The Comal is ideal for any type of water recreational activities, including tubing, at this rate of flow. Schlitterbahn , the nation's most popular summertime waterpark, is located on the banks of the spring-fed Comal River in the heart of New Braunfels. The 65- acre waterpark is open weekends beginning April 28 and daily from May 19th. Most of Schlitterbahn's attractions use chlorinated municipal water which comes primarily from Canyon Lake. Schlitterbahn has highly efficient systems to capture and recycle this water.
Older attractions use spring water from the Comal River.
The water is pumped from the original channel of the Comal, circulated through some of the rides, and flows right back into the river. Canyon Lake is located 30 miles north of San Antonio off U.S. 281 and 15 miles west of New Braunfels on Hwy. 306 Authorization for the construction of Canyon Dam and reservoir project was established by the River Harbor act of 1945. In 1964 construction of Canyon Dam was completed. At conservation pool level, the lake capacity is 382,000 acre feet and has a surface area of 8,231 acres of water and 80 miles of shore line.