Comal River Tubing:
The Complete Guide

The Comal River is one of the most remarkable rivers in Texas and one of the most unique in the entire United States. It is entirely spring-fed, emerging from a series of natural springs in the heart of New Braunfels and flowing a constant 68 to 72 degrees year-round regardless of season or weather. At just over 2 miles long it is one of the shortest navigable rivers in the country — but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in character.

The river runs entirely through the city of New Braunfels, passing through Landa Park, under historic bridges, past the famous Tube Chute, along the banks of Schlitterbahn, and eventually joining the Guadalupe River at its southern end. Every inch of it has been thoughtfully managed for the tubing experience — the entry points, the exits, the flow rate, the landmarks along the way. It is a river that feels purpose-built for a great day on the water, because in many ways it is.

Tubing the Comal means floating downstream on an inner tube at the pace of the current. No paddling required, no experience needed. You get in, the river does the work, and 2.5 hours later a shuttle brings you back to where you started. It is one of the most genuinely relaxing ways to spend a day in Texas, and it has been drawing visitors from San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and beyond for generations.

Landa River Trips sits at the very top of the Comal River float — the uppermost launch point on the river, just below where the springs feed the falls that start the whole thing. Our property spans 8 acres of natural riverfront that is heavily wooded, deeply shaded by mature oak and pecan trees, and far less developed than outfitters located further downstream. When you launch from Landa River Trips you are getting the longest possible float and the most scenic stretch of the river from the very start.

Under normal river conditions the float from Landa River Trips takes approximately 2.5 hours from the time you enter the water to the time you reach the final exit point. This is one of the longer floats available on the Comal because we launch from further upstream than most other outfitters.

Float time is directly tied to river flow, which changes with rainfall and seasonal conditions. After significant rain the river runs faster and your float may be noticeably shorter. During dry stretches the current slows and your float can stretch to 3 hours or more. This is why calling ahead matters so much.

First time at Landa River Trips? Here is exactly what happens from the moment you pull into the lot so there are no surprises.

When you pull in you will be greeted by parking staff who will direct you to an available spot and answer any initial questions you have. We have 250+ spots directly on our property — all free for tubing guests — so you will not be circling a lot or hiking from a satellite location. Park, grab your gear, and you are already there.

From the lot it is a short walk to our rental booth. Here you pay for your rental and leave a photo ID as your deposit. We only take a photo ID — we do not hold car keys. If you are concerned about your keys or other valuables we offer free lockers on site so everything stays safe and dry while you are on the river.

Once you have paid, staff will hand you your tubes and walk you through one of our five large graphical signs positioned throughout the property. These signs show the entire float route with images of every rapid, every landmark, and every exit location along the way. Before you ever step in the water you will know exactly what to expect.

From the booth it is a short walk down the hill into the park. Our property has three sets of river entry stairs, each clearly marked. At each set of stairs there is an additional information sign showing the float route one more time — so by the time you step into the water you have seen the full map at least twice and know exactly where you are going.

The Comal River is crystal clear spring water — you can see the bottom in most sections and the water has a blue-green tint that makes it look almost tropical despite being right in the middle of a Texas city. Here is what you will experience from entry to exit.

Your $25 rental does not just buy you a tube and a shuttle ride. It buys you access to 8 acres of natural Comal River frontage for the entire day.

The Comal River has very limited food options along the route — there is essentially one opportunity and it is not something we would build your day around. Our recommendation is to eat a good meal before you arrive and bring your own snacks and drinks packed in reusable containers. Bring plenty of water — you will be in the sun for 2.5 hours and hydration matters more than people expect. See the container ban section below for exactly how to pack your food and drinks correctly.

