Tube Texas

Tubing the Horseshoe with Shanty Tubes

Upper Guadalupe Tubing on a Weekday

In case you’ve been in Canada, it’s hot here in Texas, which means tubing season is back in full swing.

To kick off our season, we had the pleasure of tubing Monday, June 2nd with Shanty Tubes.

After the hour or so drive down from Austin, we arrived at Shanty’s main location, smack in the middle of the Horseshoe section of the upper Guadalupe River. On this Monday afternoon, we arrived to ample parking, a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Food!

Though I’d heard there was a small restaurant and beer garden on the property, our group dutifully followed our river tubing packing checklist and packed some snacks. But though we were ready to get in the water and out of the heat, the alluring scent of BBQ proved too much.

The little restaurant is run by locally known restaurateur Roy and his daughter. Roy’s run a string of restaurants in the Canyon Lake area, including what is likely not surprising, Roy’s.

The prices were reasonable, at $4 for a huge sliced beef sandwich. Been tubing all day, and you’d like a sandwich to go with that sunburn? Roy’s got you covered! Even if you tube somewhere else, the speed and convenience of their little stop is undeniable.

Their is a separate beer garden on the site as well, this offers live music sometimes on the weekends.

Available Rentals and Trips

Shanty offers a full lineup of rentals for the Guadalupe. Bottom tubes, no-bottom tubes, cooler tubes, kayaks, canoes, and rafts (2-8 people versions) are on the list.

The most popular run is clearly the Horseshoe, but they offer longer trips of 6-8 hours, as well.

Shuttle

As a bonus, Shanty now does a shuttle for the Horseshoe! At the time of this writing they are the only outfitter offering this.

The walk we saved is only a short 5-10 minutes, but adds a convenience factor – you don’t need to lug a heavy cooler. Having made that walk many times in the past, I tend to think of it as the work you have to do before the prize – you get hot on the walk, then you jump into the frigid Guadalupe.

But all that rationalizing aside, it was a great plus — Our ride ended right by the stairs to walk down and access the river. There simply isn't a more convenient way to get on to the Horseshoe.

4 - 5 Hour Trip

We could have stopped at the end of the Horseshoe after 2 hours, but we continued down another 2 hours to the next takeout, aka the 4th crossing. After getting out there is a phone to call the main office and request they pick you up. This was no inconvenience; they were there in minutes.

Overall, the day was a roaring success. The flow rate was a slightly lower than perfect at around 220 CFS, so there was no need to walk any parts of the river, and being carefully we easily avoided bumping on the underwater rocks. Click to check the current Guadalupe River flow.

Other Offerings

Shanty also owns Maricopa River Rides, which is just past where you start tubing on the Horseshoe, on the left side of 306. Maricopa was not open on this slow weekday; they provide additional capacity during the peak periods. Rounding out Shanty’s offerings is Steve’s tubes.

Steve’s serves two functions – primarily as the take-out point at the 4th crossing 4-5 hour trip. Another part of the property is reserved for right-by-the-water camping. It looked pretty convenient to be able to tube a four-hour trip, and then take out right by the camp spot. There is also camping available at the Shanty location.

Overall

Shanty Tubes is raising the bar for tubing outfitters in Texas. Value, options, convenience! Highly recommended. Many thanks to the Nieto family, and everyone at the operation.

If You Go

www.shantytubes.com

12100 FM 306, Canyon Lake, TX 78133