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Hidalgo Falls River Festival
April 16-17, 2011 Hidalgo Falls on the Brazos River Near Navasota, Texas |
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Events included:
We hope that people will offer to coordinate float trips down to Hwy 105, do impromptu tours of the property (e.g., identifying plants or talking about the geology of the falls) when interested people are around on Saturday and Sunday, and swap information on where to paddle in the state. This is all very informal.
This year we are asking people to donate at least $5/day/person and $10/weekend to help cover expenses (e.g., electricity, property taxes).
As in years past, on Saturday there will be a 28-mile downriver race
from the Koppe Bridge Landing south of College Station (near Wellborn)
to Hidalgo.
Recreational division paddlers will leave from the Koppe Bridge
starting line at 9:00, and competition division paddlers will leave at
10:00. Registration opens at 7:30 at the put-in. Racers are required to
pay $15 to register for the race in addition to their donations for the
festival ($5/day, $10 weekend/person). Three main divisions with a
ladies subdivision and a tandem subdivision: adventure class
(recreational boats), canoe class (only canoes paddled with a single
blade), unlimited (any thing goes).
We have electricity for those with extension cords, but you will need to bring your own food and drinks this year. Camping is available only at the lower campground. For a map of the property, click on the Hidalgo Falls website. People will start arriving on Friday afternoon, so someone should be able to let you in the locked gate if you are not currently certified to access the property. (Opportunities to join TRPA and become certified to use the property will be available throughout the weekend.)
Here are some pictures of the festival grounds and falls
(courtesy: David Toledo) from last year's fall (October 2010) festival:
Video of playing in the rapid |
Some pictures of the campground (courtesy: Andrew Stone and Skip
Morris) from the 2006 spring festival:
Information about the location of Hidalgo Falls, TRPA ownership, pictures, etc. can be found at the Hidalgo Falls website: