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River Road: New Braunfels to Canyon Lake, Guadalupe River, Texas
Photo: Billy Hathorn (talk) · CC BY 3.0

Drives Texas Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country

River Road: New Braunfels to Canyon Lake

River Road, South Access Road · New Braunfels → Canyon Dam

Sweeping14.8 mi35 min1,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 900 ftOne way
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The drive

River Road is Comal County's road along the Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam. It runs upstream from New Braunfels on a narrow, winding course under bald cypress, crossing the river on low bridges known simply as the First, Second, Third and Fourth Crossings, and ends near the dam on FM 306.

This is the tubing stretch of the Lower Guadalupe. The cool, steady flow released from Canyon Dam, finished in 1964, brought vacation homes, campgrounds and tubing outfitters to River Road, and on summer Saturdays and holiday weekends tens of thousands of people come to float. Out of season it's a shaded drive along the water.

Along the way

  1. New Braunfels (Loop 337)
  2. River Road
  3. Canyon Dam (FM 306)
Elevation
1,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 900 ft
New BraunfelsCanyon Dam
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
New BraunfelsCanyon Dam
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The low crossings close when the river floods; check the county's low-water closure map after heavy rain.
  • Summer weekends bring tubers, shuttle buses and slow traffic, with jams around big events at the nearby amphitheater.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Comal County Road Department: current road status.

Questions about this drive

How long does River Road from New Braunfels to Canyon Lake take?

River Road from New Braunfels to Canyon Dam is 14.8 miles and takes about 35 minutes, longer on summer weekends.

How many times does River Road cross the Guadalupe?

River Road crosses the Guadalupe River four times on low bridges, called the First through Fourth Crossings.

Is River Road closed when the Guadalupe floods?

Yes: River Road's low crossings and riverside stretches close during floods; Comal County's road department posts a low-water closure map.

When is River Road busiest?

River Road is busiest on summer Saturdays and holiday weekends, when tens of thousands come to tube the Guadalupe.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of River Road: New Braunfels to Canyon Lake, from New Braunfels to Canyon Dam