Texas Kayak & Canoe Paddling Trails
Texas has a large number of paddling trials that are excellent for canoe or kayak trips, this page will list some of the Texas Paddling Trails, including the Coastal Kayaking Trails. Make sure you also check out our Texas Kayaking Page for lots more information on kayaking and canoeing in Texas.
The State of Texas is has recently started "The Texas Paddling Trails which is a new program to develop public inland and coastal paddling trails throughout the state and then support these trails with maps, signage and other information. These trails provide well-mapped accessible day trips in a variety of settings and for all levels of paddling experience. There are currently seven coastal paddling trails and one inland paddling trail, with several communities in the process of applying for participation in this program." Lean more by visiting Texas Parks and WildlifePaddling Trails.
Trail Name |
Location |
Description |
Map |
|
| Columbus Paddling Trail |
Colorado River |
Paddling the Colorado River through the town of Columbus you have the opportunity to see wildflowers, birds, turtles and more! This 6.5 mile trail can take anywhere from two to five hours to complete, and the peaceful waters and calm rapids will give you a wonderful day on the river |
|
| Wilbarger Paddling Trail |
Lower Colorado River - Bastrop Area |
The Wilbarger Paddling Trail is wide and slow-moving 14.3 miles with a few minor rapids, but no man-made obstructions to avoid, although snags and debris should be avoided. The Trail supports a great diversity of plant and animal life along the river and beyond its banks. A class one clear, clean and safe and great for families and groups. Lots islands on every stretch for camping. |
|
| El Camino Paddling Trail |
Lower Colorado River - Bastrop Area |
This wide, slow-moving 6 mile trail that moves downstream, the banks of the river gradually steepen and become very scenic with high sandstone bluffs and cliffs. The river provides unique habitat for the blue sucker, a fish species that is listed as threatened in the state of Texas. A class one clear, clean and safe and great for families and groups. Lots islands on every stretch for camping. |
|
| Buffalo Bayou |
Buffalo Bayou |
This 26 mile trail with that expose a beautiful geology of sand, sandstone and red Beaumont clay. While some sections of the bayou are straight-cut with low embankments, other sections are serpentine with high cliffs. |
Yes |
| Armand Bayou Paddling Trail |
Clear Lake |
The 13-mile paddling trail from Clear Lake to Horsepen Bayou passes through Armand Bayou Nature Center. It’s a great paddle with kids due to calm water and the chance to see many kinds of wildlife |
|
| Limestone Bluffs |
Navasota River |
This trail covers about 5.3 miles of quiet water on the Navasota River from the Confederate Reunion Grounds to Fort Parker State Park. The route is characterized by hardwood bottomlands and limestone bluffs. |
Yes |
| Goliad Paddling Trail |
San Antonio River |
Enjoy quiet pools and several small riffles on the first inland paddling trail to include a State Park. Located on the San Antonio River near the town of Goliad, this 6.6-mile river trail can be floated in two and a half to four hours |
|
| Lady Bird Lake Paddling Trail |
Lady Bird Lake |
The Lake provides a tremendous recreational resource for the state’s capitol, including hike and bike trails surrounding the shoreline as well as paddling, rowing, and fishing in the lake. |
Yes |
| Brazos River Below Lake Granbury |
Brazos River |
This lower section of the Brazos River below Lake Granbury is quite scenic flowing through rolling hills covered with oak trees. |
Yes |
| Brazos River Below Possom Kingdom Dam |
Brazos River |
Canoe enthusiasts will be rewarded with a scenic trip offering views of rugged cliffs, high bluffs, and cross-timber terrain. Fishing along this 20 mile stretch is very good. |
Yes |
| Lake Arlington Paddling Trail |
Lake Arlington |
Enjoy this 10.9 mile 3-6 hour trail as it is the first lake paddling trail on a beautiful lake where you can experience many varieties of fish, birds, plant and wildlife. |
Yes |
| White Rock Lake |
White Rock Lake Park |
This small lake is surrounded by 9.33 mile hiking, biking and running trail. A section of the lake runs by Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. |
|
| Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail |
San Marcos River |
Located on the San Marcos River near the city of Luling, this six-mile river trail can be floated in two to four hours. Paddlers will enjoy a gentle family-friendly ride on this quiet river lined with beautiful trees and wildlife. |
