Lampasas River, Ding Dong to Gravel Crossing

Trip Overview

Summary

Lampsas River, Ding Dong to Gravel Crossing
Bishop Brock and J Moore
June 17, 2024 @ 300 cfs
12.5 river miles in 5.5 hours, including stops
All photos by J Moore

An awesome trip after spring rains, with nice scenery, rapids, and a wild and remote feeling.

Description

The Lampasas River upstream from Stillhouse Hollow Lake seems to be better known to wade-fishermen than to paddlers. This is no doubt because the river rarely has enough water for an enjoyable float trip, other than for very brief periods after heavy rains. The “Cinco de Mayo” flood of 2024 drove the Lampasas River to an incredible 75,000 cfs, as measured at the Ding Dong gauge. Six weeks later, including a few intervening heavy rains, the river was still flowing at a nice 300 cfs when we set out on June 17^th.

Immediately after the put-in we were treated to the first of many Class I and II riffles and rapids of the run. These features included shallow riffles, ledges, steep chutes with tight turns, and a pouroff over a large bedrock slab. In a couple of spots, we encountered sets of standing waves that were high enough to break into the open cockpits of our sit-in kayaks, necessitating a little pumping afterwards.

Paddling was easy on the reach above the FM 2484 (Youngsport) bridge at this flow, with a good current in the calm sections between the rapids. The riverbanks are wooded hills, with occasional short limestone ledges bordering the water. We noted the debris in the trees testifying that during the flood the water level had been a good 30 feet above where we floated now.

Below the Youngsport bridge the nature of the river changed dramatically, as the flood had filled Stillhouse Hollow Lake into its flood pool and back up into the river channel. The final few miles of the trip were flatwater paddling on what was now the tree-lined backwaters of the lake. We hope to be able to return one day when we can experience this final reach as a flowing river.

Overall, this section of the river has a wild and remote feeling. We only saw 3 or 4 houses on this trip, and the only sounds we heard were rushing water and the constant droning of cicadas.

The 12.5-mile trip took us about 5 ½ hours to complete. This included a stop for lunch, and another stop to play in the big slab rapid just below the Youngsport bridge.

Access

We put in on the north bank at Ding Dong. Exiting northbound Hwy. 195, just across the bridge there is a small asphalt apron, a short dirt parking area, and a good (albeit somewhat long) trail down to river. A shorter, but rougher and steeper access is also available on the south bank under the bridge by exiting southbound 195 just over the river.

The takeout at Gravel Crossing is an abandoned low-water bridge, which was under several feet of water during this trip. To locate the takeout from the river under these conditions, look for a singular concrete “monolith” (a bridge support?) on the left bank, directly across from the takeout (which is hidden by trees). Note that the final descent to the Gravel Crossing parking area is a short, steep, and rough gravel road. Passenger cars can make it but may bottom out. A high-clearance vehicle is a better choice if available.