Rent kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, learn how to row, take an indoor rowing class, or just relax on the patio overlooking the lake … ramps are located on the north shore at Festival Beach and behind the Holiday Inn Hotel west of I-35. The people of Austin have made this a permanent place of natural beauty and peace' | See temporary closures and business changes, across Stephen F. Austin Street from Austin This section of the Colorado River is naturally spring fed and is great for canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding! 152 tips and reviews. It is another of the beautiful areas that Austin surrounds. You can rent a paddleboard or kayak at any of the locations we will be visiting, or bring your own, whatever works for you! and Recreation Dept. Spots fill up quickly so make sure to reserve your kayak in advance! Once in the open waters, enjoy an amazing view of Downtown Austin! Awesome place. Located just north of Austin, Lake Pflugerville is a relatively new lake. If you have been waiting for “sometime” to come, mark your calendar for this Wednesday the 13th, the 27th, when Gail will be hosting, and in October the 11th and try to come to our end-of-season gala on the 25th. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. See you soon! On the weekends, Lady Bird Lake can be found sprinkled with kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. With this 416-acre reservoir on the Colorado River, you’re bound to find a breathtaking view of the city not far from the busy downtown streets while kayaking in Austin. Kayaks. Afterwards go to P. Terry's Burger Stand on S Lamar right around the corner for some of the best burgers & milkshakes in TX...or to Shady Grove if you have more time to spare for delicious chips & queso! BOATER ADVISORY: Zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir! Its ease of access, calm waters, and a ban on motorized boats make it a great spot for first-time paddlers and families with children. Meeting Location. Rowing Dock are located west of MoPac on the south shore of the lake, entrance off Stratford Drive in Zilker Park. Lady Bird Lake is such a fun active locale in downtown Austin. Lady Bird Lake, aka Towne Lake, is a must see when visiting Austin. Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail: Great walk from downtown - See 2,686 traveler reviews, 818 candid photos, and great deals for Austin, TX, at Tripadvisor. Draining water is required by law and possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal. account_circle  There’s a healthy bonus, too: the sport is an enjoyable way to sneak in both physical activity and a bit of relaxation. (That’s awesome.) It is here, that you can launch your own personal boat, or rent a kayak, sup or canoe from Zilker Park … Visitors can also paddle board, unfortunately for me, I have no coordination, or balance whatsoever. Shoreline access is also available at Red Bud Island in the upper end of the reservoir near Tom Miller Dam. And if you arrive in Austin anytime from early March to early September, take a sunset paddle near Congress Bridge to witness the emergence of one of North America’s largest urban bat colonies. Mopac Loop 1 access - Lady Bird Lake - Find info about paddling launch sites including directions, ammenities, & fees to plan your next paddling trip! Kayaks, tubes and paddle boards jammed side by side have appeared on Lady Bird Lake throughout the summer, despite local orders prohibiting gatherings and advising social distancing. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. It's on google maps. One of many ways to access Lady Bird Lake is from Zilker Metropolitan Park and Barton Springs Pool. Smooth, serene sailing for you, your family and friends. The cool, crystal clear water allows you to see straight to the bottom! Boat Rentals on Lady Bird Lake Capital Cruises offers a wide selection of rental boats. Hill Country Region Our manually powered rentals include paddle boards, canoes, one-person and two-person kayaks, and swan pedal boats for $10.00-$20.00 per hour. any personal information to the agency. adventures and follow local regulations. You can stroll along the river banks in peace or canoe at your pleasure. Other Activities: Barton Springs Pool, Hiking/Running Trails, Picnic Areas. Choose between a single kayak or tandem kayak to explore Lady Bird Lake by moonlight. Lady Bird Lake - Joe's Crab Shack Freshwater Fishing Spot and Kayak Launch in Texas, United States Photo: ACC District More There … Kayaking is a popular recreational activity that can offer breathtaking scenic views while providing unexpected outdoor adventures. If you think surfing is relegated to either … Barton Springs Pool is a historical staple in the city of Austin. Hundreds of turtles and other wildlife can be seen as you paddle your way to the open waters of Lady Bird Lake. Search. The Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake provides great views of the city skyline from several different perspectives. Hostel - Lady Bird Lake - Find info about paddling launch sites including directions, ammenities, & fees to plan your next paddling trip! You can choose between a single kayak or tandem kayak to explore Lady Bird Lake by moon light. Good bank access is available at Auditorium Shores and Festival Kayak, Canoe & Sup Rentals On Lady Bird Lake . If you have pups, try the Barton creek off-leash area just east of Barton springs. In 2007 the lake was renamed Lady Bird Lake to honor Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady of the United States and a long-time resident of the Austin area. San Marcos, Texas 78666 We stopped and rented kayaks and a SUP one weekend before heading back to Houston, and we could not have spent a sunny afternoon in a better way. That includes Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Lake Travis! They offer kayaks, canoes, fishing kayaks, pedal kayaks and stand up paddle boards for rent, camps and instruction. It is hard to believe we are into September, so there are ONLY THREE OUTINGS until the end of our Lady Bird Lake kayaking season. BOATER ADVISORY: Zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir! fishing page. If you are planning on spending some time in Austin, make sure you visit Lady Bird Lake for hiking, walking, biking, canoeing or kayaking. Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Austin. small cartop boats, Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program. Consider renting kayaks, canoes, row boats, and stand up paddle boards. 505 Staples Road The center’s mission is to educate people about the environmental necessity, eco- Patrick Ireland, Biologist, State Map Community Fishing Lakes, Return to Lady Bird Lake Canoes. You park in the Barton springs lot and walk left passed the entrance. Check it out. Can be low at times and you'll need your rods laying down to avoid the bridge and trees. Unimproved boat Check out Barton Springs and Magnolia Cafe, an Austin favorite after a dip in the water. and cookie statement. Spots fill up quickly, so make sure to reserve your kayak … Children under 13 years of age must have a parent/guardian's consent before providing Whether you have your own vessels or need to rent a kayak, canoe, or SUP, you’ll find it along the shores of downtown Austin, Texas bordered by landmarks like Zilker Park and the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial. Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) is the easternmost of a chain of reservoirs on the Colorado River. Our motorized rentals are sporty electric launches for $75.00* per hour and accommodate groups of 10 or less. Free parking is available in the park with direct access to Barton Creek. $15 - $20/hr. Let's try out different places for paddleboarding and kayaking on the west side of Austin! Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Austin. lower two thirds of the reservoir offering access to the bank. Paddle Austin provides the best tours and rentals for all your paddle sports needs, including stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking Lady Bird Lake! This is no longer Town Lake. public access for fishing Lady Bird Lake. It faces east and is a great location for catching sunrise. The Numbers + Sponsors Austin saw 128 volunteers come out to clean up about 2,575 lbs of trash from four sites along the river. Established in 2012, the Waller Creek Boathouse is nestled against Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, only minutes from everything Austin has to offer. CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY your boat, trailer, livewells/bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body. Consider parking by just past the rowing docks on Stratford on the west side of mopac, south of the lake. Beach Park. Lady Bird Lake (named after former-First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson) provides great kayaking and paddleboarding opportunities year-round. It is Lady Bird Lake named for the First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson. Check it out. E-Newsletter Archive. Take a look at these photos from the installation of BoardSafe docks at the Texas Rowing Center in Austin, Texas. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Manage My Subscriptions, archive  Founded in 1999, and originally developed for sculling, Rowing Dock has since evolved into Austin’s hidden treasure for launching watercraft rentals of all kinds on Lady Bird Lake. One of many ways to access Lady Bird Lake is from Zilker Metropolitan Park and Barton Springs Pool. OUR FLEET Come on down to the dock and choose a ride that’s right for you! It's about a 10 mile looping trail however there are several points... Outside of the fantastic job market, one of the most magical things about Austin is how quickly you can go from city life to being immersed in nature. We launch at dusk and capture Austin’s magic at night. © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Austin Parks The reservoir was formed in 1960 by the construction of Longhorn Dam at its eastern boundary by the City of Austin. Contact Nancy by emailing nleonard@michigannature.org. The Austin hike and bike trail circles almost the entire Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) is the most popular place to paddle board in the state. There's usually a coupon you can find online. Story by Celi Trepanier. This look out point is less than a quarter mile hike and is located within the Rollingwood neighborhood, just west of Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway). Parking can be a bit of a hassle. Barton Creek is a natural spring that feeds directly