Goliad Flotilla 
November 2, 2019
by Fran Wilcox

The Canoe Trail Goliad, San Antonio River Authority and Goliad State Park host a flotilla twice a year – in the Spring and Fall.  It’s free and a nice, easy float down the San Antonio River for either 6.5 or 12 miles.  The 12 miler is for more experienced paddlers and the 6.5 is very family friendly.  Volunteers assist at the put-in and take-out (which was at Goliad State Park this year) and the State Park folks run the shuttle.

Attendance was down this year – about 70 paddlers signed up, but due to the cold weather forecast, only about half that many braved the elements.  Actually, even though it was 41 degrees at 7 AM by the time we had gotten into the water at 9 AM the temperature was in the 50’s and it turned out to be a perfect day to be on the river.

Due to some recent rains, the river was flowing and this was more of a float than a paddle.  After we finished, the club provided a quite tasty chicken salad sandwich lunch for the participants.  This was my niece’s first paddle and she is excited about spending more time on the water.  

On Sunday the San Antonio Bay Partnership now offers a 20 mile paddle (for experienced paddlers) that piggy backs off of the Flotilla so there is plenty of opportunity to get some miles in.

We camped at Goliad State Park which is centrally located to the put-in, take-out and town square.

The Spring Flotilla is scheduled for April 25, 2020.

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The author, Fran Wilcox