbanks. The name Colorado probably comes from the Spanish term for ‘red’. It began appearing on maps as the Colorado in 1690, although perhaps by cartographers’ error. Supposedly a mapmaker in Madrid transposed the names for the Colorado River and the Brazos River. The state capital was also planned for the Brazos, but the Colorado offered more opportunities to harness power. It was also more central and transportation and accessibility were key issues. Texas’s Colorado River is not to be confused with the Colorado River that flows through the Grand Canyon to California. Our Colorado has its headwaters at the Texas-New Mexico border and travels 900 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. There are ten intrastate rivers in Texas, with the Red River and the Rio Grande bordering us to the north and south, respectively. The Colorado River basin is in a primarily semi-arid region where rainfall increases as you move from west to east. The average annual rainfall over the Highland Lakes is about thirty inches, whereas in the upper basin near San Angelo, it’s twenty inches, and at the Gulf it’s forty-four inches. The basin is a 41,000 square-mile area, an area about the size of Ohio, that drains into the river. Its annual runoff is two million acre-feet. The Colorado River is prone to flooding because warm, moist air from the Gulf often clashes with Pacific and Canadian air and causes heavy rainfall. Central Texas is also prone to drought. The history of flooding and flood control on the Colorado River is a fascinating one, filled with political intrigue and even murder. The Colorado has probably flooded since the beginning of its existence. In February 1843, water levels were recorded at thirty-six feet. There were numerous floods recorded between 1869-1870, and by then people were crying out for action, especially those downstream of Austin who bore the brunt of the flooding. At the time, the river was still used for navigation by boat, and wood and other debris would pile up and clog boating channels. A few companies tried to clear these channels out, but the costs were high and there were frequent setbacks. Initial attempts to dam the Colorado came from the private sector, not the federal government. In 1885, a farmer named General Adam Rankin Johnson tried to garner support for building a dam at Shirley Shoals (now Buchanan Dam), which had been plagued by flooding. In 1895, General Johnson died and transferred his land to C.H. Alexander, including the water rights. The City of Austin also became interested in harnessing the water and in 1893 built the Austin Dam and a generator at the site of the present Tom Miller Dam. The dam created Lake McDonald and a colorful regatta was held to celebrate. Unfortunately, it quickly eroded and then washed away during the flood of 1900 when the river again rose thirty-three feet. Eight people, including five children, were killed when the powerhouse was crushed by floodwaters. The limestone foundation had prevented a good, strong base and as silt built up it made construction efforts futile. During this flood, an architect named Eugene T. Deats was working at his drawing board downtown when he heard a huge commotion and horses stampeding. He then heard Will Searight shouting from his horse “Run for your life! The dam is broke!” Water rushed up to the bank buildings at 6th Street and Congress Avenue and bridges were washed out. The Austin Dam was rebuilt in 1915, only to be destroyed by flooding again later that year. It was rebuilt a third time in 1937 and renamed Tom Miller Dam after the mayor who had worked for flood control. At the same time, Lake McDonald was renamed Lake Austin. C.H. Alexander tried to build a dam in 1912 at Marble Falls, but he was only able to complete a low-level structure about a third of the way across the river. He planned to build six dams in all but ran out of money. Close