Texas Parks & Wildlife Department provides this information about the Pedernales River in “An Analysis of Texas Waterways A Report on the Physical Characteristics of Rivers, Streams, and Bayous in Texas“
Pedernales River
Totaling approximately 106 miles in length, the Pedernales River rises in Kimble County and flows southeast through Gillespie, Blanco, Hays, and Travis Counties where it meets the Colorado River. The backwaters of Lake Travis are formed on the last few miles of the Pedernales. The river is spring-fed, free-flowing, and has many outstanding scenic qualities. The upper Pedernales at normal water levels has an insufficient flow for recreational use. However, the lower section contains the greatest volume of water at normal levels, and contains suitable conditions for recreational use.
Harper to US Highway 281
(Not mapped)
66 miles
The Pedernales River is a scenic Hill Country stream, flowing through rocky, rugged country. Water levels are usually insufficient for normal recreational use of the upper reaches during most of the year. However, during periods of runoff, portions of the upper Pedernales have the potential to become an exciting white water recreational waterway. However, these high water conditions can be very dangerous to inexperienced waterway recreationists. The river above US 281 is extremely narrow and shallow, while the stretch below US 281 is feasible for recreational use if the river is on a slight rise. Waterway features are as follows:
- Country road crossing off FM 2093 – 6 miles southeast of Harper.
- County road crossing off FM 2093 – 17 miles west of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off FM 2093 – 16 miles west of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off FM 2093 – 11 miles west of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing between FM 203 and SH 16 – 9 miles south of Fredericksburg.
- SH 16 crossing – 7 miles southwest of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 16 – 5 miles southeast of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 16 – 4 miles southeast of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 16 – 3 miles southwest of Fredericksburg.
- US 87 crossing – 3 miles south of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 290 – 3 miles south of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 290 – 4 miles southeast of Fredericksburg. County road crossing off US 290 – 7 miles southeast of Fredericksburg. County road crossing off US 290 – 10 miles southwest of Fredericksburg. County road crossing off US 290 – 11 miles west of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 290 – 12 miles west of Fredericksburg.
- County road crossing off US 290 – 14 miles west of Fredericksburg.
The Pedernales River Alliance – Gillespie County
The Pedernales River Alliance is primarily focused on the Pedernales River within Gillespie County.
In Gillespie County there are quite a few public access crossings of the Pedernales River (PR). It is important to know that volunteer monitors cannot access the river without landowner permission or they must access it from publicly accessible points. Here are a few publicly accessible crossings that we have identified:
- 1631 north of Stonewall
- N. River Road at Stonewall
- Jung Lane just north of Hwy 290
- Gellerman Lane, west of Stonewall
- Goehmann Lane just below Draper-Smith Road
- Bridge on Hwy 290E
- Old San Antonio Rd. below Baron’s Creek crossing
- Hwy 87S at Bridge
- Boos Lane just below intersection with River Rd
- Old Kerr Hwy below intersection with River Rd
- Old Kerr Hwy across Hwy 16 from Augusta Vin
- Pfiester Rd down from Hwy 16
- Hwy 16 down from Morris Ranch Rd
- Alfred Petsch Rd below Morris Ranch Rd
- Grona-Schandua Rd below Morris Ranch Rd
- Coonrod-Grona Rd below Morris Ranch Rd
- White Oak Rd just after Morris Ranch Rd ends
- Upriver Rd below Tivydale Rd/2093
- Pump Station Rd below Tivydale Rd
- Friedrich Rd below 2093
- Fiedler Rd below 2093
We have not yet collated this list with the TPWD list. Clearly this needs to be done. It is possible that the PRA list includes crossings that are not on the TPWD list.
If you own riverfront or creekfront property and would be willing to allow a volunteer to access the river from your property for either water quality monitoring or photo documentation, please contact the Pedernales River Alliance.