Kayak & SUP on Lake Travis
Every public kayak and SUP launch, the routes worth doing, where to rent, and the real wind story — because Lake Travis turns from glass to whitecaps in an afternoon.
Full pool 681 ft · record low 614.18 ft · record high 710.4 ft
Wind makes or breaks the day
Wind funnels through the dam corridor between the south and north shores. Local guidance: Windy Point winds run ~10 mph higher than the regional Austin forecast.
- Beginner
- 10 mph
- SUP
- 12 mph
- Intermediate
- 15 mph
- Advanced
- 20 mph
Best window: Sunrise – 10 AM. Water is typically glassy; afternoon thermals push winds past 15 mph. · Worst window: 2 PM – sunset, especially March–May when frontal winds stack on thermals.
The map
Every public put-in
- Usable now
- Dry / closed
- No published threshold
The launches
9 public put-ins, ranked by calm water
Wind-protected coves first — these are the places that stay paddleable when the main basin is white-capping.
Routes
Routes worth knowing
Six curated paddles from beginner glass to bucket-list crossings.
Cypress Creek Arm out-and-back
Beginner3 mi · Put in: Cypress Creek Park
The marquee beginner paddle. Launch into a sheltered creek arm shielded from the main basin — water stays glassy in the morning, herons and turtles work the shallows. Turn around whenever you've had enough. Needs the lake above 667 ft to launch.
Hurst Creek no-wake zone loop
Beginner2.5 mi · Put in: Austin Paddleboard & Kayak (Graveyard Point)
The dependable, never-canceled paddle on Lake Travis. The entire Hurst Creek arm is a posted no-wake zone — boats idle at 3–5 mph — so the water is calm even when the main basin is whitecapping.
Bob Wentz → Sometimes Islands
Intermediate1.5 mi · Put in: Bob Wentz Park at Windy Point
Lake Travis' bucket-list paddle, but only when the lake is low. The Sometimes Islands sit between Bob Wentz and the cliffs below The Oasis, and only emerge below ~670 ft. Crossing open water means committing to whatever the wind is doing — pick your morning.
Mansfield Dam swim cove to the dam cliffs
Beginner2 mi · Put in: Mansfield Dam Park swim cove
Launch from the protected swim cove, hug the south shore east toward the dam, and paddle under the vertical limestone face of the spillway. Stays sheltered as long as you don't cross to the north shore.
Pace Bend east-side cove tour
Intermediate4 mi · Put in: Pace Bend — Tournament Point
Pace Bend has 20 named coves. The east-side tour — Kate's, Johnson, Gracy, and North Gracy — keeps you on the protected leeward side away from the west-shore cliffs and open basin. Cypress shade, swim stops on primitive campsites, few motorboats.
Muleshoe Bend horseshoe meander
Intermediate5 mi · Put in: Muleshoe Bend
The upper lake feels like a different lake — narrower, more riverine, lined with bluebonnets in spring. Paddle the slow meander around the horseshoe bend. On-site rentals at the put-in.
Rentals
Where to rent
Five outfitters serving Lake Travis. Pricing varies seasonally — call to confirm.
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area (LCRA)
Muleshoe Bend boat ramp — rentals on site
The only Lake Travis park where rentals are at the put-in. Reserve via lcraparks.com.
Austin Paddleboard & Kayak (APK)
Their dock on the Hurst Creek no-wake zone — calm by definition
About 20 SUPs + 40+ kayaks. The Hurst Creek no-wake zone (3–5 mph speed limit) stays glassy on windy days. SUP yoga 8–9 AM; sunset paddles Wed–Fri 7:30–9 PM.
Lakeway Marina
Lakeway Marina docks — Lakeway main basin frontage
Cheapest hourly rates around the lake. Launches into the main basin, not a protected cove.
Riviera Marina
Riviera Marina dock — direct water access, no carry
Rentals leave straight from the dock — no carry.
Viking Ship Kayak Rentals
Arkansas Bend or Dink Pearson Park — they meet you
Mobile rental: they meet you at one of two north-shore parks. Each rental includes life jacket and dry pack.
Before you launch
Texas paddling rules
Source: TPWD. Game wardens and Travis County Lake Patrol enforce.
One PFD per person, on board
Every kayak, canoe or SUP must carry one USCG-approved wearable PFD for every person. Adults are not required to wear it but it must be readily accessible — not stowed in a sealed hatch.
