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Written by Mike Rendon
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Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) is the lake formed between Tom Miller Dam and Longhorn Dam on the Colorado River in Austin, TX. This lake is a great place to paddle and there are many options for parking and launching a canoe or kayak. Motor boat traffic is limited to coaches training their rowing teams. The area with least amount of traffic is the downstream side of I35. There are several options for renting canoes and/or kayaks on or near Town Lake. Traveling from one end of the lake to the other is a 5.5 mile trip. A course from just below Tom Miller Dam, around East Island and back is roughly 11 miles. The distance from I35, around East Island and back is 2 miles. Parking:- Red Bud Island
- Rowing Dock (Bus Turn-Around)
- Mopac Bridge (more parking on river right, easier put-in on river left)
- Texas Rowing Center near Austin High School
- The gutter near Austin High School
- Warehouse - Parking is difficult. Put in at the Austing Rowing Club dock.
- East Ave boat ramp near the Holiday Inn
- Festival Beach Boat Ramp
Canoe/Kayak Rental:
Texas Rowing Center, Rowing Dock and Zilker Boats
Races:
The race season in Austin starts with the Lady Bird Lake Race Series in January. Boats from all classes are welcome. Other Links:
Traffic:
Lady Bird Lake is not open to motor boat traffic (unless permitted by the city) making it ideal for paddlers. Local Boating Laws - It shall be unlawful for any person to swim, bathe, wade or go into the waters of Town Lake, except in efforts to rescue and recover human beings.
- No person shall operate a gas powered motor vessel on the waters of Town Lake, except with the permission of the city. Motorboats operated by officers and employees of the city in the performance of their official duties are exempt.
- Only boats powered by electric motors which do not exceed a capacity of five horsepower can operate on Town Lake.
The Warehouse (see map) is a popular place to meet and paddle, however, parking is extremely limited and there is a pretty good portage from the warehouse to the lake. The boat ramp near the hotel just around the corner from the warehouse offers more parking and a nice boat ramp for lake access. This boat ramp is just west of I35 on river left. Features and points of interest
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