Lady Bird Lake Clear Kayak Tour in Austin
Explore Lady Bird Lake in clear tandem kayaks with skyline views and local history
From$64/ personincl. taxes and fees
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Explore Lady Bird Lake in clear tandem kayaks with skyline views and local history
Discover what we've curated for you
Up to 12 people
Kayak, Guide, Safety gear
Paddle across Lady Bird Lake in a fully transparent kayak and see downtown Austin from the water on this guided tour through the heart of the city. The route takes you past iconic bridges, beneath the Austin skyline, and along the tree-lined shores of the reservoir that former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson helped transform from a barren riverbank into one of the most beloved urban waterways in Texas.
Whether you are looking for a unique way to experience Lady Bird Lake on a first visit to Austin or a local who wants to see the city from a new perspective, this tour puts you on the water in the most iconic stretch of the Colorado River.
All skill levels are welcome. Your guide provides a safety briefing and basic paddling instruction before launch. Each kayak is tandem (seats two). Weight limit is 250 lb per seat and 425 lb per kayak.
Guests under 18 must ride with an adult in the same kayak. If your group has an odd number, kayaks can be reconfigured for a solo paddler. Shoes are not permitted inside the kayak but can be placed in the back. Bring a non-disposable water bottle, a phone for photos, and wear clothes or a swimsuit you do not mind getting wet. Swimming is not permitted on this route due to water depth. Small groups of up to 12 people.
This is a typical itinerary for this clear kayak tour. The specific route and stops may vary based on time of day, season, and water conditions.
Your guide meets the group near the launch point by the shoreline and begins with a safety briefing and quick paddling lesson. Once everyone is comfortable in their clear tandem kayaks, the group pushes off onto Lady Bird Lake.
The tour launches near the I-35 bridge, where the downtown Austin skyline fills the view ahead. As you paddle out onto Lady Bird Lake, your guide points out the buildings and landmarks visible from the water and shares the story of how this stretch of the Colorado River was dammed in 1960 to create what was then called Town Lake, a reservoir that spent its early years as little more than a cooling pond for a nearby power plant.
The route passes beneath several of the bridges that cross Lady Bird Lake, each with its own history and character. Your guide narrates the story of the MoPac Colorado Railroad Bridge, the Pedestrian Bridge that connects Austin's hike-and-bike trail network, and the engineering and design behind the structures that frame some of the most photographed views in the city. The calm, motorboat-free waters of Lady Bird Lake make it easy to pause beneath any of these bridges for photos.
A highlight of the route is paddling near the South Congress Avenue Bridge, which serves as the seasonal home to the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in North America. From March through October, approximately 1.5 million bats roost beneath the bridge and emerge at dusk in a sweeping cloud that draws crowds to the shoreline every evening. On daytime tours, your guide explains the bat colony's history and ecology; on sunset tours, you may witness the emergence from your kayak. Your guide shares how the bats, once considered a nuisance, became a point of civic pride and one of Austin's most popular attractions.
The tour continues along Lady Bird Lake toward the area where Barton Creek feeds in from the south. The water here is often clearer and cooler, fed by the natural springs that also supply Barton Springs Pool. Your guide may pause the group at a scenic sandbar for a break, photos, and a chance to look down through the clear kayak at the fish and plant life below the surface.
The group paddles back along Lady Bird Lake toward the launch point, with your guide sharing final stories and local recommendations for restaurants, bars, and things to do in Austin. The return leg offers a different angle on the skyline as the light shifts.
Pass-by highlights include: Views of Auditorium Shores, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, the Austin skyline reflected on the water, and the bald cypress and cottonwood trees lining the shores of Lady Bird Lake.
All sales are final. Trips canceled by the operator due to inclement weather will be fully refunded. No-shows are not refunded.
39 East Ave, Austin, TX 78701. Meet your guide near the park by the shoreline of Lady Bird Lake. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your tour time to find parking if traveling by car.
