Austin’s vibrant outdoor culture makes it a paradise for paddleboard enthusiasts, with numerous waterways providing opportunities for adventure and relaxation.
Whether you’re looking to paddle in the heart of downtown or escape to a more secluded shore, here are just a few of our favorite spots to launch your SUP.
13 places to launch a paddleboard in Austin
Barton Creek
Barton Creek is an iconic spot for those seeking a tranquil paddle boarding experience. The creek winds through lush greenery, providing a peaceful escape from the city’s bustle.
Launching from the creek's mouth near Lady Bird Lake offers easy access to calm waters that are perfect for beginners. The water quality is usually clear, especially during spring and summer, making it a scenic place to enjoy nature.
There’s no entry fee for launching here, and the nearby Zilker Park offers ample parking and picnic spots for a full day of outdoor fun post-paddle.
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool, located within Zilker Park, is a famous Austin swimming hole fed by natural springs.
The pool is restricted to swimmers between April and September, but once swimming season is over it opens to paddle-boarders. You may only be able to SUP here between October and March, but it's well worth the wait.
Whether you’re swimming or SUP-ing, the water here is refreshingly cool year-round, and the area’s unique mix of natural and urban surroundings makes it a popular outdoor destination. Accessing the springs requires a fee, but it’s well worth it for the clean, spring-fed water and stunning views.
Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake is perhaps the most popular paddleboarding destination in Austin, offering miles of paddling opportunities right in the heart of the city. With multiple launch points — including some near the Texas Rowing Center and Zilker Park — paddlers can enjoy stunning views of the Austin skyline, peaceful waters and the occasional turtle sighting!
The lake’s water quality is generally good, though it can get a little murky after rain so keep an eye on the weather before you go. There’s no cost to launch your board, and the surrounding parks provide restrooms, picnic areas and plenty of parking.
Our favorite launch spot by far, though, is the one from our East Riverside apartments, which offer instant lake access and kayak storage. Name a better combination — we’ll wait.
Festival Beach
Located on the eastern side of Lady Bird Lake, Festival Beach is another peaceful and accessible launching point for SUPs. The water is calm and clear, perfect for beginners or those looking for a relaxing trip on the water.
Launching is easy, and the park offers plenty of picnic tables, restrooms and shaded areas, making it a great spot for a day of paddling followed by a leisurely picnic. Best of all, there’s no fee and parking is usually easy to find!
Congress Avenue Bridge
Paddleboarding beneath the iconic Congress Avenue Bridge provides an unforgettable Austin experience — especially at sunset. This location is famous for its large urban bat colony (one of the largest in North America!) and paddlers often gather at sunset to watch hundreds of thousands of bats emerge from the eaves and flood out into the twilight to hunt.
Launching SUPs is easy along the Lady Bird Lake shoreline near the bridge, and the water is typically calm with great views of the downtown skyline. This spot is free to access, and several nearby vendors offer paddleboard rentals, making it a convenient option for spontaneous adventures.
Red Bud Isle
Red Bud Isle on Lady Bird Lake is a small island offering a secluded paddling experience in the heart of the city!
The island is surrounded by calm waters, making it an ideal spot for beginners or anyone looking for a relatively calmer outing. The water quality is generally pretty good, too, and the island’s dog-friendly park adds to its charm. There’s no fee to launch from the boat ramp or beach, and the park offers ample parking (though it can get crowded on weekends).
Lake Austin
For anyone looking for a more expansive paddling experience, Lake Austin is a fantastic option. This long, narrow reservoir provides over 20 miles of navigable waters, ideal for exploring at your own pace.
There are several great launch points here, including at Pennybacker Bridge and Emma Long Metropolitan Park, both of which offer stunning views and easy access to the lake. The water here is clear, especially near the dam, and the surrounding landscape offers a scenic mix of hills and suburban quiet. Most launch points are free, though some parks may charge a small entry fee (which, we feel, is worth it!).
Lake Georgetown
Lake Georgetown is a hidden gem located just outside of Austin, offering a peaceful retreat from the city while still within close reach of it.
With crystal-clear waters and scenic cliffs, this lake is an ideal spot for paddleboarders looking to explore more of Austin’s natural environment. It’s got everything from still, shallow waters to more challenging deeper areas — there’s something for every level of experience.
The Cedar Breaks Park area is a popular launch point, offering easy access to the lake’s calm waters. There’s a small entrance fee for park access, but the stunning views and serene atmosphere make it well worth the cost.
Lake Travis
Known for its deep blue waters and quiet coves, Lake Travis is one of the largest and most popular lakes in the Austin area.
There are multiple SUP launch points around the lake, including Mansfield Dam Park, Pace Bend Park and Windy Point Park, each offering easy access and ample parking. The water quality here is excellent, and the expansive lake allows for long-distance paddling over a variety of skill levels. Some parks charge a small entrance fee, but the clear waters, scenic views and vibrant boating scene make it a must-visit spot for paddleboarders.
McKinney State Park
For paddleboarders seeking a bit of adventure, McKinney Falls State Park offers a unique blend of both paddling and hiking opportunities.
The scenic Onion Creek offers clear, calm waters ideal for a relaxing paddle amongst the surrounding limestone cliffs and waterfalls. There’s a small entrance fee to access the state park, but the peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty make it a great spot to spend a day on the water.
Quarry Lake
Quarry Lake offers a more intimate paddle boarding experience up in North Austin. This small, spring-fed lake is calm and clear, perfect for those looking for a quiet, peaceful paddle with easy access to the water.
While there’s no fee to launch, the lake is surrounded by private property and public access is somewhat limited — if you find parking, though, it’s a great spot for a quick paddle in a quiet part of town.
Secret Beach
True to its name, Secret Beach is a hidden gem nestled within Roy G. Guerrero Park. The beach offers easy access to the calm waters of the Colorado River, making it a great spot for paddleboarding in relative peace. It’s easy to get to, but the secluded atmosphere makes it feel like a world away.
Walter E. Long Lake
Walter E. Long Lake in East Austin offers a fairly remote paddling experience. The lake is large and relatively uncrowded, making it ideal for long-distance paddling and more advanced water conditions. The surrounding park offers picnic areas, restrooms and plenty of parking, while the peaceful atmosphere and wide-open water make it a great spot for all sorts of water activities.
With so many beautiful places to launch a paddleboard, Austin offers endless opportunities to explore its waterways on a SUP. Whether you're a beginner looking for calm waters or an experienced paddler seeking adventure, there's a spot for everyone on these Texas waters. Check them out if you live anywhere in or near our Austin apartments!
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Featured photo by Adrian Newell on Unsplash
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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