News and Advice about Boating on Texas Lakes and the Gulf Coast
Enjoy Texas Boating Year-Round!Texans who enjoy boating and water sports have an enormous variety of waterways to choose from including the Gulf of Mexico several major rivers, and our natural and man-made lakes. From the large Houston boat yards to a small family-oriented Lake Travis marina, there are thousands of places to launch and dock a boat. Cruising along our rivers, lake shores and coastline is a great way to enjoy our Texas scenery and wildlife. |
Boating on Texas Lakes and Rivers
Although Texas has suffered from a severe drought the past few years, the major lakes and rivers still have plenty of water for swimming, boating and other types of aquatic recreation. Central Texas boat owners can choose from among the wonderful Highland Lakes -- Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake – which were created by the Lower Colorado River Authority to control flooding and provide water and electric power to the surrounding communities. Many Austin-area boaters take advantage of the Lake Travis recreation opportunities afforded by the lake's deep water and 64 mile length.
We also have many Texas rivers suitable for boating, the largest of which are the Rio Grande, Red River, Brazos, Pecos, and Colorado River. These are all navigable year-round and ideal for Texas boating; many people take advantage of them for canoeing, kayaking, tubing and water skiing. These five rivers vary in length from 1250 miles (Rio Grande) to 862 miles (Colorado River), and they all eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico.