The Famous New Braunfels Tube Chute!

Know Before You Go! This Video covers: Tips on how to get into your Tube and how to AVOID flipping over while going through the Tube Chute, or how you can walk around the Tube Chute if you don't want to go through it. (Tip: How To Walk Around the Tube Chute starts at time marker 2:50 thru 4:10 in the video, also see the slide show below on this page.) If you have young children or if you are a "weak swimmer", we suggest you exit the river and walk around the Tube Chute instead of going through the Tube Chute where the rapids have a strong current. Also covered in the video are River Safety Tips for small children and weak swimmers, who should wear life jackets and walk around the Tube Chute and non-swimmers should stay off the river altogether. There is a very visible Caution Sign hanging on a wire above the Comal River as you approach the Tube Chute area, that has a Red Arrow pointing to a set of stairs on the right side shoreline where you should exit the river. The sign reads: CAUTION: TUBE CHUTE AHEAD, WEAK SWIMMERS EXIT NOW, with a RED ARROW pointing toward the EXIT STAIRS. There will be a set of stairs (on the right side of the river) with a handrail where you can get out of the river. Be sure to grab a hold of the handrails, as the steps may be slippery from algae growth on them. (See Slideshow Below). You can reenter the river just below the Tube Chute to continue your float trip (see the Aerial Map for river reentry points indicated by red arrows). We also highly recommend that you always go tubing with 2 or more adults to keep an eye on each other and any kids and act as a “buddy system” in case help is needed. Other tips covered are... How to get into your Tube, how to put on a Life Jacket for Kids and weak swimmers. Lifeguards are on duty only some of the time at the New Braunfels Tube Chute property, but not always, while the rest of the Comal River has NO Lifeguards at anytime. The Tube Chute is like a water slide with rushing water and whitewater rapids at the end of the Tube Chute. The whitewater rapids have a strong current and is the spot where you have the highest chance of flipping over in your Tube. To increase your chances of NOT Flipping over, as soon as you enter the Tube Chute, get centered in your tube, hold on to the handles and sink your hind-end as low as possible into your Tube to prevent yourself from being "top heavy" and flipping over. Once you have entered into the whitewater rapids, you may have to paddle to get out of the main current or Eddy. The rapids create a strong circular current called an Eddy upon exiting the Tube Chute and that's the primary reason why we suggest all Kids 8 years and younger and all weak swimmers wear a Lifejacket on the Comal River.  (See Slideshow below)