• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

7 Popular Lady Bird Lake Activities to Experience This Year

January 14, 2020 by Susan Meyer 3 Comments

Lady Bird Lake Activities in Austin
Lady Bird Lake activities provides endless views (Credit: Kurt Larson)

On any of the more than 300 days of sunshine in Austin each year, there’s no better place to go than Lady Bird Lake. Whether hiking or biking the trails, doing stand-up paddle board yoga, or taking a river cruise, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor fun to be had in the heart of beautiful downtown Austin.

What’s in a Name?

The first thing people often notice about Lady Bird Lake is that it sure looks like a river. The section of the Colorado River that runs through downtown Austin was created by the building of the Longhorn Dam in 1960. Today, its primary purposes are flood control and, of course, recreation.

From 1960 until 2007, the body of water was known as Town Lake. It was officially renamed after First Lady Lady Bird Johnson because of her work beautifying the shoreline, and creating the system of hike and bike trails we know and love today. But of course, names are slow to change and many Austinites still tend to stick with Town Lake.

Regardless of what you call it, here are five ways you can enjoy the lake during the sunny days ahead.

1/ Hiking and Biking

Barton Creek Pedestrian Bridge From Overhead
Looking down on the Barton Creek pedestrian bridge, part of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail (Credit: Christopher V. Sherman/Over Austin)

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is over 10 miles long and makes a complete circuit around Lady Bird Lake. In fact, it is one of the oldest urban hike and bike paths in Texas.

The trail loop was completed at the end of 2014 with the addition of a one-mile stretch of paved boardwalk (see below). The trail is mostly flat and composed of crushed granite, making it a great place to go for a jog with friends or take a nice bike ride.

Keep reading: Cyclist’s Guide to Austin’s Hike and Bike Trail Around Lady Bird Lake

I personally enjoy going early in the morning, when the sunrise is reflecting off the lake. I can watch turtles sitting on rocks in the beauty of the morning and (almost) forget that I actually hate running.

 Keep reading: Make Lady Bird Lake’s Eastside Loop Your Go-To Route

2/ Visit the Boardwalk

Austin Boardwalk at Twilight
The boardwalk can also be a great place to view the bats (Credit: Kurt Larson)

The boardwalk is technically a part of the Ann and Roy Butler trail, but its unique vantage point puts it in a category of its own. The angle offers an amazing view of the downtown skyline, so it’s a beautiful place to linger and watch a sunrise, or sunset.

And if for some reason you aren’t in the mood for a narrow dirt trail, then a walk up and down the wide stretch of the boardwalk can be a relaxing activity without having to commit to the whole trail loop.

Bring sun protection during the day. There’s no tree coverage here like the dirt portion of the trail.

3/ Bring Your Pup to the Dog Park

Austin Hike and Bike Trail Dog Park
Bring your dog to the park to make some friends (Credit: Miguel Dean-Martinez)

Dog lovers will be happy to know Austin is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. With abundant trails, outdoor spaces, and dogs around every corner, pups should have no problem finding playmates for the time of their lives.

The Auditorium Shores Dog Park is on the water side of Riverside Drive, and it’s a spacious off-leash area for dogs to roam. Just be aware that, for the safety of your pet, dogs are strongly advised to stay out of Lady Bird Lake. Thankfully, there’s a trail and a fence between the dog park and the lake, which will curb your dog’s curiosity and keep them away from the water!

Keep reading: Romp Around at These 6 Austin Dog Parks

4/ Kayaking and Canoeing

Lady Bird Lake Activities of Canoeing and Kayaking
Kayaks on Lady Bird Lake (Credit: Hi I’m Santi via Flickr CC)

The City of Austin officially outlawed personal motorized boats on Lady Bird Lake, making it a perfect haven for canoes and kayaks.

There are a number of places to rent canoes, kayaks, rowing shells, and dragon boats on the lake. Three places to start are Texas Rowing Center, Congress Avenue Kayaks, and the Paddle Shack. Some local businesses even offer special events like sunset or full moon paddles, so you can enjoy the lake at all hours.

If you are particularly adept with a kayak, you can check out Austin Kayak Polo to play water polo from your boat!