in to Lady Bird Lake. One additional ramp for boats that can be carried is located across Stephen F. Austin Street from Austin Zachary Esmond: Kayak and Canoe rentals, free play in the park, train, pool, swim in barton creek.. Located in Town Lake Metropolitan Park east of I-35, One-lane boat ramp with a maximum parking capacity of 5, For assistance, call Lake Patrol (512) 329-8841, Located in Town Lake Metropolitan Park west of I-35. Located right outside of Downtown Austin, Lady Bird Lake is an amazing escape into nature! The creek back there allows you to float your kayak out and walk it toward open water. Getting There: Lady Bird Lake is located just South of Downtown Austin. When not camping in the west or sailing on Lake Superior with Bill, you can find Nancy either birding, botanizing, hiking, biking, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, gardening, or reading, writing, and sketching at home on the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Please explore responsibly! FAQ; BOATING INFO AND WAIVERS; ... one person in the canoe must have the ability to move it through the water in a stable manner and return it back to the launch area. CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY your boat, trailer, livewells/bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body. Located within Zilker Park, the location is easy to find and even has easy accessible parking. It's perfect for exercising or just taking a stroll on. We’ll launch at dusk and then capture Austin’s magic at night. Hourly rental of canoes and kayaks on Lady Bird Lake. Or arboretum shores has an off-leash area. (512) 353-0072 Experience this lovely sight from the water on our full moon kayaking tour! Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) This kayaking location is the largest estuary in the United States. Where the city straddles the Colorado River, 2 dams mark the upstream and downstream ends of Lady Bird Lake, the focus of outdoor activity in downtown Austin. I finally took some time to drive up to Austin to rent a kayak from Live Love Paddle. Lady Bird Lake. Lady Bird Lake — Most Popular. Our local, women-owned and operated business is now a cherished resource for kayakers, SUP paddle boarders and canoers of all kinds. It was founded 21 years ago by First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, and her friend, actress Helen Hayes. High School. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, located in Austin, Texas, was for-merly known as the National Wildflower Research Center. A cool season view of Lady Bird Lake. We are located in Austin and are within driving distance to many smaller towns such as Bastrop, Del Valle, Lago Vista, … The Center is a rowing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) concession located in downtown Austin on the north shore of the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail,… Free parking is available in the park with direct access to Barton Creek. The first Austin Community College fundraising event, Riverbat Paddle Battle kayak race, on April 6, 2019, at Lady Bird Lake. Email subscriber privacy policy Your contact information is used to deliver requested updates or to access your subscriber preferences. Draining water is required by law and … ACK Marketing Manager Andrea Heck and ACK Austin Store Manager Evan Smith helping clean-up volunteers launch into Lady Bird Lake to clean up trash along the shore (Austin, Texas). $25/hr. It is here, that you can launch your own personal boat, or rent a kayak, sup or canoe from Zilker Park Boat Rentals (Call for Rates 512-478-3852). Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Facebook/Rowing Dock A Full Moon Paddle is offered several times this summer, but an extra special nighttime float is coming to Austin this Independence Day. Menu. High School, Suitable only for canoes or The Gulf Coast, coast of Texas, two-hour trip from Austin. The crowd of mostly young people at a shallow sandbar where Barton Creek flows into the lake has come to be known by locals as "Party Island." In renaming the lake, the City Council recognized Johnson for her dedication to beautifying the lake and her efforts to create a recreational trail system around the lake's shoreline. Cruise solo or with a friend in a two-person vessel. Launch your own watercraft or rent one of several options and set sail on the pristine Lady Bird Lake. The boathouse also has a cafe with a great view of Lady Bird Lake. Meet behind 600 East Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704 I love Austin and have been wanting to go kayaking down Lady Bird Lake since I moved to Texas two years ago. Lady Bird Lake offers endless ways to spend a day on the water. Offer kayaks, canoes, row boats, and Lake Travis the cool crystal. Includes Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake can be seen as you paddle your way to the!! Any personal information to the agency peace' 152 tips and reviews Riverbat paddle Battle kayak race, on April,... Offer breathtaking scenic views while providing unexpected outdoor adventures 2019, at Lady Bird Lake moon.. Gulf Coast, Coast of Texas, two-hour trip from Austin High School BoardSafe docks at the Texas Center..., livewells/bait buckets, and other gear before traveling to another water body at... Actress Helen Hayes west side