Children under 13 must wear it
Texas law requires anyone under 13 to wear a Type I, II or III PFD at all times while the vessel is underway. Game wardens enforce this on Lake Travis.
White light at night
Between sunset and sunrise you must have a white light visible from all directions — a headlamp around your neck counts. It does not have to be permanently mounted.
No registration for non-motorized
Kayaks, canoes and SUPs with no motor or sail do not require Texas registration. Adding a trolling motor or sail changes that.
No throwable cushion required
Type IV throwable PFDs are not required on canoes or kayaks regardless of length — a kayak-specific exception to the "boats 16 ft +" rule.
BWI applies to paddlecraft
Texas Boating While Intoxicated law applies to any vessel, including kayaks, canoes and SUPs. Travis County Lake Patrol and TPWD game wardens enforce.
Lake Travis specifics
What only locals tell you
Stay out of the main motorboat channel
Use the shoreline — within 50 ft of shore — wherever possible, and only cross the channel perpendicular and at a sprint. The main channel runs the old Colorado River course and is where bass boats and ski boats throttle up.
Avoid Devil's Cove on summer weekends
Devil's Cove is the most famous party cove in Texas. On Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends, 200+ boats raft together — not a place for a kayak. Boat wake, music, anchor lines and intoxicated swimmers stack up. Detour wide.
Brace for powerboat wake in coves
A wake that's gentle in open water bounces off cove walls into 2–3 ft chop. Point your bow into the wake at 45° and brace. Inexperienced paddlers should clear toward shore before the first wake hits.
Hydrilla at Bob Wentz
Invasive hydrilla at the Bob Wentz non-motorized ramp can entangle SUP leashes and swim fins. Walk a short distance from the ramp before launching.
Sun and heat are the real hazard
No shade on the water. Summer surface temps push 90°F and UV index hits 11. Long-sleeve sun shirt, brim hat, 1 L of water per hour and a bailout plan are non-optional May through September.
Zebra mussels — shoe up
Established lakewide. Their shells will slice bare feet on shoreline rocks, ramps and submerged docks. Water shoes are not optional.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Can you kayak at Lake Travis?
Yes — and it's one of the best paddling lakes in Central Texas when you pick the right launch and time of day. There are about a dozen public put-ins, from sheltered creek arms like Cypress Creek and the Hurst Creek no-wake zone to the open main basin out of Bob Wentz at Windy Point.
Where can you SUP on Lake Travis?
Best for SUP, ranked by how reliably calm: the Hurst Creek no-wake zone (3–5 mph speed limit), Cypress Creek Park (sheltered creek arm), Mansfield Dam swim cove, Pace Bend east-side coves, and Muleshoe Bend (with on-site rentals).
Are there kayak rentals at Lake Travis?
Five primary outfitters: Muleshoe Bend (on-site at the launch), Austin Paddleboard & Kayak in Lakeway (largest fleet), Lakeway Marina ($20/hr — cheapest), Riviera Marina ($25/hr SUP), and Viking Ship (mobile, meets you on the north shore).
Where can you paddle that's calm at Lake Travis?
Reliable calm spots: the Hurst Creek no-wake zone, Cypress Creek arm, Briarcliff Marina's Cat Hollow, Mansfield Dam swim cove, and Pace Bend's east-side coves. The main basin and Windy Point are the opposite — that's where the sailors and windsurfers go on purpose.
Is Lake Travis good for beginners?
Yes in the right spot at the right time. Rules: launch before 9 AM, pick a sheltered cove not the main basin, never put in if sustained wind is above 10 mph. Best beginner combo: rent from APK in the Hurst Creek no-wake zone, or paddle from Cypress Creek when the lake is high enough.
Do you need a permit or registration to kayak Lake Travis?
No — Texas does not require registration or a permit for non-motorized canoes, kayaks, or SUPs. Day-use fees apply at most public parks ($5 at Travis County and LCRA parks). One USCG-approved PFD per person is required.
When does Sometimes Island appear and can I paddle to it?
Sometimes Islands emerge when Lake Travis drops below roughly 670 ft (full pool is 681 ft). They sit between Bob Wentz and the cliffs below The Oasis. The classic paddle is ~0.75 mi each way from Bob Wentz — but it's a main-basin crossing with no bail-out, so only attempt on a calm morning.