Floating the Frio: What the Law Says About River Access

Under Texas law, a river is public if its streambed averages 30 feet wide from its mouth upstream. Public rivers allow boating, floating, swimming, wading, and fishing, all within the water and the streambed. Even if a private landowner holds a deed to the riverbed, the state keeps public navigation rights.

What that public right doesn't do is let you trespass on private land to get into the river. You must use a legal public access point, like a road crossing or a public park such as Garner State Park. If you float downstream and need to portage around a dam or hazard, there is no clear legal authority in Texas establishing a right to step onto private banks. The law on portage is unsettled, and doing so could expose you to a criminal trespass claim. Texas Parks and Wildlife has a plain-language FAQ on river navigation rules at tpwd.texas.gov.