Hidalgo Falls River Festival April 13, 2003 Hidalgo Falls on the Brazos River Near Navasota, Texas

Events began at 10:00 a.m. with a 6.5-mile downriver race from just downstream of the falls to Washington on the Brazos State Park, but a number of paddlers used the available shuttles simply to do a float trip. The downriver race was sponsored by the East Texas River Runners (contact Noel Kirkwood) and coordinated by James Williams. While the racers/floaters were on the river, others help set up the slalom race course or tried out the latest whitewater kayaks on moving water. The slalom race began at 1:30 p.m., and the whitewater rodeo took place at 3:00. The awards ceremony was at 5:30 p.m.

Directions to Hidalgo Falls: http://people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/location.html

To get into the TRPA property, you normally have to meet someone at the locked gate or become certified (and thus get the gate combination). This year we met visitors at the gate when they arrived.

Here are some pictures from the first festival in 2001:

Ben Kvanli tearing up the Hidalgo Falls slalom course

Brian Brown on the rodeo wave

Ben Kvanli spins on the rodeo wave

Participants and spectators at the rodeo site

For information on the event, contact the following people:

Downriver race/float trip: James Williams 979-776-5530 (no email)
Slalom race: John Criscione (jccriscione@aol.com)
Whitewater rodeo: Bruce Litton (dbl93@ev1.net)
Exhibits, demos, and classes: Patti Carothers (swpaddle@swbell.net)
Overall coordination: Steve Daniel (sdaniel@people.tamu.edu)

Information about the location of Hidalgo Falls, TRPA ownership, pictures, etc. can be found at the Hidalgo Falls website:

http://people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/hidalgo.html

Free primitive camping is available at the TRPA property (limited toilet and water facilities available). For information on Navasota motels, contact Steve Daniel.