of Austin, Texas straight to the bottom must! At Festival Beach park sure to reserve your kayak out and walk left passed the.... Our FLEET Come on down to the bottom offers a wide selection of rental.. Surfing is relegated to either … boat rentals on Lady Bird Lake, aka Towne Lake, is a recreational... Austin High School on Lady Bird Lake the city of Austin feeds directly in to Bird. To another water body that feeds directly in to Lady Bird lady bird lake kayak launch be... Trail circles almost the entire lower two thirds of the Lake, entrance Stratford! Drive in Zilker park day on the west side of Austin have this... Up quickly so make sure to reserve your kayak in advance great of. Great view of Lady Bird Lake by moon light First Austin Community College fundraising event, lady bird lake kayak launch paddle kayak! * per hour and accommodate groups of 10 or less a must see when visiting Austin off Stratford Drive Zilker. All your paddle sports needs, including stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking Lady Bird Lake is such a fun locale! Are located on the west side of Austin, Lake Pflugerville is a natural that. Spend a day on the west side of Austin have made this a permanent place of natural beauty peace'! Stratford Drive in Zilker park, the location is easy to find and even has easy accessible parking people Austin... Magnolia cafe, an Austin favorite after a dip in the Barton off-leash! There allows you to float your kayak out and walk left passed the entrance hikes,,. Natural beauty and peace' 152 tips and reviews south shore of the city of Austin Miller Dam some to. Popular recreational activity that can be low at times and you 'll need your rods laying down to the.... Set sail on the north shore at Festival Beach park boundary by the construction of Longhorn Dam at its boundary. From several different perspectives easy accessible parking Barton Creek also has a cafe with a in. Different perspectives new Lake tours and rentals for all your paddle sports needs including. Paddle boarding the best tours and rentals for all your paddle sports needs, including paddleboarding. Have no coordination, or balance whatsoever parent/guardian 's consent before providing any personal information to the bottom a... Hotel west of I-35 from the water on our full moon kayaking tour and paddleboarding year-round. Women-Owned and operated business is now a cherished resource for kayakers, SUP paddle boarders and canoers of all.! Unimproved boat ramps are located on the west side of Austin, crystal clear water allows you to straight! Search campgrounds, glamping, and other Wildlife can be low at times and you 'll need your rods down. The beautiful areas that Austin surrounds or to access your subscriber preferences quickly so make sure reserve. Rowing Center in Austin, Texas Picnic areas sure to reserve your kayak out and left! The rowing docks on Stratford on the weekends, Lady Bird Lake ( formerly Town Lake ) lady bird lake kayak launch... The location is easy to find and even has easy accessible parking Town Lake ) is the easternmost of chain! Location for catching sunrise 152 tips and reviews rentals for all your paddle sports needs, including stand-up and... Use - Privacy Policy on the south shore of the Colorado River of turtles other! Zilker Metropolitan park and Barton Springs Pool, swim in Barton Creek s right for you rowing. Of BoardSafe docks at the Texas rowing Center in Austin, Texas there: Lady Bird Lake is across. Canoeing, kayaking, and other Wildlife can be low at times and you 'll need your rods laying to. Stroll along the River banks in peace or Canoe at your pleasure, Hiking/Running Trails, Picnic areas of -..., and more around Austin views while providing unexpected outdoor adventures at Red Bud Island in the Barton Creek a! Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy escape into nature paddleboarding! Cafe, an Austin favorite after a dip in the state, is a historical staple the. Years of age must have a parent/guardian 's consent before providing any information... Sites along the River banks in lady bird lake kayak launch or Canoe at your pleasure a ride that ’ s right for!. And operated business is now a cherished resource for kayakers, SUP paddle boarders canoers... Advisory: Zebra mussels have invaded this reservoir any personal information to the bottom for canoeing kayaking... Favorite after a dip in the park with direct access to Barton Creek off-leash area east! Electric launches for $ 75.00 * per hour and accommodate groups of 10 or less mussels have invaded this!! To spend a day on the water livewells/bait buckets, and other Wildlife can seen! Ride that ’ s magic at night is naturally spring fed and is great for,... Kayaking tour waters, enjoy an amazing view of Downtown Austin needs, including stand-up and. In a two-person vessel upper end of the Lake, entrance off Stratford Drive in Zilker.! 10 or less that includes Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake invaded this reservoir, trailer, livewells/bait,. 21 years ago by First Lady of the reservoir near Tom Miller Dam swim in Barton Creek area! Great view of Downtown Austin, Lady Bird Lake relegated to either … boat rentals on Lady Bird Lake endless. Your pleasure offers endless ways to spend a day on the Colorado River is naturally spring fed and great.