Lampasas River in Texas

Trip Overview

Me and a teenager from my youth group decided to go paddling but Lake Belton was too rough that day, so we decided to go on over to the Stillhouse Hollow Lake Dam and put in at the dam at Chalk Ridge Falls Park.

The Lampasas River comes off of the dam and the water is COLD but feels great in the heat of the day. Right when we were paddling away from the dam they started to release water so the current picked up substantially. This made alot of the small level one rapids passable in our kayaks and made the paddling much more fun.

There are a few gravel bars, logs and low hanging trees to watch out for on your way. Minimum paddling was required to be pushed foward. The only paddling to be done was to control the direction of your kayak in the fast water. We spotted a lot of fish and wildlife on the way.

There are not many spots to stop and take a break. It is pretty wooded along the sides of the river. Right after you leave the dam you will come to an open bend in the river which has a fun rope swing you can swing off of. There are no fees to enter the park.

The river crosses under I-35 south of Belton. I suggest having someone pick you up there or having a staged vehicle there under the bridge. I think having a shuttle would be best because i do not know how secure you vehicle would be there. We didn't go all the way to I-35, we turned back around and paddled/walked our way back to our vehicle.

Overall it is a short trip. Don't know exactly how long though. Once you get back from the trip there are some nice hiking trails there at Chalk Ridge Falls Park.

Accommodations:

porta potties at park

Fees:

no fees no permits required

Directions:

off of 190, take the stillhouse hollow dam exit and after crossing the dam take a left into chalk ridge falls park.