Canoe Camping Near Austin, Texas
Tucked beside the Texas Hill Country, Austin is a cosmopolitan city surrounded by lakes, rivers and undeveloped nature. Austin's relatively compact size means that it's also relatively easy to escape the city limits and enjoy the great outdoors. For those eager to spend some time on the water and camp at the same time, the region has several great options for combination canoe and camping trips.
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Seasons
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Austin's warm southern climate means that the average low temperatures are still above freezing even in December and January, although water temperatures will be too low to swim comfortably. Summer temperatures in July and August top out around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that you'll have to paddle through hot weather; fortunately, you can always jump into the water to cool down. The two most comfortable seasons to go paddling are the spring and fall, when daytime temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and nighttime temperatures rarely drop below the high 50s.
Rivers vs. Lakes
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Austin is right along the Colorado River, and the area is dotted with many large and small lakes. Although the Colorado River is a Class 1 river and relatively calm around Austin, boating on the river in a canoe still requires navigation skills, especially when the river is low and obstructions in the river can catch or damage the canoe. For beginners who don't feel confident about their abilities yet, canoeing on a lake will be easier.
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Destinations
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The Colorado River is dammed upstream from Austin, so river rafters will want to head downstream to Bastrop, where it's possible to put in on the river and paddle downstream for several days. Northwest of Austin is Lake Travis, a 63-mile-long lake within a one-hour drive of Austin's city limits. Numerous parks surround the lake, such as Arkansas Bend and Pace Bend. These parks have camping sites where canoeists can come ashore and spend the night. Smaller lakes are scattered throughout the area, including Lake Bastrop to the southeast of Austin; two parks on the shores of Lake Bastrop offer camping and canoe launches.
Equipment
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For people who don't own their own canoes, outdoor recreation stores around Austin will rent canoes for multiday trips. State and county parks that have lakes in the Austin area frequently have canoes for rent too, although these rentals are typically for one day only, and the canoes must be returned by the same evening. Nevertheless, it's possible to rent a canoe for the day and then camp in the same park at destinations such as Lake Bastrop. In addition to the canoe, campers will also want to make sure they rent, buy or borrow dry bags to keep valuables from getting wet. Plastic bags and tarps can help prevent other important items, such as food and camping gear, from getting damp. Wearing a life vest at all times is an important safety precaution, even in calm water.
Organized Trips vs. Doing It Yourself
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Concessionaires in the Austin area offer organized canoe trips down the Colorado river. These organized trips typically provide everything from the boats to food to camping gear and a guide. The cost of this convenience though can quickly add up to over $100 per person. Given the calm water on the lakes surrounding Austin, and the number of public parks, organizing a canoe trip by yourself should be relatively easy cost-effective.
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References
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- Photo Credit canoe"s image by Lee O"Dell from Fotolia.com
