The River Code
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Built with the locals who know these rivers best. The Frio and the Guadalupe show what happens when a river gets loved too hard — these are the few things that keep the rest the way they are.
- Pack out everything you bring in. Bottles, cans, butts, bait tubs — all of it. Bring an extra bag and grab what someone else left.
- No glass near the water. Broken glass in a swimming hole ends a perfect day in the ER. Cans and plastic only.
- Know where you're allowed to be. Most of this is private land. Stick to public crossings, parks, and posted access.
- Park with respect. Not on the crossings, the bridge, or in front of a ranch gate.
- Respect the water. Check the gauge; never cross a flooded crossing — on foot or in a truck.
- Leave the rocks where they lie. Stacked-rock towers wreck fish habitat. Let the riverbed be a riverbed.
- Don't drive in the riverbed. Trucks and ATVs crush the gravel beds and everything living in them. Park up top and walk down.
- Leave the wildlife alone. Don't feed it, chase it, or take it home — fish and turtles included.
- Keep it quiet, keep it dark. Skip the speaker. Leave the next person the water sounds and the stars.
- Mind fire and burn bans. Summers run dry and bans are common. Check before you light anything, and never leave a coal smoking.
- Leash 'em and clean up after 'em. Keep dogs close on shared water and private land, pick up after them every time, and don't let them chase wildlife or disturb other visitors.
- Spend your money in the river towns. Gas, food, supplies — the small towns are what keep these rivers accessible. Keep them alive.