Devils River State Natural Area - Dan Allen Hughes Unit, TX

April 21, 2026 - Burn ban in effect until further notice. No wood fires or charcoal allowed. Containerized fuels (i.e. propane) are allowed. Open fires are prohibited along the Devils River State Natural Areas waterfront and at ALL TPWD Paddler camps.

The river is subject to flash flooding & is very isolated; located in rough terrain. This is not a river for beginners, small children or pets. Canoeists must watch the weather and pack accordingly. Exercise caution. Nearest Hospital is 40 miles.

A catch-and-release only fishing zone for smallmouth and largemouth bass is available in the Devils River from State Highway 163 Bridge (Bakers Crossing) downstream to the confluence of Big Satan Creek Canyon (Southern end of the South Unit on the upper reaches of Lake Amistad). This impacts both Units of Devils River SNA. No live bait permitted. Nearest public takeout point is about 15 miles downriver from the State Natural Area at Rough Canyon on Lake Amistad.

No Glass containers are allowed along the riverfront or in the river.

No gray water discharge allowed.

All trash generated must be carried out by users.

PADDLER INFORMATION:
SNA allows customers to put non-motorized boats in the water. A Devils River Access Permit is required for ALL River trips that extend beyond the 10-mile boundary of the SNA along the Devils River at the Dan Allen Hughes SNA. Nearest public takeout point is about 15 miles downriver from the State Natural Area at Rough Canyon Boat Ramp (on Amistad Lake).

For overnight river trips, customers will need valid DRAP permits to either self-launch/take out or utilize the services of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department approved outfitter. The first and only public launch site above the Del Norte unit is at Bakers Crossing. The only publicly accessible take out after launching at the Del Norte unit is the Dan A. Hughes unit- Devils Back Take-out/Put-in RM30, 15 miles downriver from the Del Norte SNA. All land along the river besides the SNA units and National Park Service land at Lake Amistad is private property, entering the properties without land owner permission is trespassing.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has established a guide service agreement with the following outfitters to provide shuttle and guide services for paddling and fishing trips that launch and/or take-out on the Devils River State Natural Area units:
* Amistad Expeditions - (830) 703-0127: Shuttle service and boat rentals.
* Angell Expeditions - (432) 384-2307: Guided kayak and canoe trips.
* Far West Texas Outfitters - (432) 229-2054: Guided Paddling and fishing trips.
* Imagine That Outfitters - (210) 792-5234: Guided Paddling and fishing trips.

For paddlers engaging in overnight river trips, Primitive campsites by the river are available 7 days a week. For use, Devils River Access permits and camp reservations are required and need to be reserved in advance through the TPWD Reservation line at 512-389-8901.

Devils River public access points from North to South are as follows:
RM 0-Bakers Crossing
RM 12 Paddler Camp- By reservation & DRAP permit ONLY.
RM 15 San Pedro Point @ Devils River SNA Del Norte Unit- By reservation & DRAP permit ONLY.
RM 20 Paddler Camp- By reservation & DRAP permit ONLY.
RM 29 Paddler Camp- By reservation & DRAP permit ONLY.
Rm 30 Devils Back Campground @ Devils River SNA Dan A Hughes Unit
RM 33 Paffords Crossing Day-Use Area @ Devils River SNA Dan A Hughes Unit
RM 29 Rough Canyon Marina @ Lake Amistad Recreational Area

* All other lands outside these access points are privately owned. Camping outside designated public sites without landowner permission is trespassing. Review the Planning for a Paddle Trip webpage for more info.

**Permit issuance dependent on river flow rates for species and paddler protection.

Please respect local landowners by not loitering. Remember the 4 P's: Portage, Plan your route, Picture, and Paddle on!