Although Austin, Texas, might be a metropolitan area, it remains an outdoor recreation friendly city. Thanks to preservation efforts, the natural beauty of the Colorado River and its reservoirs continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Because of its many waterways, Austin is great city to enjoy canoe camping and recreation along the shores of Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake, as well as the banks of the river.
Lake Austin
Lake Austin is a reservoir lake on the Colorado River that extends from north Austin toward the western part of the city.
Although most of the shoreline is privately owned, the waterway is accessible from several locations including Walsh Boat Landing, the Loop 360 ramp, Emma Long Park, Commons Ford Park, Selma Hughes Park, Mary Quinlan Park and Fritz Hughes Park.
Emma Long Park is the only location along Lake Austin with camping areas that are accessible for a small fee and include access to hot showers, restrooms and freshwater.
Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake, formerly named Town Lake, is another reservoir lake on the Colorado River and is located in the heart of Austin. It has numerous access points for rowing, canoeing and kayaking, including spots where you can grab a rental.
Once you are done padding around the lake, you can enjoy a run, walk or cycle on the surrounding 10-mile hike-and-bike trail, visit the botanical garden or take a dip in the icy Barton Springs Pool.
Colorado River
The Colorado River continues after the Longhorn Dam along Lady Bird Lake and provides numerous entry ways for canoeing. The Highway 183 bridge in East Austin provides the closest in-town waterway access, followed by entries at Walnut Creek, FM 973 crossing, and Onion Creek.
Because these areas of the river tend to be less populated compared to Lady Bird Lake, they are better suited for camping along the riverbank.
Equipment Rental
Several businesses along the shores of Lady Bird Lake provide canoe and kayak rentals including the Texas Rowing Center, Rowing Dock and Zilker Park Boat Rentals. However, it should be noted equipment rental at each of these places is only for the day and use in Lady Bird Lake.
Special Events
The waterways in Austin are home to several special events including rowing competitions throughout the spring, the CapTexTri triathlon in May and fireworks displays on the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve. Keep these events in mind when you plan your camping trip because waterways will have more traffic than usual or parts of them might not be accessible.
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