Colorado River in Texas

Trip Overview

My wife and I took this trip in early August after purchasing our new kayaks. I have floated this section before, since it is only a few miles from my house in east Travis County. This float makes for a great day trip with overnight opportunities. The put-in point is Little Webberville Park and the take out is (big) Webberville park five miles downriver. The water is swift in a few sections but mostly flat and calm.

We put in around 11 am that morning and took our time watching the birds and fish splash in the water. The river is straight and flat here. About halfway there are some islands and gravel bars. At the first split the main channel is right with faster water. If you go left of the 8 acre island, there are some nice gravel bars to fish from or just play in the water. There are great fishing opportunities throughout this whole stretch, since this portion of the Colorado is not heavily fished. There were a handful of times where I could quietly paddle over a carp and one time a channel cat. There is an abundance of baitfish here as well. The shad were large and the bream were feisty. The island in the middle is public and there is a spot where people camp although it can be a little muddy. There many beautiful birds and an abundance of cardinals that day.

The last half is flat with only a few downed trees posing any hazard. This half is slower due to the strong south winds as well. We took out at Big Webberville Park around 6 pm., where we had our second vehicle. If one needs a shuttle, Cook's Canoes in Webberville (across the street from the put-in) can shuttle or rent. This is a relaxing float; we came back the next day and ran it again.

Accommodations:

Austin has plenty of accommodations. Both county parks close at night, so there is no overnight parking. The only camping is on the island.

Fees:

None. Cook's Canoes can shuttle for a small fee.

Directions:

From I-35 in Austin go east on MLK which becomes FM 969. Take this about 20 miles to Webberville. There is brown generic county park sign on Water St. Turn right and this takes you to Little Webberville Park. Cooks Canoes is a block past the turn off. Big Webberville is down FM 969 a few more miles. Follow the sign off FM 969 and follow the signs directing you to the park. Take the park road all the way to the end where there is a fishing pier and boat ramp (take-out).

Resources:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Analysis of Texas Waterways and Texas Public Boater Access located on the TPWD website.

Rivers and Rapids-2000, Nolen and Narramore