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How deep is the water at Schlitterbahn?

Gentle swells, a rolling surf, and a maximum depth of four feet mean most of the family can enjoy The Beach Family Wave Pool.



The water depth at Schlitterbahn (particularly the flagship New Braunfels location) varies wildly because it is not a traditional "concrete pool" park; it is famously built into the natural landscape. Most of the "Tube Chutes" and "River" attractions (like the Comal River or the "The Falls") are surprisingly shallow, typically maintaining a depth of 2 to 3 feet to allow guests to safely stand up or walk if they fall off their tubes. However, the "Landing Pools" at the end of high-speed body slides or tube slides can be deeper, often ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 feet to safely decelerate riders. In the specialized "Kiddie" areas like Butterfly Bayou, the water is only a few inches deep. Conversely, if you enter the actual natural river sections—which some Schlitterbahn rides utilize—the depth can vary based on local rainfall and currents. In 2026, as part of their "Six Flags" partnership safety updates, depth markers are clearly posted at every entrance point. Generally, Schlitterbahn is designed so that even non-swimmers can enjoy most "river" rides comfortably with a life jacket, but you should always expect the splash-down pools to be chest-deep for a child.

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And the water is COLD in much of the park because it's coming from this river. So refreshing! — 4 Parks with 1 Admission: With 4 areas of Schlitterbahn, including Tubenbach, Surfenburg, Blastenoff, and the Original Schlitterbahn, there is SO MUCH to do.

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The Original Schlitterbahn: Home to the signature Schlitterbahn Castle, this section of the park uses spring-fed water from the Comal River. Nestled beneath a beautiful canopy of trees, this section of the park has eight tube chutes, seven kids' play areas, a wave pool, and swim-up bars with heated pools.

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The Raging River is a 45-min float from one end of Schlitterbahn and ends on the other side in the Comal River. It's a relaxing tube ride that lets you sit back and just enjoy your day. Is this your Lazy River? The Krystal River is one of three “endless” rivers at Schlitterbahn.

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THE FALLS The Falls is the world's longest waterpark ride filled beginning to end with raging rapids, careening waterfalls, and giant waves. This 3,600 foot-long whitewater river ride gives guests the best seats in the house of the grand tour of Schlitterbahn East.

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In 2018, the last operating season of the park, four attractions remained closed throughout the season after an audit by regulators found that each did not comply with the Kansas Amusement Ride Act. Demolition of Verrückt began in November 2018. The park did not open for the 2019 season.

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Chris Ozimek, spokesman for Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston, said 3.5 million gallons of water are used to fill the entire park. The park recaptures, filters and reuses 97 percent of that water. As for the remaining 3 percent, it leaves the park either on guests or through evaporation into the air.

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Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark has been the #1 Water Park in the World for 24 years in a row.

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Schlitterbahn will remain open on most rainy days; however, in the event of severe inclement weather, such as lightning, heavy rain, or high winds, Schlitterbahn attractions may need to close for the safety of our guests. In the event rides do shut down they will reopen as soon as it is safe.

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You are more than welcome to bring your own family picnic basket into the park, but you don't need to. If you do bring a picnic that requires a cooler, please make sure it adheres to our Cooler Guidelines. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

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Schlitterbahn is an American brand of water parks and resorts owned by Cedar Fair. It was previously a company family owned and operated by the Henry family that was based in New Braunfels, Texas. Schlitterbahn opened its first location, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, in 1979.

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In the next year an army engineer's report mentioned the Trinity as the deepest and least obstructed river in Texas, said that seven steamboats were in operation in its lower channel, and estimated that navigation was practicable.

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Generally speaking, lazy rivers have a minimum width of 6 feet, with depths starting at 3-1/2 feet.

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The longest water coaster is Mammoth at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. Its track has a total length of 537 m (1,763 ft) and the capacity for a total of 11 six-passenger round boats travelling simultaneously up and down the 3.65-m-wide (12-ft) channel and tunnels and over seven drops.

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