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 Barton CreekNot far past MoPac, you’ll find the entrance to Barton Creek on the south side of the lake. If you turn into Barton Creek, you’ll find a cool, clear current running as the water winds its way through this narrow creek. A short paddle (less than 10 minutes) will bring you to the Barton Springs Pool. The city has built concrete walls around a portion of Barton Creek, creating a spring-fed swimming pool that remains a constant 68˚F year-round. This is as far as you can paddle, as the pool itself is enclosed behind a retaining wall, and an entrance fee is charged to enter the pool area. As you make your way up or down Barton Creek, be sure to watch out for neophyte paddlers. Zilker Park offers canoe rentals, and the creek can get crowded during the summer and on weekends. During the winter months and on weekdays, there is far less traffic. Around Christmas time, Zilker Park puts on the spectacular Trail of Lights display, which can be enjoyed from Town Lake after dark. Another mile or so east of Barton Creek is one of Austin’s claims to fame—the Congress Street Bridge. During the winter, you’ll find that it’s pretty much like any other bridge. From March until November, however, it becomes home to the world’s largest urban bat colony. Around 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost under the bridge (they spend the winter in Mexico). Although they are difficult to see by day, roosting in dark crevices, you can certainly hear their squeaks as you paddle under the bridge. Every night they emerge at dusk to forage and form a river of bats pouring out over a period of about 45 minutes! On rare occasions, they emerge prior to sunset and create a spectacular show streaming from the bridge against the setting sun. If you want to watch the bats from your kayak, plan on paddling until after dark. Downtown Congress Street is located in the heart of downtown and borders one of Austin’s famous landmarks, the Frost Bank Tower. This building, with its beautifully sculpted roofline, was a point of contention during its construction, as Austinites were concerned about it being too tall and not fitting in with the rest of the city. After construction, it gained acceptance and now stands as one of the city’s prominent landmarks, which can be enjoyed by paddlers from the water. Once you leave downtown, heading southeast on Town Lake past I-35, the green space along the lake continues and development disappears, creating a more tranquil atmosphere. Approximately 1.5 miles downriver from I-35 is the Longhorn Dam, where the lake becomes wider and there are often few other paddlers. The hustle and bustle of the city begins to disappear here, and increased width makes this area feel like a lake instead of a narrow river. Vibrant green trees and grassy shores line the banks, and only a power plant and cars crossing the dam remind you that you are still near an urban setting. If you need a breather from the city, this is the place to be. |
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