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The Medina River · Texas Hill Country

The Medina River

Clear, green, cypress-lined water running through the town of Medina and Bandera — the Cowboy Capital of the World. A classic Hill Country river for swimming and floating, with the honest flash-flood streak that comes with this country.

Check the river level ↓Where to stay
Live Conditions
Medina River at Bandera · USGS 08178880 · Hwy 173 · Bandera 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. This is the Bandera flood-warning gauge at the Highway 173 bridge. The Medina is rain-driven, so it can run low in late summer and rise fast after a storm. These are live readings, not a safety rating — check in person before you go, and never cross a flooded low-water crossing.

About the river

Cypress, clear water, and cowboy country.

The Medina runs out of the western Hill Country through the little town of Medina and on through Bandera, lined the whole way with old bald cypress and some of the clearest green swimming water in the region. Medina Lake sits downstream on its course. Named for Pedro de Medina, a 16th-century Spanish cartographer, it's a working river through ranch country — beautiful, swimmable, and quick to rise when the rain comes.

On the river:Medina · Bandera · Medina Lake ↗

At a glance

The Medina, by the numbers.

Headwaters
Bandera County highlands
western Hill Country
Length
~116 miles
toward San Antonio
Hill Country stretch
Medina → Bandera
cypress-lined swimming water
Feature
Medina Lake
downstream of Bandera
Live gauge
USGS 08178880
Medina Rv at Bandera (Hwy 173)
River towns: Bandera ↗ Medina Medina Lake

Where to stay

Cabins on the Bandera side of the river.

Bandera and the town of Medina both sit right on the river, and both are home ground for Backroads Hill Country — cabins and vacation rentals are the local way to stay, many of them within reach of the water. Bandera makes the easiest base, with the river, the dance halls, and the Cowboy Capital all in one place.

Cabins in Bandera →

Common questions

Medina River, answered.

How is the Medina River running right now?

Check the live USGS gauge at the top of this page (station 08178880, Medina at Bandera, at the Highway 173 bridge). The Medina is rain- and spring-fed rather than purely spring-fed, so it can run low in a dry late summer and rise quickly after rain — the live reading is the honest answer on any given day.

Is the Medina good for swimming and tubing?

Yes — the stretches around Bandera and Medina are classic Hill Country swimming and tubing water: clear, green, and lined with old cypress. Bandera City Park and English Crossing are well-known access points. Flow matters here, so check the gauge before you plan a float.

Where is the Medina River?

It runs through the western Hill Country past the town of Medina and through Bandera — the Cowboy Capital of the World — with Medina Lake on its course downstream. The easiest places to know it are the town of Medina, Bandera, and the Highway 173 crossing where the gauge sits.

Is the Medina prone to flooding?

Yes — Bandera County has a real flash-flood history, with major floods in 1978, 2002, and 2015, which is exactly why there's a dedicated flood-warning gauge here. The river can rise fast and hard after heavy rain. Always check the live gauge, and never cross a flooded low-water crossing on foot or in a vehicle.

Where should I stay on the Medina River?

Bandera and Medina are both on the river, and both are Backroads Hill Country territory — cabins and vacation rentals are the local way to stay, many within reach of the water. See the options on the Bandera cabins page linked below.

When is the best time to visit the Medina?

Late spring and early summer usually bring the best flow for swimming and floating; fall is quieter and the cypress turn rust-gold along the banks. Because the river is rain-driven, the live gauge is the best guide to any specific week.

Good to know

Read the water before you go.

The Medina runs low and clear through much of the year, then comes up fast after rain — this is real flash-flood country, with major floods in 1978, 2002, and 2015, which is why there’s a dedicated warning gauge at the Bandera bridge. The live gauge above is the honest read on any given day. Glass is banned, there are no lifeguards, and low-water crossings flood first — never cross one that’s running. Check the level, then go.

See the river levelCabins in Bandera
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.