

Most of the Lake Austin shoreline is privately owned, so kayakers are limited to five launch points: Emma Long Metropolitan Park, Mary Quinlan Park, Fritz Hughes Park, the Walsh Boat Landing, and a boat ramp below the Loop 360 bridge. While grand homes line sections of Lake Austin’s shores, for the most part this is a tranquil body of water that offers plenty of natural beauty. Hit the water in a kayak at sunset for a unique view of the Congress Avenue Bridge bats setting off for the night © Kushal Bose / Shutterstock Head to Lake Austin for the city’s best paddle spot for natural sceneryĪ reservoir adjacent to Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin begins at Mansfield Dam and ends at the Tom Miller Dam.

Insider tip: Take a kayak out at sunset and paddle to the Congress Avenue Bridge to get a perfect view of the bats taking flight at night.

Waller Creek Boathouse, Epic SUP, The Expedition School, Texas Rowing Center, Rowing Dock and Zilker Park Boat Rentals are all trusted outfitters to consider. Not only is it close to downtown and popular neighborhoods like South Congress, but the lake has eight official access points and a slew of kayak rentals along its shores. Lady Bird Lake is the most accessible kayaking destination if you’re staying in central Austin. Many paddle toward hotspots like 17-acre Red Bud Isle or Festival Beach, an inlet beach near the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood. Here, you’ll see kayakers gliding over the calm surface while admiring the sparkling buildings of downtown Austin on one side and the green spaces of Zilker Park on the other. In the heart of the city, this 416-acre reservoir was created in 1960 with the damming of the Colorado River. Lady Bird Lake is Austin’s crown jewel and the most popular kayaking spot in town. Lady Bird Lake is Austin’s most accessible kayaking destination We’ve gathered our favorite kayaking destinations in and around Austin so you have all you need for a seamless paddling experience. Whether you’re interested in paddling with the city skyline as your backdrop or prefer quieter spaces with hidden coves and rugged channels, the Texas capital has something for every type of kayaker. The city teems with green spaces as well as lakes, reservoirs and rivers, making it very popular for boating in general – and kayaking in particular. It’s no secret that Austin is known as the most outdoorsy city in Texas.
