Be River Proud: Alligators in the San Antonio River!?

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Last Updated on January 30, 2024

The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) staff is committed to safe, clean, enjoyable creeks and rivers but we need YOU to help us protect and preserve area natural resources for future generations. One action you can take is to join the River Authority and the San Antonio River Foundation by becoming a River Warrior. This program aims to build a volunteer community that supports and strives toward healthy waterways for the benefit of the flora, fauna, and people of the San Antonio River Basin. There are many other ways you can get involved, like supporting the Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River initiative!

We want to highlight your positive actions, so please share with us pictures or videos of you and your loved ones on social media using #BeRiverProud. Once a month, we’ll feature your stories on our blog.

Kayaking Fun on the Mission Reach Paddling Trail!

The green spaces, flowing waters, and cultural and historical sites along the 240 miles of San Antonio River provide the perfect setting for hiking, biking, fishing, bird-watching, picnicking, and of course, kayaking!

This month, @coiningcris takes to an Instagram Reel to see if there are alligators in the San Antonio River! Her reel, or mini vlog, as she calls it, provides a fun look at kayaking the Mission Reach Paddling Trail. When asked about her experience, Cris says,

It was my first time kayaking and Mission Kayak made it super easy to book and get acclimated to everything. I chose the 2-mile tour and definitely will be back for a longer one. Looking forward to exploring more of what San Antonio has to offer!”

We don’t want to give any spoilers to Cris’ Reel, but we can tell you that alligators are native to the San Antonio River and can be occasionally seen the closer you get to the coast. It has, however, been a very long time since an alligator has been seen this far north and close to the urban core of San Antonio. Watch Cris’ Reel to find out what she experienced while kayaking on the Mission Reach.

Check Out Her Reel Here

Photo Credit: @coiningcris

Also taking advantage of the great fall weather, community member John Bruce and his wife joined River Authority guides for a Mission Reach kayaking tour. The proceeds from this guided tour benefitted the San Antonio River Foundation. Check out these scenic pictures he captured while out on the water!

Kayaking along the San Antonio River

Photo credit: John Bruce

Kayaking along the San Antonio River

Photo credit: John Bruce

How can I kayak the San Antonio River?

It’s easy! Visit the River Recreation page for a list of approved paddling vendors to tour at your leisure. In addition, stay connected on our social media channels so you can be the first to know about upcoming kayaking events. Even if it’s your first time, we invite you to come out to one of our kayaking events, where kayaks, paddling gear, and life vests will be provided. Hope to see you out on the river with us!

Don’t’ Let Litter Trash Your River!

Get involved by taking the pledge to reduce litter and protect your local creeks and rivers. Visit our website to access resources like the volunteer toolkit. Then, take the San Antonio River Authority’s Trash Challenge by downloading the Litterati app and using challenge code SARIVER. And, don’t forget to start a discussion on your social networks by using the social media toolkit!

Show us your river pride for a chance to be featured on our blog!

  1. Engage in an activity showing river pride, such as: recreating along the San Antonio River, showing your stewardship for the San Antonio River, and/or using sustainability practices at your home. Read Show Your River Pride and What You Can Do at River Authority parks to find more examples of activities.
  2. Post a picture of your activity on social media!
  3. Tag @sanantonioriver
  4. Include #beriverproud

 

See you on the river!

 

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Alerts

San Pedro Creek Culture Park

The restrooms at South Alamo will be temporarily closed for maintenance and repairs. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. 

West Bank Trail Closure Notice

Due to the construction of a new trail and bridge, the West Bank of the trail between Schiller St. and Newell St. will be closed for the next couple of months. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Acequia Trail Notice

The Acequia trail will have heavy traffic near MROC starting May 22nd until further notice. The SAWS Acequia project will be bringing in crews to work on the lift station site and across the street. There will have flaggers to stop traffic, please use caution. 

SASPAMCO Paddling Trail

The SASPAMCO paddling trail is open from River Crossing Park to Helton Nature Park.
*Please Note: Paddling Trail from Helton Nature Park to HWY 97 is still closed due to blockages. 

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