Canoeing and kayaking are growing in Texas and there is plenty of water to pursue the activity. According to the Texas Department of Wildlife there are 191,000 miles of streams in the state and many of them offer outstanding paddling opportunities. Camping goes with any outdoor activity, and campgrounds have developed along many waterways in the state. In some areas you may camp alongside the river by making your own campsite.
Types
The Texas Department of Wildlife says there are 3,700 named streams and 15 rivers suitable for canoeing in Texas. Add to that 3,300 miles of tidal shoreline along the Gulf, and you can see there are a lot of options for canoeing. Texas also has 212 lakes, and most of those have canoeing and campgrounds.
Whether it is a day trip of just a few miles, or a multi-day trip down a river, the possibilities are endless. Some rivers have RV and tent campgrounds with utilities and other comforts. Some rivers have designated primitive camping areas, and where there are public lands, you may make your own campsite where you wish.
Popular Sites
The Guadalupe River and San Marcos River are the most popular for paddling according to Texas Outside website. These rivers are also the most set up for those who want to canoe, raft or kayak and have little or no experience.
The Guadalupe, between San Antonio and Austin, has many places to enter or exit the river, and there are outfitters ready to rent you a kayak, canoe or other flotation device. Tubing is the most popular there as the water is not very swift. Campgrounds line the river from Canyon Lake to New Braunfels, and some offer canoe rentals. There are also campgrounds on this river that can only be accessed by canoe.
The San Marcos is not quite as commercially developed, but it is not far away and remains popular. The area from Gonzales to where it joins the Guadalupe, about 40 miles, is the most popular area. Watch out for dams along the river and do not attempt to go over them as that would probably be fatal. It is a very scenic river with homesteads dating to the early 1800s.
Palmetto State Park is along the river, and there are other commercial campgrounds along the way.
Paddle Trails
A relatively new program sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Department is the creation of canoe trails around the state. As of 2010, there were 20 of these trails around the state, ranging from just a couple of miles to many miles and multi-day trips. Eight are coastal canoe trails and 12 are inland.
Entry and exit points are marked, and there are signs along the river or stream to let people know where they are. The Texas Wildlife Department plans to offer maps and other information to these water trails. The Texas Wildlife Department cooperates with local communities to create these trails.
Coastal Areas
Oceans and canoes might seem like they would not mix well, but ocean kayaks are very popular and similar to canoes. The backwaters are very popular canoe and kayak areas on the Texas coast.
The first canoe trail in the state was the Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail near Port Aransas and Corpus Christi Bay. This is a series of four trails, ranging from 1.2 to 0.75 miles. The trail goes through back waters, estuaries, sloughs and back lakes around the island where there is a lighthouse.
Beach campgrounds are plentiful at Port Aransas, and the San Padre Island National Seashore is also nearby with a lot of camping areas. Many areas along the coast have tidal waters where canoeing is safe, and there are many campgrounds on the gulf coast.
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande runs 118 miles along the bottom of the Big Bend National Park, and 127 more miles of it is managed by the national park service. Sheer cliffs 1,500 feet high are on each side of the river as it cuts through the mountains.
You may paddle along this river with a free permit from the park, but it is recommended that you go with a guide if you are not experienced. There are some very rough rapids. You may camp along the river at primitive sites, but be sure you camp on the United States side of the river. Campgrounds are in the national park and private campgrounds are around the area.
Paddling
Another highly recommended river, by Southwest Paddlers website, is the Rio Frio, about 30 miles from Kent to Concan. This river is created by underground springs. The river goes past Garner State Park, where there is ample camping. There are also several private campgrounds in the area.
What makes this river notable is the clear water that tends to stay cool even in summer. It also has white limestone bluffs along the banks, as well as cypress trees that provide a canopy at times.
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