New Braunfels Area

New Braunfels: choose a river and a named entrance

This regional guide covers two different rivers and several access points, not a single swimming hole. Choose your destination before driving and check current city river information. A town map point does not locate a lawful water entrance.

Comal River: Hinman Island or Prince Solms

The city identifies Prince Solms Park, 100 Liebscher, for Comal recreation. Hinman Island Park on Hinman Island Drive also provides Comal access, with restrooms, picnic areas, playground and walking paths. Use designated entrances. The city specifically asks visitors not to enter the water near Comal Springs in Landa Park to protect habitat.

Guadalupe River: Cypress Bend or River Acres

For the Guadalupe inside city limits, compare Cypress Bend Park, 503 Peace Avenue, with River Acres Park, 501 Fair Lane. Cypress Bend lists restrooms, a pavilion, playground and drinking fountain. River Acres is a smaller river-access park with benches and picnic amenities; its facility list does not establish restrooms. Neither park's facilities describe every Guadalupe stop or private outfitter.

Plan parking, costs and the trip back

Public access and private bookings are different

Review city parking locations and seasonal fees before leaving. River activity wristbands, City Tube Chute admission, parking and tube rental are different charges, not one region-wide admission price. The published summer parking window is May 1 through Labor Day, so do not apply those rates to every date or lot. Residential parking restrictions and Hinman Island parking closures also matter.

For a private trip, select the actual location and service with an outfitter such as Rockin R. Confirm whether parking, gear, a shuttle and the intended exit are included. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is a separately ticketed waterpark with its own calendar and policies, not public river access. Water slides should not be described as facilities at every natural river entrance.

Bringing your own Comal tube

The city tubing guide permits personal tubes up to five feet in diameter. Self-tubers can start at Hinman Island or Prince Solms and must leave at the Last Public Exit. The city provides no Tube Chute shuttle; plan the roughly half-mile sidewalk return along South Union Avenue or book an operator's transport. City tube rentals are seasonal and parking is separate. Check the guide for applicable summer weekend and holiday wristbands rather than assuming the same charge every day.

Rules and conditions before water entry

Supervision and flow are river-specific

The city Guadalupe page reports no lifeguards inside city limits and publishes flow-dependent recreation limits. The Comal page describes seasonal guards at the City Tube Chute only, with none after Labor Day. Neither statement establishes supervision for the entire region. Check current alerts and river-specific flow guidance; a flow measurement or clear-looking photograph does not confirm today's bathing-water quality.

Check hours and protect the river

The city river pages list access parks from 6 a.m. to midnight, while the Hinman Island, Cypress Bend and River Acres facility pages list 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Confirm posted hours or ask Parks & Recreation at 830-221-4350 rather than relying on the later time. City park rules restrict swimming and wading to designated areas and prohibit overnight camping. River rules within city limits prohibit disposable containers and jumping from bridges. Follow current signs and do not extend these city rules to every upstream private property.

Why no generic town gallery is shown

The saved photo match is New Braunfels as a city, not a named river park. Its images and business-status flag cannot identify an entrance, prove that the rivers are closed or describe all operators. No generic city photos have been presented as verified swimming locations.