Rivers in Texas That You Can Canoe on

Canoeing is a healthy way to maintain an active lifestyle and enjoy nature. Texas---home to 15 major rivers---boasts more than 80,000 miles of waterways. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has created the Texas Paddling Trails Program to help clearly define inland and coastal paddling trails; as of June 2010, the state had 20 official paddling trails. Whether you're an expert or novice canoer, Texas offers a range of water trails for you to explore.

  1. Brazos River

    • The Brazos River flows through north and southeast Texas, eventually emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. The Brazos River Authority encourages canoeing in two locations on the river---below Lake Granbury, and below Possum Kingdom Lake. The canoe trails below Lake Granbury run peacefully through forest, and the best times to canoe there are spring and fall. Although no public campgrounds are available along this stretch of the river, canoers will find private campsites. Canoeing below Possum Kingdom Lake provides a different experience: towering cliffs and rocky terrain. Spring and fall are also the best times to canoe this section of the Brazos River.

    Colorado River

    • The 290-mile long Colorado River flows from Austin to the Gulf of Mexico. Mid-spring until fall are the best times to canoe the Colorado. It often flows low and slow, creating attractive conditions for novice paddlers. The Lower Colorado River Authority provides eight canoe trail maps, beginning just outside of Austin and ending along the Gulf. Canoers can put into the river at many public spots along the Colarado, although much of the riverbank is privately owned.

    Guadalupe River

    • The whitewater Guadalupe River is perhaps the most recreational river in the Texas. The 22-mile section flowing between Canyon Lake and New Braunfels is most often used for canoeing and tubing. Here, the river is surrounded by 60-foot-tall pecan and sycamore trees. Although some sections of the river are tame, the section below First Crossing has Class II and sometimes Class III whitewater and hazards. Southwest Paddler recommends avoiding that area unless you have at least intermediate skills in whitewater and swift-water rescue.

    Neches River

    • The Davy Crockett Paddling Trail is located along the Neches River just outside of Lufkin. More than nine miles of river wind through deeply wooded East Texas. The Davy Crockett Paddling Trail is appropriate for quiet canoe trips with the family or beginning canoers. It takes three to six hours to float the trail, depending on wind speeds and water levels.