Would You Survive This 260-Mile Texas River Race?

Would you survive the most brutal race in Texas?
Spoiler: You’d probably cry somewhere around mile 112, but you’d never forget it.

When you picture Texas, your brain might go straight to dry deserts, cowboy boots, and heatwaves. But what if we told you that hidden between BBQ spots and Buc-ee’s is a river so clear you can see straight to the bottom, and a race so wild it might actually break you?

It’s called the Texas Water Safari, also known as “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race," and it’s not for the faint of heart.

It Looks Peaceful at First...But Then It Wrecks You

The race kicks off in San Marcos, at Aquarena Springs, where the water is so clear it doesn’t even look real. That’s where racers launch their canoes and wave goodbye to sanity.

From there, it’s a 260-mile till they finish in Seadrift. It’s part race and part survival test. It's a race where you will need to leave your ego at home because this river doesn’t care how fit you are or how many half-marathons you’ve run,  it just wants to see if you’ll crack.

It’s Like “The Amazing Race” but Hotter, Slimier, and with More Snakes

What makes this race legendary isn’t just the distance. It’s the Texas of it all:

• Temps over 100°
• Sleep-deprived paddlers
• Alligators, stingrays, and the occasional bull shark

Racers often go 3–4 nights without sleeping, paddling non-stop through darkness, heat, and doubt. There’s no prize money, just bragging rights, which makes it much more important to win.

So Why Do People Sign Up for This?

Despite the pain and exhaustion people come back again and again. Not for a trophy but because this competition makes you finish stronger than you started.

“When I paddle, I enter a reality where the outside world turns off,” says Kaari Gerber, who has completed the race three times. “It allows me to remember that I’m simply human, using all five senses, alive and living. In busy, normal reality, we forget all that.” 

Would You Ever Try It?

You don’t have to be an elite athlete. Plenty of Safari racers are regular people who just want to prove something to themselves.