5/ Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Stand Up Paddle Boarding on Lady Bird Lake
Paddle board on Lady Bird Lake (Credit: Tnkntx via Flickr CC)

The rental places I named above also offer stand up paddle boarding, which I feel deserves its own category. Stand up paddle boarding is a fun way to test your balance. Or, in the case of my friends and I, you can sit on the boards about half the time and just float.

The truly balanced can take private stand up paddle board yoga classes with Breath and Body Yoga. The 90-minute classes begin at Texas Rowing Center.

6/ River Cruises

Lone Star Riverboat Cruise on Lady Bird Lake
Cruise the lake for education, for leisure, or both (Credit: Lone Star Riverboat)

Let’s say you want to be out on the water, but you don’t want to expend any effort. Instead, you want to sip a beer and enjoy the sunset over the water.

What you need is Capital Cruises or Lone Star Riverboat. Both offer dinner and lunch cruises for small and large groups. The local companies also have special sightseeing cruises, perfect for out-of-towners and those of us who want to play tourist in our own city.

The two companies also offer bat-watching cruises, which leads us to….

7/ Bat-watching

Lady Bird Lake Activities Like Bat-watching
Waiting for the bats by kayak (Credit: Sam Zavieh)

The Mexican free-tailed bats that make their home under the Congress Avenue bridge create an unforgettable sight when they emerge during bat season between March and November. Sitting by the lake at sunset, you can witness the miracle of the bat swarm every night.

Out of all the Lady Bird Lake activities, this is one of my favorite places to take summer visitors because it’s uniquely Austin.

Keep reading: Guide to Bat Season in Austin


@theAustinot wants to know:

When was the last time you embraced the Lady Bird Lake activities that are available to us?


This article was originally published April 18, 2017.

Filed Under: Activities, Discoveries Tagged With: downtown, lady bird lake, yoga

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Charlotte Howard
Charlotte Howard
6 years ago

Lady Bird Lake is so beautiful! Many of my clients say that doing yoga on their paddle board is extremely relaxing so I may just have to try it out. Thank you so much for sharing this list! 🙂

0
Reply
TONI MIRELES
TONI MIRELES
3 years ago

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST

0
Reply
Brittany Highland
Brittany Highland
3 years ago
Reply to  TONI MIRELES

Hi Toni, we included websites for each activity (where applicable), so you can check current pricing.

0
Reply

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9 | Rainbow on the Creek

Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, Lakefest 2023, and more! Deal Alert – Check […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9 | 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride

12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of June 9 which include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, Austin Pride Block Party Kick Off, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 | Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of June 5, 2023, include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter in Concert, The Haunting of the Tavern, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin […]

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 - celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Memorial Day events in Austin 2023 – celebrations & fun things to do near you this weekend include ceremonies & more!

Get ready to make this Austin Memorial Day weekend unforgettable! Whether you are looking forward to Memorial Day fireworks 2023 Austin or Memorial Day weekend concerts, there are a number of things to do on Memorial Day weekend Austin. Here are some fun Memorial Day festivals 2023 events to help you make the most of […]

Mother's Day Specials in Austin 2023 - 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Mother’s Day Specials in Austin 2023 – 40+ Verified Discounts and Freebies Near You!

Welcome to our ultimate guide to Mother’s Day specials in Austin 2023! It’s time to show the extraordinary moms in our lives just how much we adore them. To make this year’s celebration truly unforgettable, we’ve scoured through the city’s top shops and stores to compile an extraordinary list of 125 awesome deals and promos! […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of June 9, 2023 include Rainbow on the Creek, Madagascar The Musical, and more!
  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • Father’s Day Events Austin – 10 Best Things to Do on Fathers Day 2023 include Beer, BBQ, Concerts, Father & Daughter Dance and more!
  • Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 5 include Cine Las Americas International Film Festival, Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert, and more!
  • National Donut Day 2023 Deals in Austin – Verified Deals Near You!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 12 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of June 9, 2023 include 2nd Annual Pflugerville Pride, Silent Disco Party, and More!
  • 10 Best Lakes in and around Austin
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x