15-Foot Canoe
Our classic canoes are perfect for families, first-timers, and anyone who wants plenty of room to stretch out. With a ce…
Capacity: 2 adults + 2 small children
FamiliesFirst-timersDogs
Full specs & details →An Austin original since 1969
Paddle Austin's Spring-Fed Heart — Canoe, Kayak & SUP Rentals
An Austin original since 1969. $21/hr, walk-up and family-owned, on the banks of Barton Creek inside Zilker Park.
- $21/hrPer boat — same price for canoes, kayaks & SUPs
- 100+Boats in our fleet — always a boat ready for you
- Cash OnlyATM 200 ft away at the Zilker Eagle depot
- Open 7 DaysMon–Fri from 10am · Sat–Sun from 9am · weather permitting
Our Fleet
100+ boats — canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards — all at the same price. Pick your adventure.
Single Kayak
Take the creek on your own terms. Our single-seat kayaks have molded seat backs for all-day comfort and a nimble hull th…
Capacity: 1 adult
Solo paddlersFitness paddlingSkyline views
Full specs & details →Tandem Kayak
Paddle in sync with your partner, friend, or adventurous kid. Tandem kayaks are faster than canoes and give both paddler…
Capacity: 2 adults (or 1 adult + 1 older child)
CouplesSkyline viewsDistance paddling
Full specs & details →New — guided experiences
Guided Clear Kayak Tours
Want a guide and a see-through kayak? Skyline day paddles, sunset & bat tours, and LED night glow tours — operated by our partner [Guided Tour Brand Here].
Daytime
Clear Kayak Day Tour
See straight through to the spring-fed water
A guided daytime paddle in crystal-clear kayaks on Lady Bird Lake and into Barton Creek — skyline views, turtles and herons below you, and a sandbar stop to splash around.
1.5 hours$75 / person
View & bookSunset
Sunset & Bat-Watching Clear Kayak Tour
Golden hour, then a million bats overhead
An evening clear-kayak paddle timed for the Texas sunset and the nightly emergence of the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony — one of Austin's most unforgettable sights.
1.5 hours · seasonal$85 / person
View & bookNight
Night Glow Clear Kayak Tour
LED-lit kayaks on a glowing river
A one-hour after-dark paddle in LED-illuminated clear kayaks. The lights turn the water below you electric blue while downtown Austin glitters against the night sky.
1 hour$65 / person
View & bookHow It Works
No experience needed. We've been getting first-timers on the water since 1969.
1
Walk Up or Reserve
Standard rentals are first-come, first-served — just show up! For busy weekends or groups, submit a reservation request online to let us know you're coming.
2
Grab a Paddle & Life Jacket
Our staff fits you with a life jacket (infant through adult), gives you a quick 5-minute paddling orientation, and gets you into your boat. Cash at the dock — $21/hr or $57 all day.
3
Paddle Barton Creek to Lady Bird Lake
Launch on spring-fed Barton Creek, glide through cypress groves and limestone canyon walls, then head the quarter mile to Lady Bird Lake for the downtown Austin skyline view.
2101 Andrew Zilker Rd, Austin, TX 78746
Open in MapsFind Us on the Banks of Barton Creek
2101 Andrew Zilker Rd, Austin, TX 78746We're tucked into Zilker Park — not visible from the street. Take the easternmost parking lot off Barton Springs Road, walk down the stairs to the left near Barton Springs Pool, and look for the “Canoe Rental is Open” banner.
- Free parking throughout Zilker Park
- ¼-mile paddle from launch to Lady Bird Lake
- ATM 200 ft away at the Zilker Eagle mini train depot
- Phone: (512) 478-3852
What Austinites Are Saying
55+ years on the water. Generations of memories.
“Absolute gem hidden in Zilker Park. We took a family canoe out on Barton Creek with our two kids and it was the highlight of our whole Austin trip. The staff was friendly, the boats are solid, and $21/hr is a steal. We'll be back every time we visit.”
“Been coming here since the '90s and it never changes — in the best way. Same friendly vibe, same beautiful creek, same unbeatable price. You can paddle out to Lady Bird Lake and have the downtown skyline right in front of you. My dog loves the canoe. This place is Austin.”
“We did the Full Moon Float Concert Series and it blew our minds. Paddling under a full moon with live music in the background and the city lights reflecting on the water — we've done rooftop bars and fancy restaurants in Austin, and nothing compared to that evening on the water.”
On-the-Water Events
Full Moon Float Concert Series and more — paddle under the stars with live music and the downtown skyline.
Monthly — full moon
Full Moon Float Concert Series — July
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 · 8:30 PM CDT
Glide out onto Lady Bird Lake under a full moon with live music drifting across the water. Downtown Austin's skyline glows in the …
Get Tickets on Eventbrite (Demo)→Monthly — full moon
Full Moon Float Concert Series — August
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 · 8:30 PM CDT
The summer's best-kept secret: paddling Austin's urban waterway under a full moon while live music plays from the shoreline. Coole…
Get Tickets on Eventbrite (Demo)→Our Community Mission
Paddling for Everyone
We believe everyone deserves a day on the water — regardless of budget. Since 1969, we've partnered with community organizations to bring kids, families, and groups who might never otherwise get on the water out to Barton Creek.
Austin Sunshine Camps, Youth River Watch, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Texas Schools for the Deaf and Blind, and SafePlace — these are our partners in putting Austin on the water, one paddle at a time.
Austin Sunshine Camps
Austin Youth River Watch
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Texas School for the Deaf
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Center for Battered Women (SafePlace)
The Paddle Log
Local guides to paddling Austin — routes, tips, dog-friendly floats, and the best skyline views from the water.
beginnerskayak rental
First-Time Kayak Rental in Austin: Everything You Need to Know
First time renting a kayak in Austin? Here's everything — from cash requirements to parking to how to find our dock tucked away in Zilker Park.
8 min readRead more →
Austin skylinephotography
The Best Austin Skyline Views Are From the Water
Rooftop bars, observation decks, hilltops — none of them compare to the Austin skyline from a paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake at golden hour.
6 min readRead more →
dogspaddling
Paddling With Dogs in Austin: A Dog-Owner's Guide to Canoes, Kayaks & SUPs
Austin loves dogs. Austin loves paddling. Combining them on Barton Creek is one of the best things you can do on a Sunday morning.
7 min readRead more →
Ready to Paddle Austin?
Walk up or reserve ahead. $21/hr, cash only, open 7 days. Barton Creek is waiting.
Follow Us @zilkerparkboats
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@zilkerparkboats
zilkerparkboats Nothing like Barton Creek at 9am on a Saturday. Water's still, air's cool, and the whole creek is basically yours. Come get it. 🛶
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zilkerparkboats This view never gets old. The downtown Austin skyline from a kayak on Lady Bird Lake. No rooftop bar can compete. 🏙️
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zilkerparkboats Mango has logged more SUP miles than most humans. 10/10 would bring to work every day if we could. Reminder: bring your own doggo PFD if your pup isn't a strong swimmer! 🐕
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@zilkerparkboats
zilkerparkboats Last night's Full Moon Float Concert Series was something else. Live music, full moon, downtown skyline. Next one is coming up — link in bio for tickets. 🌕🎵
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@zilkerparkboats
zilkerparkboats Three generations in one canoe. Grandma paddled harder than everyone. This is why we do this. ❤️
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@zilkerparkboats
zilkerparkboats Golden hour from the water. Austin sunsets slap differently when you're floating in the middle of them. Last boats out today caught this. 🌅