The Frio River

— Gauge height feet — Water temp degrees Fahrenheit Fetching live readings from USGS… Source: USGS Water Services . The Frio is generally floatable between about 80 and 300 cfs — below that you'll be walking the shallow sections, and when flow spikes after a hard rain, give the low crossings a day to drop. These are live readings, not a safety rating — levels change fast and vary stretch to stretch, so check in person before you go and never enter high or fast water. The river

Cold, clear, and spring-fed.

The Frio rises in the canyons of northern Real County and runs about 200 miles to meet the Nueces. Its name is Spanish for "cold" — and it earns it: even in August the water runs in the 60s and low 70s. The stretch worth knowing threads the canyon from Leakey down through Garner State Park to Concan, over limestone and gravel, shaded by some of the tallest cypress in the Hill Country.

The water Cold and clear when it's running — generally floatable between 80 and 300 cfs. The Garner stretch is the famous one: shallow flats for kids, cypress shade, and deep pools below Old Baldy for a real swim.

The canyon The river cut the Frio Canyon through the western Hill Country — limestone bluffs, towering cypress, and dark night skies once you're past the Concan glow. Leakey sits quiet up top; Concan is the busier river hub below.

Float, swim & fish Tubing is the headline between Garner and Concan when the water's up. Higher in the canyon it's quieter — better for a swim, a paddle, or a line in the water. Check the gauge above before you plan around a float.

The Frio, by the numbers.

Where to stay, and how to make a trip of it.

Stay on the river Riverfront cabins along the Frio are represented by Backroads Hill Country, managing Hill Country rentals since 2001. Browse cabins in Concan ↗ or cabins in Leakey ↗ . Pet policies vary cabin to cabin, so confirm when you book.

Frio River, answered.

Check the live USGS gauge at the top of this page (station 08195000 at Concan). The Frio is generally floatable between about 80 and 300 cubic feet per second. Below that you’ll be walking the shallow sections, and outfitters may close it when it runs too high after heavy rain.

Cold enough to earn its name — frío is Spanish for cold. The spring-fed water commonly runs in the 60s and low 70s Fahrenheit even in midsummer, which is why it’s the float of choice when the rest of Texas is sweltering.

The Garner State Park stretch — shallow gravel flats, slow current, and cypress shade — is the easiest for kids, with deeper pools below Old Baldy for stronger swimmers. The upper canyon near Leakey is quieter.

Riverfront cabins near Concan and Leakey are managed by Backroads Hill Country , in business since 2001. Browse availability by town through Backroads.

Late spring through summer for tubing when the water is up. Early fall is the quieter sleeper season — lower water, fewer crowds, and easier cabin availability.

The Frio runs low and clear most of the year, then comes up fast after a hard rain in the canyon. The live gauge above is the honest answer to "how's the river this weekend": around 80–300 cfs is the float zone, below that you'll be walking shallow stretches, and a sharp jump means high and muddy — low-water crossings flood first, so give them a day to drop. Glass is banned on the river, and there are no lifeguards out here. Check the level, then go.

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.