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The Comal River · Texas Hill Country

The Comal River

The shortest river in Texas — spring-fed to a constant 70–72°, clear and cool, running about two and a half miles right through the heart of New Braunfels. An easy family float with the most famous tube chute in the state.

Check the river level ↓What to know
Live Conditions
Comal River at New Braunfels · USGS 08169000 · Comal County
Full chart & history →
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Flowcubic feet / second
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Gauge heightfeet
Fetching live readings from USGS…
Source: USGS Water Services. The Comal is spring-fed, so flow stays steady and the water holds a constant 70–72°. These are live readings, not a safety rating — after heavy rain the river can still rise and run fast, so check in person before you go and never enter high or fast water.

About the river

The shortest river in Texas, and one of the most beloved.

The Comal rises from Comal Springs in Landa Park — the largest springs in Texas — and runs only about two and a half miles through New Braunfels before joining the Guadalupe. That short, spring-fed run stays clear and a constant 70–72° year-round, which is why it's a year-round tube-and-swim river. Its name is Spanish for "basin." For families, the famous tube chute at Prince Solms Park is the main event.

On the river:New Braunfels · Landa Park · Prince Solms Park ↗

At a glance

The Comal, by the numbers.

Headwaters
Comal Springs
largest springs in Texas
Length
~2.5 miles
the shortest river in Texas
Water
A constant 70–72°
spring-fed year-round
Feature
The tube chute
Prince Solms Park
Live gauge
USGS 08169000
Comal Rv at New Braunfels
River towns: New Braunfels Landa Park Prince Solms Park

What to know

Spring-fed, sensitive, and worth protecting.

Comal Springs and the river are home to species that live almost nowhere else — the endangered fountain darter and the Comal Springs riffle beetle among them — and the whole system depends on the Edwards Aquifer. It's a clear, cool, much-loved river that takes real care to keep that way: stay off the plants, keep glass out of the water, and pack out everything you bring in.

Ride the tube chute

The chute at Prince Solms Park is the Comal's signature — a quick, fun drop that's the highlight of any float. Cold, clear, and busy on summer weekends.

Start at Landa Park

Landa Park sits over the springs that feed the river — shade, picnic grounds, and the clearest sense of where the Comal begins.

Explore the network

The Comal is one of ten Hill Country rivers. See them all on the HillCountry.ai rivers hub ↗

Common questions

Comal River, answered.

How is the Comal River running right now?

Check the live USGS gauge at the top of this page (station 08169000, Comal at New Braunfels). Because the Comal is fed by Comal Springs — the largest springs in Texas — its flow is steady and the water holds a constant 70–72° year-round, clear and cool even in the heat of summer.

Is the Comal good for tubing and families?

Yes — it's one of the easiest family floats in Texas. The water is calm, clear, and a steady 70–72°, the float is short, and the famous tube chute at Prince Solms Park is the highlight for kids. It's busiest on summer weekends; go early for parking and shade.

Where is the Comal River?

Entirely within New Braunfels. It rises at Comal Springs in Landa Park and runs about two and a half miles — often called the shortest river in Texas — before joining the Guadalupe River. Landa Park and Prince Solms Park are the easiest places to find it.

Why is the Comal River ecologically protected?

Comal Springs and the river are home to species found almost nowhere else, including the endangered fountain darter and the Comal Springs riffle beetle. The spring flow depends on the Edwards Aquifer, so the river is sensitive to drought and pumping. Float lightly: stay off the plants, leave no trash, and keep glass out of the water.

Is the Comal River safe?

Generally it's gentle and well-used, but it runs through town with several dams and weirs to portage around, and like any Texas river it can rise fast after heavy rain. Check the live gauge, mind the chute, and never enter high or fast water.

When is the best time to visit the Comal?

Any time — the constant 70–72° spring water makes it a year-round river, and locals tube and dive it even in winter. Summer is the classic, busiest season; spring and fall are quieter and just as clear.

Good to know

Read the water before you go.

The Comal is spring-fed and steady — clear and a constant 70–72° year-round, which is what makes it such an easy family float. It’s gentle most of the time, but it runs through town with dams and weirs to mind, and like any Texas river it can rise after heavy rain. Glass is banned, there are no lifeguards, and the tube chute deserves respect. Check the live gauge above, and float light on a sensitive spring system.

See the river levelAll Hill Country rivers
Respect This Place — Texas Hill CountryThe River CodeRead the code ▾

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.

  1. Pack out everything you bring in. Bottles, cans, butts, bait tubs — all of it. Bring an extra bag and grab what someone else left.
  2. No glass near the water. Broken glass in a swimming hole ends a perfect day in the ER. Cans and plastic only.
  3. Know where you're allowed to be. Most of this is private land. Stick to public crossings, parks, and posted access.
  4. Park with respect. Not on the crossings, the bridge, or in front of a ranch gate.
  5. Respect the water. Check the gauge; never cross a flooded crossing — on foot or in a truck.
  6. Leave the rocks where they lie. Stacked-rock towers wreck fish habitat. Let the riverbed be a riverbed.
  7. Don't drive in the riverbed. Trucks and ATVs crush the gravel beds and everything living in them. Park up top and walk down.
  8. Leave the wildlife alone. Don't feed it, chase it, or take it home — fish and turtles included.
  9. Keep it quiet, keep it dark. Skip the speaker. Leave the next person the water sounds and the stars.
  10. Mind fire and burn bans. Summers run dry and bans are common. Check before you light anything, and never leave a coal smoking.
  11. 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.
  12. Spend your money in the river towns. Gas, food, supplies — the small towns are what keep these rivers accessible. Keep them alive.