San Marcos Clear Kayak EcoAdventure — Clear Kayak Tour with Get Up And Go Kayaking
Crystal-clear waters
Field Note Submitted by:
Margret Meshy
Discover the serene beauty of the San Marcos River with Get Up And Go Kayaking, where you can paddle in 100% clear kayaks. This unique experience offers guided tours that showcase the river's exceptional clarity and vibrant wildlife. Whether you're gliding through the calm waters during the day or exploring under the stars with glow-in-the-dark kayaks, you'll find yourself immersed in the stunning surroundings. The San Marcos River is home to the unique Texas Wild Rice and various wildlife, making every trip an adventure. Join us for a memorable kayaking experience that combines relaxation and exploration, and see the river like never before!
The credit for the video goes to Get Up And Go Kayaking - San Marcos TX. The video link is: Instagram Reel
Observations
Crystal-clear waters
Unique wildlife sightings
Glow-in-the-dark kayaking
Family-friendly adventure
Scenic riverbanks for picnics
Guided tours available
A River You Don’t Just Paddle — You See Through
The San Marcos River has a quiet confidence about it — the kind that doesn’t need dramatic canyons or roaring rapids to make an impression. On this clear kayak tour, the water's transparency does most of the talking. The moment the kayak slides forward, the riverbed opens like a living map beneath you: bright rocks, flickers of silver fish, swaying greens, and the soft shimmer of sunlight that looks more like a lens effect than reality.
Get Up And Go Kayaking: San Marcos, TX captures that magic perfectly in this reel. Every frame feels like a whispered reminder that Texas has its own kind of tropical clarity if you know where to look.
Texas Wild Rice, Turtles, Fish, and Everything in Motion
The upper San Marcos River is one of the only places on earth where you can spot Texas Wild Rice — an endangered aquatic plant that moves in slow arcs beneath the current. Drifting above it in a clear kayak feels almost unreal, like hovering over seagrass in the Caribbean shallows rather than a Texas spring river.
Look closely and you’ll spot turtles perched on rocks, small fish sliding through sunbeams, and birds cutting low over the water. The route has an intimacy to it — not a wild, remote wilderness, but a river full of small discoveries if you’re willing to move at river pace.
Glow Paddles: The River After Dark
As good as the water looks during the day, the glow-in-the-dark night paddles take the atmosphere to a dreamlike place. The kayaks illuminate the water beneath them, becoming moving lanterns on the river. It’s peaceful, surreal, and a completely different way to experience the same stretch of water.
It’s the kind of outing that families remember, couples repeat, and first-timers don’t forget.
A Simple, Slow, Scenic Adventure
Bring sunscreen, hydrate well, pack a small snack if you want to stop at a riverside spot, and definitely book ahead — this stretch of San Marcos fills up fast in peak season.
But once you’re on the water? Time slows down. And that’s the point.
A clear kayak tour here isn’t about rushing through the river — it’s about seeing the river the way it sees itself.
