The Hidalgo Falls section of the Brazos is the only place on the river to play in whitewater rapids ranging from Class I to Class IV, depending upon flow. As a rule paddlers do not come to this section for downriver trips, but rather to run the rapids, portage back to the top, then run the rapids again (you get such little opportunity to run whitewater on the Brazos that you have to take your fun where you find it!) It is a great place to practice technique and develop whitewater paddling skills for other rivers where you will paddle your canoe or kayak.
Access and camping are minimal along this section of the Brazos, but limited facilities are available. You will not find any commercial liveries or other river services in the Hidalgo Falls area. This area is usually considered to be a day camping area where people come to play for a few hours before returning home or going to another river. The huge boulders around the Falls make this an excellent whitewater adventure, but you will get wet, so be sure to lash everything to your boat, wear your PFD and be prepared to swim and recover your boat in fast-moving water if you capsize. Swiftwater rescue capabilities would be advisable.
Brazos and Washington Counties in central Texas, near Brenham, Navasota and Millican.
Waco 150 miles; Dallas 180 miles; Austin 125 miles; San Antonio 175 miles; Houston 60 miles; Oklahoma City 385 miles; Little Rock 505 miles; Kansas City 685 miles; Albuquerque 941 miles; Phoenix 1,113 miles; Denver 1,367 miles; Salt Lake City 1,545 miles (all distances are approximate, and depend upon starting point, destination at the river and route taken.)
Murky to muddy, getting muddier right after local rainfalls. Almost always enough water to run the Falls, with rapids rated from Class I to Class IV, depending upon current flow rate.
This section of the Brazos can generally be run almost anytime. It is a wet ride, so prepare accordingly, especially if paddling in winter months.
The primary hazards on the Hidalgo Falls section of the Brazos are the large standing waves and whitewater rapids that can swamp and capsize a boat. Know your paddling skills and be prepared.
Private camp above the first of the falls (getting there is half the trip!) Pick up a key to the gate at the Shell service station on the north side of Highway 105/90 in Navasota in case the gatekeeper is not there to collect a small access fee. From SH 105, take SH 159 north about 3.2 miles, then turn left (south) onto a gravel road. Follow the gravel road nearly a mile until it comes to a "T", then take the right turn to the river and the private camp.
The final take-out point for this section is the gravel road access off SH 159 from SH 105 about 5 miles below Hidalgo Falls. However, most people take out at the same place where they put in. Parking is very limited at the Highway 105 access, and you could get towed for parking there.
Limited primitive camping is available adjacent to the Hidalgo Falls put-in. Day camping is available at Washington-on-the-Brazos Park south of Highway 105, where overnight camping is NOT allowed! There are no other camping spots in the immediate vicinity of Hidalgo Falls.
There are no liveries or shuttle services along this section of the Brazos River. Make your own arrangements.
Hidalgo Falls is the ONLY place on the Brazos River where you can run whitewater drops. It is a popular weekend getaway for many kayakers from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston and other Texas cities because it usually has navigable flows when other rivers are too low to paddle. This short 5 mile run is one that most paddlers will do multiple times in a day, and most of them will shorten it to play at the falls. The Brazos River flows all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, and it is possible to paddle below the Hidalgo Falls area, though that is not a popular destination.
