Comal River Tubing

Been here twice! I love the temperature of the water! It’s perfect for a hot summer day. Not too cold at all. The chutes are pretty fun; don’t have to worry about them because they’re not too crazy. Those who are afraid of extreme theme park rides– Fear not!
The river is very nice and well-​kept. They have strict regulations on littering and trash. However, they’ve recently uplifted the rule about bringing your own containers for drinks– you can bring anything you want now, as long as you dispose of trash properly.
We’ve used Texas Tubes for both trips. They rent out tubes for $ 15 and you also have to pay an entry fee if you bring your own float/​cooler float. They provide you access to a shuttle. Be sure to arrive early on summer days because they get busy! You will have to park in their extended parking lot and deal with their long lines.
Bottom line– great experience! Comal River is awesome! Stick with Texas Tubes!

Relaxing but really crowded on weekends. Just float and let the river take you down. Be careful of the chutes though!

I want to start this off by saying that I’m no first time floater… I used to go floating at least four times a week for 2 yrs straight. Oh to be young and carefree again! Lol I live about a little over a hour away and the Comal is always worth the trip. Fun, safe, easy, and a great time. I will say that the river a few years ago was fun but now that stricter laws were enforced the river is cleaner and more beautiful than ever! The memories I have on the river will last me a lifetime. The park is beautiful as well. The first chute is a little tricky but fun if you just embrace it. Haha I’ve been floating at every river you around these parts and this one is def my favorite. The only thing I can complain about is parking. On a busy day the park can get real full super fast. Which was one of our issues this past weekend. But we worked it out everything was else was as easy and fun as could be.

Beautiful float area. Make sure not to bring any glass bottles or any containers less than 5 oz (aka plastic jello shot containers). The boat cops were out confiscating hard. There is a chute that is not for the motion sick. Overall, great experience.

Came to NB for a 2 week vacation with the kids. The Comal is clean, the park is beautiful and well-​kept. We tubed, swam at the city swimming hole, enjoyed the Wet Willie and the rope swing, ate Sno Cones and caught enough fish for a fish fry. On our last float, We stopped at the chute and our 10yr old slipped on a slippery sidewalk and injured her wrist. The employees at the City Tube Chute were friendly and helpful. The Park Ranger drove my husband to our truck so we could take daughter for an X-​ray. We have added NB to our list of yearly musts for summer fun!
Thanks again to the staff working the City Tube Chute on 6÷30÷15!

I will forever remember the Comal as the first river I ever floated down in a tube. We went at the beginning of September to avoid the hot heat of August. The Comal based on research is warmer than the other rivers and about 3 miles long. There are several places to enter the Comal for free at public parks, or at a price with one of many river outfitters. The day we went the river was creeping along, instead of taking 3 hours it took four. The river itself is beautiful, the majority of the river is well shaded by old oak trees. I loved how you could get out at several places along the river, and then hop back in. There were a couple of tube chutes on the river that were very well signed in advance. It added some extra excitement to the lazy river float. The river was crowded with tubes and people. Many people like us had a separate tube with a ice chest for water, drinks, and snacks (some even had radios). Definitely come prepared with sun screen to reapply, and I found it very helpful to have water friendly shoes as the bottom is slippery. There are parts of the river that are very shallow, and others that are deep. The exit to get out of the river is very well signed, and you climb a long staircase back to the road. If you float with a. river outfitter, the price includes a shuttle ride back to you’re car.

Love

We float the Comal River every year and are always awed by the beauty of the river, the amazing trees and constant water level and cool water temperature. When we have company come to visit this is the one place we always take them if the weather is right. Our boys love the little fish, the turtles sunning on the logs and the rope swings. Remember to bring sunscreen, a snack and enjoy.

My family and I floated the Comal River for the first time, we had a blast! I had been given a suggestion that this river is the more family friendly one to float, constant water flow and can be crowded suring peak season. It was fun! people of all ages and backgrounds were there enjoying the beautiful water amongst hundreds and thousands of others! We did have a wait at the tube rental that took about an hour, but was well worth it! I highly pass on the suggestion to wear sunscreen and water shoes. Ready to float again!

I had never floated a river before, but I’ve gotta say — the Comal totally blew my expectations out of the water! Beautiful river, with mostly clear water. I loved the slides (truly, I wish there were more!), and I thought it was so fun that you can drink, and meet new people on this 2 – 3 hour ride. What a great time and a fun way to people watch. I will DEFINITELY be coming here again!

Love the constant water temperature and how clear the water is! I could see little fish, turtle and baby snake! It was not a poisonous one and being in nature, I’m not surprise and don’t mind. I do love snakes. Rule change and they allow cans in the river. I could see bunch of lazy, stupid ppl start throwing cans in the river (you could see some in the bottom of the river). Let’s hope ppl smarter than that for the nature sake. Never try other river and will keep it that way! If I go tubing, Comal would be it. No muddy water for me and 2 – 3 hours tubing is perfect time and always could do more round as needed without feeling trap too long in the river.

