Love to Paddle

[G Grasshopper]

Thankyou so much, Trainwreck. I know that Lake Travis is home to a lot of speed boats, yachts, etc., but what about the Pedernales, as it comes into Lake Travis? Is that any better for non-motored craft?

[Driftwood1]

Trying to revive this thread since we finally scored a canoe on CL..
So now we are huntin for put-ins...?

Is there anywhere we can put in around Zilker park? Can you watch the bats by canoe?
I can shoulder our canoe for probably 100 yards or so, just wondered where to park..

Lastly ... pray for rain.. we tried five mile dam and could only go about 2 blocks before the river was bone dry (:<

Cheers

[Trainwreck20]

If you are going to paddle on Town Lake, I would recommend the area next to Austin HS, but eastwards away from MoPac. There is a very wide, flat-bottomed concrete drainage structure that is almost like a road (several HS kids infamously drove into the lake on a foggy night some years ago) and goes right to the water. Sometimes the water is slightly high (not this year, I suppose, though) and it is like a boat ramp. Otherwise, it is just a good place to drop your boat a couple inches into the water next to a concrete area. We used this almost exclusively when we were training for a canoe race, and it worked well. You can park along that road there (the little parking lot often fills up) and it is a 50 yard walk or so, iirc.

Here is a google earth pic of the area, if that helps:

[AustinTraveler]

If you go down Stephen F. Austin Drive (behind Austin High School), you'll see a small parking area. Just beyond the parking area is a place to launch your canoe. Just drive your car down there (but don't block the trail!), unload your canoe and then go park. We do it all the time. The Rowing Center is also on SF Austin Drive and the docks there are public so you're free to launch there.

[dfarmer002]

Besides for the other qualities that havebeen praised here already, Steiner Ranch does have several direct access points that are on Lake Austin(Colorado River)

The area is more river like than lake and very pretty in the am, sometimes even with misty fog

[centralaustinite]

As far neighborhoods, perhaps Zilker or Barton Hills? Depending on where exactly the house is, some have easier access to the park and greenbelt than others.

[tremorviolet]

Besides the Austin High location mentioned previously, you can also put canoes and kayaks in at the ramp right west of IH35, south of the Holiday Inn and east of IH35 at Festival Beach, over near Fiesta Gardens. If you're looking for convenient neighborhood access, the Holly neighborhood is super convenient but is in the misdle of gentrifying and prices have gotten pretty high for what you get. (usually something like a 700 SF home built in the '20s and badly in need of updating for $200K)

As far as boat storage, there are actually three rowing facilities on Town Lake: Rowing Dock (west of Mopac, south shore), Texas Rowing Center (east of Mopac, north shore, just to the west in the picture), and the Austin Rowing Club (end of Trinity, north shore). The Austin Rowing Club only has membership club with only rowing boats. The other two facilities are pivately owned concessions which rent kayaks, they may or may not have storage available, it might be worth asking.

The island mentioned above is actually RED Bud island, it's at the very west end of Town Lake, before the dam. You reach it from Red Bud Trail. It does not have particularly great facilities for launching but it's nice to visit. (a lot of paddlers put in at Austin High and paddle down to Red Bud; it's a pretty trip)

If you're out paddling, please, please, please, keep an eye out for the rowers. We row facing backwards and are going much faster than you expect so refrain from darting out in front of a rowing boat, it can be dangerous. The general traffic pattern on the river is the same as a road: stick to the right side. If you choose to travel on the opposite, be aware that the rowers won't be expecting you and be careful. Also, please dont' camp out in the middle of bridge arches, there are only certain arches (due to silt build-up, underwater hazards) that the rowing boats can use.

[OA 5599]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

If you are going to paddle on Town Lake, I would recommend the area next to Austin HS, but eastwards away from MoPac. There is a very wide, flat-bottomed concrete drainage structure that is almost like a road (several HS kids infamously drove into the lake on a foggy night some years ago) and goes right to the water. Sometimes the water is slightly high (not this year, I suppose, though) and it is like a boat ramp. Otherwise, it is just a good place to drop your boat a couple inches into the water next to a concrete area. We used this almost exclusively when we were training for a canoe race, and it worked well. You can park along that road there (the little parking lot often fills up) and it is a 50 yard walk or so, iirc.

Here is a google earth pic of the area, if that helps:

I concurr on that spot. I don't have a canoe/kayak (although I wish I did), but that would be the easiest place along Town Lake to put one in. Parking will be bad most weekends and between about 5pm and 8pm weekdays (this is for the summer of course). Get out earlier/later in the day on a weekend and you should be able to find parking. I've never not found parking at Town Lake, but I've had to drive around and look at several different lots on many occasions.