Colorado River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Rolling hills, bluffs of Texas post oak belt |
| Best time | Spring, October |
| Wilderness | Natural setting, but often near roads, bridges |
| Water Flow | Good Mar.-Oct.; low but floatable other months |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | Many fine gravel/sand bars |
| Hazards | No significant hazards; can be windy |
| Logistics | Excellent public access, self help shuttles |
| Trip Length | Up to 128 miles |
| Recommendation | Regionally popular |
Rest stop on the Colorado River near La Grange (February)
General Description & Characteristics -- The Colorado, one of the major rivers of the Texas basin, has no connection to its namesake in the western United States. The name is Spanish for "red", the color of the water found on the upper sections of the river. Little remains of that coloration on the lower river, because the Colorado is impounded by a series of seven dams for nearly 125 miles, with the last of these being in Texas' capital city of Austin. While there are some short sections above these lakes that are attractive to canoeists, they are not suitable for an extended canoe camping trip. We look to the lower Colorado, downstream from Austin, for a long float trip and find it ideally suited to that purpose.
The Balcones Escarpment runs through central Texas, approximately following the route of Interstate 35. To the east of this geologic feature, the relatively flat land was once the bed of an ancient sea. This is an area of agriculture and cattle ranching, and the Colorado River is relatively remote as it flows through the area, although it is never far from the local roads. It flows through the post oak region of Texas, and there are many acres of woodlands, particularly along and near the rivers and streams.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- The recommended starting point for an extended canoe camping trip is the village of Webberville, about 20 miles east of downtown Austin on highway 969. There is a park with a boat ramp a couple of blocks off the highway. There is also a county park about 2 miles east of town that has a boat ramp. From the park in Webberville to the town of Columbus, it is 128 miles by river, which can generally be done in 7-8 days with normal water flow. Downstream from Columbus there are several channel dams that make canoeing difficult.
There is access to the river at most towns and road crossings, many of which have boat ramps, so you can tailor the length of your trip to the time available. There are no major rapids, but at low to moderate water level there are some fun shoals and riffles.
Interesting Features -- This is an easy, relaxing float trip, that is best in spring and early fall. While parts of the river are remote, there are several towns and riverside communities. The towns include Bastrop, Smithville, and La Grange, all of which can be visited on foot from the river.
You won't see any sign of it (or hear the local chamber of commerce talk about it much), but near the river in La Grange is the site of the "Chicken Ranch", made famous by the Broadway play and movie "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". ZZ Top's rock classic "La Grange" memorializes this locale.
The Colorado River is noted for its population of bald eagles. Upriver from Austin, there is a year round population. On the lower Colorado, you are most likely to see them in the cool season (November-March), although they are breeding in an increasingly wide range. On a previous trip (in early March) we coined a phrase to describe the lower Colorado -- "more eagles than rapids" (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote "A Visit from Saint Nicholas"). On a more recent trip we saw only one eagle, but we did spot several caracara (often called the Mexican eagle) and the tropical green kingfisher.
While there is some local interest in canoeing the lower Colorado, it is not a commercial float stream. You will probably have to provide your own shuttle services, although you may find canoe outfitters by local inquiry. The flow is most dependable from March to October, but there is a minimum year-round flow of about 300 cfs which is adequate (barely) for canoeing. At this low level, you will encounter many rocky shoals that may require stepping out of the boat to get through.
Camping -- There is no shortage of adequate riverside primitive campsites. The sand and gravel bars and some large islands are generally considered to be public property, so campers can feel at home. If it is necessary to camp above the river banks, remember the land is almost certainly privately owned, and you should seek permission and avoid trespassing.
Almost all the sand bars are frequented by cattle who sometimes object (though usually only vocally) to visitors. Choose a site that has no recent sign of their visitations, or camp on one of the large wooded islands.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing Information | |
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service | . |
| River Flow Data |
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| Parks on/near the River | . |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the River | |
| Books | |
| More Pictures | Canoe Camping Photo Gallery (Texas) |
| Environmental Issues/Organizations | . |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors | . |
| Miscellaneous |
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