|
| Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail |
Aransas Pass |
A series of four loops ranging in length from 1.25 miles to 6.8 miles. The trails meander through an extensive black mangrove estuary, into sloughs and back lakes. |
Yes |
| See the Texas Coastal Kayaking Trails for some coastal trail information |
Texas Coastal Kayaking Trails
Texas has over 3300 miles of tidal shoreline and a large portion of it is excellent for kayaking to explore the coast or bayous, to saltwater fish, or for eco tours. Texas Parks and Wildlife is continually adding trails, site assessments, and map. If you need more information on these paddling trails, please contact the Nature Tourism Coordinator. Thanks to TP&W, here is some information on the coastal trails from their website:
- South Bay Paddling Trail - The South Bay Paddling Trail follows the shores of South Bay in a loop of about eight miles. This shallow, subtropical body of water consists of approximately 3,500 surface acres, bounded on the south by the riparian edge of the Rio Grande, on the north by the Brownsville Ship Channel and associated spoil banks, and on the east by Brazos Island. It is located in Cameron County
- Christmas Bay Paddling Trail - The Christmas Bay Paddling Trail is a 19.1-mile circumnavigation of this pristine minor bay on the western end of the Galveston Bay complex. This small bay is unique since it supports the largest stand of seagrass (over 200 acres) on the upper Texas coast.
- Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail - The Lighthouse Lakes Paddling Trail was the very first Texas Paddling Trail and is actually a series of four loops ranging in length from 1.25 miles to 6.8 miles. The trails meander through an extensive black mangrove estuary, into sloughs and back lakes near the historic 1857 Lydia Ann Lighthouse on North Harbor Island. Paddlers can glide through mangroves and seagrass flats that provide outstanding bird watching and fishing for red drum, spotted seatrout and flounder in the maze of tidal channels and flats. See a Lighthouse Trail photomap.
- Galveston Island State Park Paddling Trail - Galveston Island State Park hosts three paddling trails, the 2.6-mile Dana Cove (Lake
 Como) trail, the 4.8-mile Oak Bayou trail and the 2.8-mile Jenkins Bayou trail. The Jenkins Bayou trail begins at the western end of Clapper Rail Road and takes paddlers along the bayou and out to the marsh restoration terrace field. The Oak Bayou Trail is accessed along the main park road and also highlights the terrace field, as well as areas of natural high marsh where laughing gulls, various tern species and oystercatchers may be found nesting each spring. The Dana Cove (Lake Como) trail begins at the end of the main park and continues through the seagrass beds that have recolonized behind constructed geo-textile breakwaters.
- Mustang Island Paddling Trail
- The Mustang Island Paddling Trail consists of the North Trail (8.5 miles), the Shamrock Loop (5.24 miles) and the Ashum Trail (6.8 miles). All of the trails follow the western shoreline of Mustang Island in Corpus Christi Bay, and cover some of the best shallow-water fishing areas in Texas. The Ashum Trail follows the shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay over a firm sand bottom and allows for outstanding bird watching as well as sight-casting opportunities. The Shamrock Loop skirts the beautiful, protected waters of Shamrock Cove, where it connects with the North Trail, which follows the shoreline to East Flats and then meanders through marsh and spoil islands to the Island Moorings marina in Port Aransas.
- Port O’Connor Paddling Trail - The Port O’Connor Paddling Trail consists of three trails totaling a little more than 25 miles. The Fishpond trail (12.3 miles) begins in Port O’Connor and travels through a number of bayous and cuts along the edge of Espiritu Santo Bay to Saluria Bayou, where it joins the 8.28-mile South Loop trail. From Mule Slough, the Fish Pond and North Loop (4.82 miles) trails continue east toward Sunday Beach on the Gulf of Mexico and to Lighthouse Cove, near the historic Matagorda Island Lighthouse. The scene of fighting during the Civil War (Confederate trench lines) still may be seen here. Camping is permitted
Texas Kayaking Conditions
Before you head out for a paddling trip, make sure that you check the conditions. Here are some sites to help you:
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