The headwaters of the San Marcos River begin at Spring Lake at Aquarena Center in San Marcos Texas. You can see the waterfall that that feeds the river from the embankment next to The Salt Grass (formerly Joe’s Crab Shack). The river is spring fed and, stays a constant 72 degrees year round. When temperatures in Central Texas near triple digits, the river is an oasis for nature lovers who want to stay cool and enjoy the outdoors at the same time. The river flows about 85.5 miles through Guadalupe and Caldwell Counties to the confluence of the Guadalupe River in Gonzales County. Declared a Critical Habitat by the Federal Government in 1980, Spring Lake is the home of five endangered species. The crystal clear waters of the river are home to such endangered species as: Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, San Marcos Gambusia, San Marcos Salamander, Texas Wild Rice. While swimming, tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing or kayaking the river you may also have chances to encounter literally thousands of turtles, snakes (including water moccasins ~ although they tend to stay under the heavy foliage on the sides of the river during the peak recreation season), Great Blue Herons, egrets, turkey buzzards, feral pigs, beavers, squirrels, raccoons, and armadillos.
Although the river is runs a full 85.5 miles, the most user friendly area of the river is from the bottom of the Spring Lake water fall to the San Marcos falls (recently renovated for safety) just past Rio Vista Park, and adjacent to the San Marcos River Pub. This area is very family friendly and provides a ride of approximately 45 minutes to an hour before you hit the falls. If anyone in your party wants to avoid going down the falls, it is very easy to paddle to shore and enjoy watching others take the plunge. Some more adventurerous river goers may wish to put in up river in Martindale.
Some helpful links for those wishing to enjoy all of the water recreation the river has to offer are below:
Paragon Snorkeling Gear
http://www.sanmarcostx.info/things-to-do-san-marcos-texas.html
http://www.tubesanmarcos.com/
http://www.tgcanoe.com/san_marcos_rentals_2.html
http://www.redriverracing.com/
http://www.pecanparkretreat.com/
The river is also the starting place for the famed Texas Water Safari http://www.texaswatersafari.org/ , a marathon canoe race from San Marcos to the Gulf of Mexico in June each year. It is another one of the many reasons that people visit the San Marcos River. In addition, 2008 brought the Olympic Kayaking qualifying trials to our river. Many serious kayaking competitors choose to train in San Marcos because rivers in their part of the country aren’t accessible during the winter, and Texas offers a much more inviting climate for water sports during the winter months.
San Marcos (due in large part to the river) is suspected to be the longest continually inhabited site in North America. Used by man for over 13,000 years. If you want to learn more about the San Marcos River, The Aquarena Center in is a great place to start. This park dates back to 1928, when A. B. Rogers purchased 125 acres at the headwaters of the San Marcos River to create a grand hotel. Here you can stroll the grounds, ride the glass bottom boats, see aquariums and exhibits about the San Marcos Springs and it’s and endangered species. They offer free admission, and only a small fee for glassed bottom boat rides, where you will see some of the archeological digs currently underway at the Center. The historic hotel is now the recently remodeled Texas Rivers Center. http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/
For More Information on the City of San Marcos Texas visit http://www.sanmarcostx.info
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The Cool Mint is a very Austin style restaurant, and the only one of its kind in the city. The menu is fresh and unique with such offerings as beef medallions with Ancho-raspberry demiglace & corn salsa, 
