Outdoors
by Team Wildflower ago

Hill Country Kayaking, For Beginners


From classes and rentals to area waterways worth checking out, our kayaking guide is the perfect place to start learning the sport between Austin and San Antonio.

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Boats on a lake with bright signs and trees behind them.
A cool season view of Lady Bird Lake.

Story by Celi Trepanier

Kayaking is a popular recreational activity that can offer breathtaking scenic views while providing unexpected outdoor adventures. There’s a healthy bonus, too: the sport is an enjoyable way to sneak in both physical activity and a bit of relaxation.

Whether you live in central Texas or are just visiting, the Hill Country area provides a bounty of picturesque lakes and streams to dip your paddle in and reap all of kayaking’s benefits.

To get you started, I’ve whipped up a handy guide to four of the best, least-intimidating Hill Country waterways between the region’s two biggest metro areas, complete with links to available kayaking tours, rentals, and lessons. These are places and resources that I personally have found useful as a newcomer to kayaking—and I think you’ll enjoy them, too.

Brushy Creek Lake Park

3300 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, TX 78613

512-718-1000 (boat rentals) | Directions | Website

Maybe you’ve been thinking that you’d like to give kayaking a whirl, but you’re not sure that you want to fork over any money to purchase one—yet. Well, how about renting a kayak first and taking it out on smooth, flat water for the perfect kayaking paddle test? Even better, The Mobile Kayak offers kayak and paddle board lessons starting with water safety instruction followed by a guided, hands-on lesson.

Afterward you can rent a kayak onsite or easily launch your own. During your peaceful paddle on this pleasant 38-acre lake you may encounter paddle boarders, fishermen, cyclers, wildlife, and even a few unexpectedly scenic views for an urban city park.

Classes, Lessons & Rentals

• The Mobile Kayak, 3300 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, TX, 512-718-1000

Blanco State Park

101 Park Rd 23, Blanco, TX 78606

830-833-4333 | Directions | Website

Blanco State Park, located near downtown Blanco, is directly north of San Antonio and southwest of Austin—and only about an hour’s drive from either city. The beautiful park sits on a one-mile stretch of the spring-fed, clear blue Blanco River.

For kayakers, there’s a launch site with rails to help those unaccustomed to getting in and out of a kayak. Trust me, these rails can save you from embarrassment if you’re new to trying to step in, balance, and then sit in a kayak while it teeter-totters in the water! The extra support of the rails definitely prevents capsizing.

I’d rate this gem one of the best Hill Country waterways for those who have never kayaked before but are eager to set out on their own—no kayak rental or instruction needed. The quaint little state park also offers campsites, picnic areas, fishing, and swimming in designated areas.

Kayaks are available for rental in the park. Call (830) 833-4333 for details.

San Marcos River at City Park

170 Charles Austin Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666

512-393-8400 | Directions | Website |River Access Map

Nestled in the heart of San Marcos is City Park, where you can launch your kayak along a paved walkway lining a stretch of the San Marcos River. You’ll be greeted with crystal clear water and charming urban views. In warmer months, enjoy this environmental treasure alongside paddle boarders and people languidly tubing downstream. Whatever the season, rest assured that you won’t have to worry about a motorized boat zipping past and possibly tipping you over.

The San Marcos River is a gentle river and the longest spring-fed river in Texas. It boasts four endangered and near-extinct inhabitants—Texas wild-rice, Texas blind salamanders, San Marcos gambusias (thought to be extinct), and fountain darters—making it a true environmental treat to experience up close.

Another bonus for kayaking on the San Marcos—you can find rentals, tours, and lessons on this unique river.

Classes & Lessons

Tours

Rentals

Lady Bird Lake

Downtown reservoir, Austin, TX

Directions | Website |Paddling Trail Map

With Austin’s spectacular downtown skyline as your scenic backdrop, kayak enthusiasts near and far find Lady Bird Lake especially appealing. And with high-powered motorized boats forbidden on the waterway and eight official, easy-squeezy access points on approximately eleven dreamy miles of this Colorado River reservoir, it’s a new kayaker’s dream.

There’s also an assortment of businesses up and down the lakeshore offering rentals and lessons. Many businesses offer paddling tours, too. One such tour provides kayakers the chance to view the famous Congress Avenue Bridge Mexican free-tailed bats. That’s the largest urban bat colony in North America, with up to 1.5 million bats swirling out from under the bridge above you at sunset.

To sweeten your Lady Bird Lake adventures, nearby are two spring-fed Austin pools as well—Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy Pool, both of which are open year round. Austin being, well, Austin, there’s an abundance of places serving great food and drink in the area as well, making for the perfect end to an exciting day.

Classes & Lessons

  • Texas Rowing Center, 1541 West Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX, 512-467-7799 Note: summer camps are available.
  • Congress Kayaks, Waller Creek Boathouse, 74 Trinity Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Tours

Rentals

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