Bring this

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  Water shoes or sandals with straps — the river bottom is uneven and rocky in spots, especially near entry and exit points. Flip flops float away or get pulled off by the current. Crocs with the back strap secured work well. Sandals with a heel strap are fine. Whatever you wear make sure it is attached to your foot.
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  Sunscreen — you will spend 2.5 hours in open Texas sun with very little shade on the water itself. Apply before you leave the property and bring some to reapply when you get out at the end. A burned float is a miserable float.
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  Waterproof phone case — you will want your phone on the river for photos and music. A simple lanyard-style waterproof case costs a few dollars and is well worth it. Cases that clip to your tube are even better.
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  Reusable water bottle or thermos — staying hydrated is critical on a 2.5 hour float in Texas sun. Yeti, Hydro Flask, Stanley, Nalgene — any of these work. Fill it before you get in the water.
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  Soft-sided cooler (30 qt max per person) — fabric bag-style coolers work best on the river because they fit the irregular shapes of reusable containers and thermoses far better than rigid hard coolers. They also tend to float better and are easier to manage on the water.
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  Food in reusable containers — Tupperware, snap-top containers, anything dishwasher-safe. Remove food from all original packaging before you arrive. See the container ban section for details.
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  Cash or card — rentals start at $25 per person. Cooler tubes are $25 plus a $20 deposit. Extra shuttle rides are $10 per person. Life jackets are free with a $20 deposit.
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  Dry bag for valuables — keys, wallet, anything you want to guarantee stays dry. A small waterproof dry bag or even a sealed zip-lock inside a bag works well. Remember we also offer free lockers if you prefer to leave valuables on shore.

Leave this at home (or in your car)

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  Glass of any kind — not allowed on the river under any circumstances
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  Styrofoam coolers — banned on the Comal River by city ordinance
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  Cans, plastic bottles, or any disposable containers — not allowed even if sealed inside a cooler. This is a possession rule not a littering rule. See the full container ban section below.
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  Long rope — we do not sell rope and strongly discourage bringing long rope on the river. It can become a serious safety hazard by tangling around legs, arms, or submerged rocks in moving water. Short connections between people or tubes are fine but leave the long rope in the car.
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  Disposable food packaging — remove all food from original wrappers, bags, boxes, or packaging before you arrive and transfer to reusable containers. This includes snack bags, chip bags, sandwich bags, and anything else that gets thrown away after one use.

The container ban — often called the “can ban” — is the rule that generates the most questions at our booth every single day. It is also the most commonly misunderstood rule on the river. Here is the clearest possible explanation.

This is a possession rule, not just a littering rule. The mere presence of a disposable container on the river is the violation — it does not matter if you intend to keep it contained or take it home with you. The City of New Braunfels established this ordinance to keep one of Texas’ most beautiful natural rivers clean, and it applies to every outfitter and every person on the Comal.

The rule confuses people in a few specific ways. Some people believe that cans are acceptable if they are stored inside a cooler — they are not. Some people think bringing a trash bag solves the problem — it does not. Some people think the rule means they cannot bring food or drinks at all — that is completely wrong. You can bring anything you want. You just have to bring it in the right container.

River banks are the exception — if you are fully out of the water and on the bank you have a bit more flexibility, but once you are surrounded by the body of water the rule applies fully. The cleanest approach is to simply leave all disposable containers in your car and bring only reusable containers to the river. That way there is no gray area to navigate.

Yes. Alcohol is fully allowed on the Comal River. The container ban does not prohibit alcohol — it prohibits disposable containers. Those are two completely separate things. You can bring beer, wine, cocktails, seltzers, or whatever you enjoy. You just need to bring it in a reusable container.

Pour your beer into a Yeti cup, Hydro Flask, Stanley tumbler, or any reusable cup before you leave home or before you enter the river. Canned beer and canned seltzers are not allowed — even sealed inside a cooler. The can itself is the issue, not the contents.

A soft-sided fabric cooler packed with reusable cups and thermoses is by far the most practical setup for drinking on the river. Rigid hard coolers work but they are awkward to manage on a tube. Soft-sided coolers conform to the shape of whatever is inside and sit more naturally on a cooler tube in the water.

Dogs are welcome at Landa River Trips. Many people bring their dogs and have a wonderful time. The Comal is a relatively gentle river in most sections and plenty of dogs float the whole stretch without any issues. That said, we take dog safety on the river seriously and we want to share some real information before you decide to bring your pet.

