River Recreation

From its calm, peaceful flow through the urban environment at its headwaters, to its wild, unpredictable rural stretches, the San Antonio River traverses 240 miles to the Texas coast. We invite you to discover the wonders of the river at San Antonio River Authority Parks and Paddling Trails located throughout Bexar, Wilson, and Goliad Counties.

Health and well-being are important in everyone’s life and the parks and paddling trails that the River Authority operates are wonderful spaces to enjoy fun and relaxing opportunities for recreation.

Things to do at San Antonio River Authority Parks and Trails:

• Bike, run, and hike the 15 miles of scenic trails along the Museum & Mission Reaches of the San Antonio River Walk.
• Paddle on the San Antonio River.
  • Whether you’re a novice paddler or an experienced one, find many areas to explore at your own leisure. The Recreation & Park Programming team highlight the King William and Mission Reach trails in Kayaking the San Antonio River Part 1. Then check out less frequented paddling trails in Kayaking the San Antonio River Part 2.
  • Contact the San Antonio River Authority's approved paddling vendors to reserve a kayak tour today!

Mission Kayak	TX River Company	Kayak the River Walk

• To learn more about kayaking in the Downtown Reach of the San Antonio River Walk, please visit Go Rio Cruises.

• Go fishing! With several quiet areas for anglers to cast their hook, watch this video for ideal fishing spots along the San Antonio River.
• Explore the San Antonio Spanish Missions, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas!
  • In Goliad, visit Mission Espiritu Santo and Mission Presidio La Bahía
• Enjoy public art along the Museum Reach, Mission Reach, and San Pedro Creek Culture Park
• Photograph nature and wildlife along the San Antonio River or at any River Authority parks to enter in the annual River Clicks Photo Contest for a chance to win outdoor recreation prize packages. The contest opens the last Friday in February.
• Make a reservation for any of the following activities:
  • Primitive camping at Helton Nature Park
  • Get married at one of River Authority’s scenic outdoor locations
  • Reserve a pavilion or an amphitheater for your next event or special occasion
  • Organize a race with a course on the Mission and Museum Reaches on the San Antonio River
• Discover birding and birdwatching with the Mission Reach Avian Study and learn about the more than 200 bird species documented since 2015. Check out this recreational video for tips before you go!
• Find all nature parks and cultural/historical points of interest in the San Antonio River Basin map.
• Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the Recreation Video Series that answer your most popular recreation questions! The videos are also available in Spanish.
  • También ofrecemos esta serie de videos en español como parte de nuestro esfuerzo para alcanzar a nuestra comunidad hispanohablante.