We were introduced to the Comal River last summer and we are definitely adding this to our «must do every summer» list. I’m not one who could sit in a river float all day, so the 2 mile loop is perfect as it only takes a few hours. It also loops around, so you don’t have a long walk back to the beginning (or your car) at the end. — (Hint: walk straight through town when you get out, don’t follow the river back). The chutes are fun, but not too fast/​dangerous and the deeper spots allow you get out and swim (or tip fellow floaters if you’re feeling mischievous). It’s well shaded so you don’t bake the full two hours, which is nice. You can rent floats on the spot, or stop in at Academy and buy your own for $ 15.

I haved live here for 23 years. What was once a great and fun loving town is being choked by corrupt politicians bogging down the small businesses with unrealistic regulations designed to make doors close. If this city council and mayor and cronies would focus on roads, bridges, parks and general drainage maintenance and stop trying to be busy bodies trying to take over and choke the river outfitters the economy would be far better.

Scenery was gorgeous even in January. We rode up and down the banks taking pictures and watching people fish. Because it was winter, we didn’t go for a swim or canoe ride. For us, the relaxation of just watching the water was enough. It was beautiful even for Texas. I bragged about it when we returned home.

It’s easy to get mad at the New Braunfels law banning disposable containers (e.g. cans & bottles) on the Comal River, but it’s hard to argue with the results: the river has never looked better! The new rules (
) mean that you have to do a little more planning than you might have done before, but it’s still a great day out. And alcohol is *not* banned, despite popular rumors to the contrary.
Tubing down the Comal River is just plain fun. If possible, go during the week rather than on the weekend. And go early no matter what day you go. Sure, it can get crowded, especially just before the first chute. But don’t get upset. Just lean back and chill out.
Go with the flow.

We floated here on the fourth of July and were expecting it to be packed, the crowd was only just slightly larger than what you would expect on a normal summer weekend.
We thought maybe they were slower because of the new regulations on disposable containers? So here’s the rule, you can drink on the comal, but it must be in non-​disposable container (nalgene bottle, thermos, etc) and I think you can only have 3 – 4 containers per person (not sure about this part).
The three chutes make this float trip a little more adventurous than your typical trip. We brought our own tubes, and it looked like at least half of the other people did too.
The spot where you initially put in at is a nice wide swimming hole, with lots of room to play in the water in addition to just floating. Just inside the gates of the park (no entry fee) you can set up and picnic or set up those shade tents and hang out all day.
I would say if you’re a family looking to spend a day on the river, this is probably better than the San Gabriel because of the swimming areas and the picnic and playground areas.
We will definitely be going back!

You’re floating in a river where there are a bunch of awesome, loud, drunk, high, dumb, obnoxious, friendly people. You’re floating in a river where you will see some animals you may not want to see. DEAL WITH IT.

This is a fantastic tubing river and you get to bring your own beer along with being able to rent an ice chest with its own tube. There are usually lots of people out on the river and everybody is having a great time. They have a LOT of law enforcement both in boats and out on the banks of the river so if you get out of the water and try to go onto the land to urinate or anything else they will arrest you ASAP so just stay in the water! They also have ever changing rules about what you can and can’t have and what they will give you littering tickets for so make sure to check for the most recent info. If you just kick back and relax this is one of the most enjoyable things around.
The most recent rule change has made this drop from a 5 Star experience to a three star in that they have banned aluminum cans and large ice chests so that now the only way you can transport beer is in some sort of reusable cooler or other container. Apparently you CAN still bring a keg which is great considering their ideas on «reusable» containers and small ice chests don’t give me enough beer for the journey.
Did I mention the hordes of hot chicks in bikinis…

The summer of 2000, I popped my «float the river» cherry at the Comal River. It was my junior year in high school and our crew went on the craziest camping excursion ever. Probably one of my best adolescent memories. I think my name (along with the ex. Jerk.) is still carved into a tree
The Comal River is the shortest navigable river in the US, so if you’re looking for a short float — just a couple of hours along a 2+ mile stretch — then this is your spot. It’s pretty peaceful, clean and has a lot of banks along the way to pull over for snacks and pictures, and there’s a few chutes when you pass by Schlitterbahn.
When the water’s low, DO stock up on extra drinks and sunscreen. Forth of July weekend in 2009, this 2-​hour float turned into EIGHT hours. I couldn’t help but sing J.T.‘s «Dead and Gone.» …Oh, I’ve been travelin’ down this road too long, tryin’ to find my way back home …

Damn I can’t wait til the summer.

We have an annual river trip usually first weekend in June. This is my 4^th year to go and I look forward to it every year! Here are some fail proof tips to go by to ensure an awesome tubing experience.
1. Rent a tube (I suggest buy one at an area Academy or Wal-​Mart for the same cost as renting one). That way you have it for furture use & it is a nicer tube.
2. Buy a case of beer and a 16-​quart Igloo cooler.
3. Get a tube for the cooler (or get one of those sweet inflatable kind) and some rope or bungees to tie up tubes and coolers.
4. Do not bring anything on the river that you care about losing.
5. Bring a drybag or waterproof box (found in the camping isle at Wal-​Mart).
6. Sunscreen… enough said.
7. No glass or styrofoam is allowed on the river. Neither are those little jello shot cups.
8. Bring or buy a crawfish bag to put your cans in… don’t be a litter bug!
9. Pay attention to the signs pointing you toward the tube shoots & hold on to your loose items.
10. Have fun & enjoy!