Boating, Paddling
Anyone can get out and enjoy canoeing or kayaking. Many state parks offer places that will rent you all the equipment you need: canoes, kayaks, life jackets, even paddle boats! Get a new perspective of nature today, and get your paddle wet.
Texas Paddling Trails
Over 57 designated Texas Paddling Trails provide well-mapped, accessible day trips in a variety of settings and for all levels of paddling experience. Visit our paddling website for trail maps and photos, info on canoe/kayak rentals, directions to designated access sites and fishing and wildlife information.
Texas State Parks with boat rentals
| Park | Phone Number | Rental Information |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene | (325) 572-3204 | Canoes and kayaks available for rent |
| Atlanta | (903) 796-6476 | Canoes available for rent year-round |
| Bastrop | (512) 321-2101 | Canoes available for rent year-round |
| Blanco | (830) 833-4333 | Tubes, canoes and kayaks available for rent |
| Buscher | (512) 237-2241 | Canoes and double kayaks available for rent year-round, provided by Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks |
| Caddo Lake | Boat rentals are available at Crip’s Camp Marina, and Johnson’s Ranch Marina, in Uncertain Texas, approximately 5 miles east of the park entrance on FM2198. | |
| Cedar Hill | (972) 291-3900 | Double and single kayaks available for rent through a concessionaire March through October |
| Colorado Bend | (325) 628-3240 | Double and single sit-on kayaks available for rent year-round |
| Cooper Lake - South Sulphur Unit | (903) 945-5256 | The South Sulphur Unit rents canoes. |
| Daingerfield | (903) 645-2921 | Pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, and flat bottom boats available for rent year-round. |
| Eisenhower | (903) 463-3999 |
Pontoon boats available for rent. For information and reservations contact the Eisenhower Yacht Club at (903)463-3999, eyc@eisenhoweryachtclub.com, or visit www.eisenhoweryachtclub.com |
| Fort Parker | (254) 562-5751 | Canoes available for rent daily in-season and upon request in off-season |
| Garner | (830) 232-6132 | Paddleboats and kayaks available for rent at Spring Break, Easter and Memorial Day through Labor Day from concessionaire |
| Huntsville | (936) 295-5644 | Paddle boats and canoes are available for rent |
| Inks Lake | (512) 793-2223 | Canoes, paddleboats, and kayaks are available for rent year-round |
| Lake Mineral Wells | (940) 325-7152 |
A concession operation at the park rents flat bottom boats with trolling motors, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats. Contact them at (940) 325-7152 for more information. No skiing, jet skis or tubing allowed on the lake. |
| Lake Somerville Birch Creek Unit |
(979) 535-7763 | Canoes and kayaks available for rent year round |
| Lake Somerville NailsCreek Unit |
(979) 289-2392 | Canoes and kayaks available for rent year-round |
| Lake Texana | (361) 782-5718 | Canoes, hydro-bikes, and single person sit-on kayaks available for rent year-round |
| Martin Dies, Jr. | (409) 384-5231 | Canoes available for rent year-round |
| Palmetto | (830) 672-3266 | Pedal boat, kayak, hyrdo-bike, and canoes available for rent year-round |
| Possum Kingdom | (940) 549-5612 | P.K.S.P. Store & Marina (940/549-5612) rents non-motorized boats; canoes, and row boats, as well as wakeboards, kneeboards, skis and tubes. They also offer a wide variety of supplies, convenience items, water/fishing supplies, and slip rentals. |
| Purtis Creek | 903)425-2332 | Paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes available for rent year-round |
| Ray Roberts Lake Sanger Unit |
(940) 458-7343 | Boats, boat slips and motors available for rent from concessionaire |
| Sea Rim | (409) 971-2559 | Canoes and paddleboats available for rent year-round |
| Tyler | (903) 597-5338 |
|
IMPORTANT Water Safety Message
Open bodies of water (lakes, rivers, bays, bayous, ponds, oceans) are vastly different from neighborhood swimming pools and therefore warrant extra precautions. They key differences are that there are no lifeguards; water conditions can change rapidly; underwater currents sometimes exist and anyone who can't swim should have on a life-jacket. In fact in Texas, children under 13 years of age in or on vessels under 26 feet must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket. And all vessels under 16 feet (including canoes and kayaks) must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or V for each person on board.
Remember: The life you save may be your own! Before you paddle make sure you've reviewed these informative safety websites:
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