Paddling Texas

With 15 major river systems, over 350 miles of coastline, and nearly 7,000 lakes, Texas is a true paddler’s paradise.

From the canyons of Big Bend to the Big Thicket wetlands and beyond, paddlers can find adventures ranging from hour-long urban loops to multi-day wilderness escapes. So, grab a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board, and get on the water. Here are a few favorites.

Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail

This six-mile paddle on the San Marcos River is a Texas Hill Country classic, familiar to fans of the annual Texas Water Safari, aka the “World’s Toughest Canoe Race,” but this route follows the gentle current and is equally suited for beginner paddlers as well as more river-hardy rowers. Fishing can be fantastic on lightweight tackle; birdwatching opportunities and wildlife abound.

Upper Brazos River

Like the late, great John Graves (author of Goodbye to a River), set off on a solo canoe trip to explore the wild Brazos below Possum Kingdom Lake. The stretch of this historic waterway offers numerous campsites and fishing (typically bass and catfish). Take advantage of the vistas at Garland Bend for a panoramic shot or possibly catch a few snaps of the Common gallinule chicks at the aptly named Chick Bend. With a variety of trip lengths, you can make it a day trip or extend your experience overnight.

Columbus Paddling Trail

Choosing where to paddle on the Colorado River is half the fun. One recommended fun-filled stretch is the 6.5-mile “horseshoe” that circles downtown Columbus (about halfway between Houston and Austin), which makes a perfect day trip. Pack a picnic and experience the longest river flowing through Texas, with its sandy islands and forested banks.

Sea Rim State Park

The remote park sits in the heart of an expansive marsh wonderland on the Upper Texas Coast surrounded by federal National Wildlife Refuges and state Wildlife Management Areas. Birdlife is abundant, with ducks and wading birds. The larger network of paddle trails offers fitness challenges, fishing holes, and is home to Texas’s only floating campsite. More camping can be found along Sea Rim beach, and those who prefer can even reserve a cabin in the park.

Mission Reach San Antonio

This unique paddling option crosses through a restored riparian ecosystem on its way to San Antonio’s Mission Sites. The six-mile paddle trail starts just south of downtown and has several access points, as well as four mission portals — Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada — offering a chance to experience the region’s Spanish colonial history, dating back to the 1700s. Take a guided tour along the trail or utilize the portages that parallel hike and bike trails solo.

Hell’s Half-Acre

Lined by ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, marshy Caddo Lake covers 25,000 acres along the Texas-Louisiana border. Ten well-marked trails offer more than 50 miles of paddling, visiting the villages of Karnack and Uncertain, and Caddo Lake State Park. The 8.8-mile Hell’s Half Acre loop in particular explores a grand mosaic of habitats, home to 90 species of fish, reptiles and 200 bird species. The park has canoe rentals, cabins, and campsites.

Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail

Stretching nearly 20 miles, this coastal trail is a pinnacle of paddling. Established south of Aransas Pass in 1999, the network crisscrosses mangrove sloughs, saltwater flats, and protected seagrass beds across the Gulf of Mexico — a crucial nursery for saltwater gamefish. As such, the Lighthouse Lakes are an angler’s paradise and popular with recreational boaters. Being part of the North American flyway, it is common to see massive rafts of ducks and many varieties of shorebird, including oyster catchers, ruddy turnstones, and breathtaking Roseate spoonbills.