There is now a new river put in/take out point at Sculls Crossing in Martindale thanks to Tom Goynes. Tom has persuaded a local land owner to open their property to paddlers. Hopefully, the rules below will be followed and not be abused. If you look up the address on Google Earth, it looks like the gate at the second driveway on the right after you cross the bridge. Everyone needs to make it a point to thank Tom for his diligence in maintaining access to the San Marcos.
IF YOU HAVE A LARGE GROUP (more than 6), I strongly recommend you continue on and take out at Spencers. The parking area is not large and I will bet that the patience of the landowner will be short lived if there is a constant parade of people going in and out of there. Use this access respectfully or it will go away.
NOTES FROM TOM GOYNES
"Access is for launching and taking out canoes, kayaks and rafts only. Bank fishing is not allowed at the launch area. It is not a park. No bbq. No canopies. It is not a place to just hang by the river. There are a couple of parks in Martindale and lots in San Marcos for that.
The address is 3500 Scull Road. Here is the info on parking:
(Tom Goynes} I am the keeper of the combination for the new parking area at Sculls Crossing. It is on the right side of the road on the right side of the river. It is past the old Sculls main house. And immediately before the little blueish/gray manufactured house. There is a new fenced area with a new solar powered gate.
I have permission to give the combination to paddlers.
There isn’t a lot of room for trailers in this parking lot, so, if at all possible, leave the trailers and most of the cars at the put in and as few cars as possible in this parking lot.
The combination is 7233#. Be sure you finish with the pound sign. If you forget this code, keep in mind that the numbers 7233 correspond to the letters PADD (the first 4 letters of paddle) on a phone keypad. So just pull out your phone and voila, 7233 (and don’t forget to press the # button). You have 30 seconds to get between the gate posts. Then you have 30 more seconds after you pass the gate posts until the gate starts closing.
If anyone should ask you who gave you the combo, give them my name, Tom Goynes.
And if you have any trouble opening the gate call or text me. Or you can call me from the gate keypad by pushing the call button.
There is no fee to park. And you can use the take out on the right side (upstream) of the bridge. "
Tom Goynes
512-787-5574