The specific risks for dogs on the Comal are well understood and largely preventable with the right precautions:

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  Long leashes are dangerous — a long leash can wrap around submerged rocks, tree roots, or your dog’s own legs in moving water faster than you can react. If you bring a dog use a short leash — no more than 4 to 6 feet — and keep your dog close to you at all times. Never let a dog swim freely on a long leash in moving water.
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  Walk your dog around the Tube Chute — the Tube Chute is fast-moving turbulent white water that dumps into a churning exit pool. This is genuinely difficult even for strong, athletic dogs. We strongly recommend walking your dog around the Tube Chute on the clearly marked path rather than taking them through it. The path takes two minutes and eliminates a meaningful risk.
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  Watch for fatigue — dogs will paddle and swim hard to keep up with tubes in the current and they do not always signal clearly when they are getting tired. Watch your dog continuously and get them out of the water at one of the entry/exit points if they seem to be struggling, slowing down, or showing signs of exhaustion.
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  Rocks and uneven bottom — the river bottom has rocky sections that can be hard on paw pads, especially in shallower areas. Some dog owners put booties on their dogs for the float.

The Comal River is one of the best family tubing rivers in Texas. The spring-fed water runs a constant 72 degrees — no shocking cold water entry that sends kids scrambling back out. The current is steady but not aggressive in most sections. The water is crystal clear so parents can always see the bottom. And the 2.5 hour float is long enough to feel like a real adventure but short enough for younger kids to handle without melting down.

Landa River Trips has a minimum age of 4 years old. Children of all ages must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

On our property the river ranges from about one foot deep in the shallow sections near the entry stairs to around 8 feet deep under the railroad bridge. Parents should keep younger children close in the deeper sections and can feel comfortable letting them splash in the shallower areas near our bank.

After you leave our property the river has a few naturally shallow spots — notably right after the Tube Chute exit where the water fans out, and a section in front of Schlitterbahn. The rest of the float is comfortably manageable for families with children of all ages.

The Tube Chute is exciting and most kids love it. There is a fast drop and a turbulent exit pool that lasts a few seconds. Kids who are comfortable in water and excited about the experience generally have the time of their lives going through it. Kids who are nervous, very young, or not strong swimmers can walk around it on the clearly marked path — no one is ever required to go through the Tube Chute and the walkway is well used and easy to navigate.

The Tube Chute is the most talked about feature of the Comal River and one of the most iconic river experiences in Texas. If you have done any research on tubing in New Braunfels you have almost certainly already seen photos or videos of it. Here is everything you need to know before you get there.

The Tube Chute is a concrete channel that was built to divert water from the main river into a faster, more concentrated flow that acts like a natural waterslide. The water accelerates as it moves through the channel and drops you back into the main river below with a satisfying splash and a short burst of white water at the exit. The whole thing is over in about 10 seconds but it is 10 seconds that most people want to do again.

The approach is gradual — you will hear the chute before you see it and the current will begin to pull you toward it. You have time to decide whether you want to go through or pull over to the walkway. There is no pressure either way and the current is manageable enough that you can make a clear choice before you are committed.

Most people who tube the Comal River float right past one of the most historically significant spots in New Braunfels without knowing what they are looking at. The waterfall visible from the Landa River Trips property is not a natural waterfall — it is a remnant of the industrial history that shaped this part of Texas, and the story behind it is worth knowing before you arrive.

The Comal River springs emerge in Landa Park, just upstream from our property. From the park the spring water flows toward what was once one of the most important industrial sites in the region — a mill that harnessed the power of the river to turn a water wheel, and later a hydroelectric plant that used the same consistent river flow to generate electricity. The waterfall you see today is where excess water was bypassed around these structures when it was not needed to power the wheel or the plant. What looks like a picturesque cascade is actually a carefully engineered overflow channel built more than a century ago.

The remnants of that mill and hydro operation sit across the river from our property, nestled against the edge of Landa Park and the Wurstfest grounds. The falls are fed by the same springs that flow through the park — water that has been emerging from the same source for thousands of years, put to work by early settlers, and now flowing past tubers who mostly have no idea they are floating through a piece of living Texas history.

The waterfall is not safe to swim in or directly approach from the water — the current and the structure beneath the surface make that genuinely dangerous. But from the water or the opposite bank you can float near it, hear it, and take in the full context of what you are seeing. On a quiet weekday morning with the sound of the falls carrying across the river and the morning light coming through the trees it is one of the most atmospheric spots on the entire Comal.

Because Landa River Trips launches from the uppermost entry point on the river — further upstream than any other outfitter — guests who enter from our first set of stairs float within sight of the falls almost immediately. Visitors launching from outfitters further downstream never get close to this stretch of the river at all.