Guadalupe Canoe Livery has been the No. 1 outfitter for kayak, tube, and canoe rentals on the beautiful Guadalupe River for more than 50 years, established in 1971 in Spring Branch, Texas. The business offers six canoe, kayak, or tube trips on the Upper Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, running from Nichol’s Landing to the 311 bridge, with campgrounds on-site dating back to the 1930s.
Genuinely distinct from many New Braunfels operators, Guadalupe Canoe Livery is not subject to New Braunfels restrictions, letting guests float a scenic 23-mile stretch of the Upper Guadalupe River as it twists through private property and Guadalupe River State Park, complete with several Class I and II rapids and waterfalls. The Upper Guadalupe above Canyon Lake also runs about 15 degrees warmer than the river below the dam, since it isn’t fed by cold water released from the bottom of the lake.
Kayaks run $45 per person/boat, Tubes run $15 each (both bottom and no-bottom options available), and Canoes run $60 for two people plus $15 per additional adult (up to 500 lbs per boat) — all kayak and canoe prices include shuttle, vests, paddles, sales tax, and the $1 per person water recreation fee tax. Primitive tent camping runs $15/adult or $12/child (12 and under) per night, with a $5 adult / $3 child day pass available for all-day access until roughly 8:30pm. Shuttle service for personal equipment runs $25 (plus $15 per additional person), with a $15 tube-trip shuttle available for pickup at the 311 bridge across half-mile, 2-mile, and 4-mile route options.
The fleet includes Jackson Riviera kayaks, Hyside rafts, and high-grade tubes (with or without bottoms), available first come, first served — no reservation needed, just show up. Cash, credit, debit, and checks are all accepted, with longer trip pricing available by phone.
Hours run Monday and Thursday-Sunday, 10am-8pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For paddlers and tubers near Spring Branch, Texas looking for a genuinely historic, more than 50-year established kayak, tube, or canoe rental on the Upper Guadalupe River, Guadalupe Canoe Livery offers a well-established, first-come-first-served operation.
