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On Sale Now!
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DAYTRIPPERS - February 2006
Austin: Paddling the Heart of Texas
Text by Ryan and Kelly Taylor
Photos by Ryan Taylor
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 The word “Texas” conjures up images of cowboy hats, country music, BBQ and Longhorn cattle. While Austin certainly has all of that, there is also so much more. For starters, this city in the heart of Texas has long been billed as the live music capital of the world, hosting legendary musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and Willie Nelson.
There is always something to do and see here with huge festivals such as South by Southwest, the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival. But for paddlers, Austin’s greatest asset is the great day trip lying right at its doorstep. The blue-green Colorado River winds through downtown and is the perfect place to wet a hull and enjoy some of what this vibrant city has to offer. From the river, Austin is unique, with a cosmopolitan skyline partially obscured by a nearly continuous green space of parks and trees surrounding the river. The trails around the river are easily accessed from downtown and always host an energetic group of joggers, dog-walkers and sightseers. On many days, you’ll notice the distinctive aroma of cedar trees, and the numerous blue-sky days add to the beauty of the area.
With mild winter temperatures and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, Austin offers good paddling year-round.
Summers can be downright hot with temperatures soaring into the triple digits. If you don’t mind the heat, however, summer paddles are great. Austin’s southerly latitude also makes it a great place for winter trips. The average winter low is 40˚F, but it’s not unusual to see afternoon temperatures near 60˚F. During the spring and fall, the temperatures are almost always pleasant. |
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