Welcome to month–whatever this is–of pandemic living! By now, all of us (and our furry friends) are “chomping at the bit” to get out and do something…anything! And, the summer heat is already relentless, making many outdoor activities dangerous for both us and our pets, not to mention many of our favorite activities are canceled due to the coronavirus crisis. The good news is that there is still one fun, local(ish) activity that is not canceled–river fun!
The Texas Hill Country and San Antonio area is home to many beautiful, clear and refreshing rivers that are perfect for a diversion on a hot summer day. While many of our area rivers are perfect for tubing and kayaking, that doesn’t necessarily make them perfect for taking Fido along. Since dogs must be on leash at all times at the river, trying to take a leashed dog into deep water is terribly dangerous. However, most dogs enjoy just enough water to get their feet wet and the following rivers offer just that!
Here are a few rivers that are close to home and make for a fun, wet adventure for you and your doggo!
(Most of these rivers are reachable via a Texas State Park. Most all state parks allow dogs on leash at all times, and proper pooch manners are required. As always, do your research and determine beforehand if the park you are planning to visit is open and currently allowing pets before you hit the road. Also, due to increased interest in our state parks, online reservations are often required for day passes.)
Blanco River
Blanco State Park
An hour’s drive from San Antonio, Blanco State Park features the cool, spring-fed Blanco River as its main draw. While the park itself is small, it is nestled along a one mile long stretch of Blanco River. Take a picnic and plenty of extra drinking water for Fido and make a day of enjoying the Texas Hill Country at its finest!
Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River State Park
While much of the Guadalupe River sits along private property and is famous for tubing and other water sports, Guadalupe River State Park, located in Spring Branch (about 30 minutes from San Antonio) is situated above the Canyon Lake dam, making it a calm, wade-worthy treat. Featuring a crystal clear, rock bed river bottom, Guadalupe River State Park is the perfect place to take your dog for a relaxing swim in the refreshing waters.
Insider tip: When booking your day pass, be sure to specify entry to the main entrance of the park in order to access the river. The Bauer Unit entrance is on the north side of the park and, while great for hiking, doesn’t feature river access.
Pedernales River
Pedernales Falls State Park
Located in Johnson City, just a little more than an hour’s drive from San Antonio, the Pedernales River rolls through large slabs of natural limestone, making for breathtaking waterfalls and clear pools of water–perfect for cooling off hot dog paws (and human paws, too!). Not all areas of Pedernales Falls State Park is open for swimming, but a few areas do allow it, so be sure to do your research ahead of time. Also, the weather greatly dictates what areas are open, so plan your trip ahead of time so that you know what to expect.
Just a gentle reminder, in the midst of the COVID crisis, to always practice social distancing when visiting our area rivers and parks. Follow the rules and guidelines and make sure to monitor the health and happiness of Fido while you’re having fun. Dogs can tire quickly in the heat and water, so always take the safety of your pet into account when planning your river outing.
Author: Jenny Jurica
Jenny is a married mother of two humans, one rescued Weimaraner, and four (yes, four) rescued cats. She is a native Texan who is a columnist/contributor for several publications and enjoys spending her free time curled up on the couch with a dog and a couple of cats. Much like the poet Sylvia Plath, Jenny often finds that she, “likes people too much or not at all,” but has never met an animal that she didn’t instantly adore (except for maybe the Komodo dragon at the zoo).