Lady Bird Lake is the calm, green center of Austin, a five-mile reservoir on the Colorado River where motorized boats are prohibited and the only traffic on the water is kayaks, paddleboards, and rowing shells. Created in 1960 by the construction of Longhorn Dam, the lake spent its early years as an afterthought, its banks mostly barren. It was Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady, who led the effort to transform it. Through the Town Lake Beautification Committee in the 1970s, Johnson and a group of volunteers planted hundreds of trees, built trails, and turned the shoreline into the park system that now draws runners, cyclists, and paddlers from across the city every day. In 2007, shortly after Johnson's death, the Austin City Council renamed the reservoir in her honor.
Paddling a clear kayak on Lady Bird Lake puts you inside the landscape Johnson helped create. From the water, the bald cypress trees lining the banks frame the downtown skyline in a way that is impossible to see from the trail. Your guide shares the history of the bridges overhead, the ecology of the lake's fish and bird populations, and the story of the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that roost beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge from March through October. The clear kayak itself adds a dimension that a standard rental cannot match: looking down through the hull, you can watch turtles glide past, fish dart beneath you, and aquatic plants sway in the current.
This tour is a natural fit for visitors who want to experience Austin's outdoor culture from the inside, couples looking for a memorable date activity, families with children who can share a tandem kayak with an adult, and locals who have walked the trail a hundred times and want to see Lady Bird Lake from a completely new angle. The small group size keeps the pace relaxed and the commentary personal, and the calm, no-motorboat waters make the paddling accessible to anyone regardless of experience.
Get Up And Go Kayaking offers a memorable way to experience Lady Bird Lake, with guided tours that frequently include bat watching and stunning views of the Austin skyline. Guides like Nora, Journey, Drew, and Star consistently earn praise for being knowledgeable, patient, and creating a relaxed atmosphere. The LED-lit clear kayaks add a special touch to evening tours, and reviewers appreciate that the pace feels comfortable for all ages and skill levels, including complete beginners and older participants. The tours run smoothly overall, with easy check-ins and peaceful paddling experiences. However, there's a significant concern worth noting: one reviewer claims the company operates without proper permits from Austin Parks and Recreation Department and has issues with last-minute location changes. A few others mentioned minor hiccups like difficulty finding the launch spot or occasional equipment problems. Most guests leave thrilled with their experience though, calling it perfect for date nights, family outings, or simply getting a unique perspective on the city from the water.
It was a stunningly beautiful Austin evening on Lady Bird Lake with Nora as our kayak guide on our evening glow tour. It was so peaceful to row out and under the bridge in our lit up kayaks to find the Austin skyline also all lit up, as well as the recreational trail on the other side of the lake. Nora was such a patient guide (as I was a slow kayaker)! She shared so many interesting things about the trees and the birds and the fish, and the bats (which had already migrated) and how lady bird lake came to be. I didn’t realize it was a dammed portion of the Colorado River—not to be confused with the larger Colorado River—and it was originally called Town Lake until 2007 after Lady Bird Johnson died. What a beautiful tribute to her! And what a beautiful way to experience Austin. Thank you Nora!
Liz McCloskey
November 15, 2025
It was a stunningly beautiful Austin evening on Lady Bird Lake with Nora as our kayak guide on our evening glow tour. It was so peaceful to row out and under the bridge in our lit up kayaks to find the Austin skyline also all lit up, as well as the recreational trail on the other side of the lake. Nora was such a patient guide (as I was a slow kayaker)! She shared so many interesting things about the trees and the birds and the fish, and the bats (which had already migrated) and how lady bird lake came to be. I didn’t realize it was a dammed portion of the Colorado River—not to be confused with the larger Colorado River—and it was originally called Town Lake until 2007 after Lady Bird Johnson died. What a beautiful tribute to her! And what a beautiful way to experience Austin. Thank you Nora!
Liz McCloskey
November 15, 2025