Town Lake is a calm and placid lake that divides the northern and southern parts of the city of Austin. At the west end of the lake is Red Bud Isle and Tom Miller Dam. At the east end of the lake is "Bird Island" and Longhorn Dam. Between the two dams lies an approximately 10-mile stretch of the Colorado River. The lake is home to several species of fish, as well as numerous birds.
Town Lake is one of the premier places to paddle flatwater in the city. The lake is perfect for canoeing and kayaking. You can leisurely paddle your canoe or kayak, race your sprint boat, play kayak polo underneath the Mopac bridge, fish from your boat, or practice your freestyle canoe maneuvers. The temperature of the water around this time of year is about 70 degrees or so. Located in the heart of downtown, it's easily accessible from several put-in spots:
- Festival Beach boat ramp (East)
- IH-35 boat ramp (East)
- Austin High boat ramp (West)
- Red Bud Isle (West)
I like to teach at the IH-35 boat ramp, but paddle for fun around Red Bud Isle. Each spot has its own unique features. At the IH-35 boat ramp, you're in the heart of the city, surrounded by buildings and bridges. (And you're near a great outfitter, Salamander Adventures (www.salamanderadventures.com).) At Red Bud, you're in the wilderness of the city, surrounded by tall cliffs and lush vegetation.
Want to figure out where you are on the lake? Here's a good map that shows the lake and the hike and bike trail that winds around the lake: http://www.alienscooters.com/pdfs/maps/townlake.pdf. You can find out about lake conditions by visiting the Lower Colorado River Authority site (http://www.lcra.org/water/river_report.html).
Happy paddling this fall!
No comments:
Post a Comment