Colorado River — Austin
Travis Co. · 50 mi · Class I–II
1,320CFS/ 15.09 ft
Optimal
↓Falling fast (-480 cfs/hr)· -780 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 500–3000 CFS · USGS #08158000
⚡Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
50 mi
Length
Class I–II
Difficulty
500–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,200 cfs
Avg Flow
1,080 cfs
Hist. Median
#08158000
USGS Gauge
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail · Barton Springs

The Colorado River through Austin is the heart of the Texas capital's outdoor culture. Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) offers flatwater paddling through the downtown skyline, while upstream stretches deliver gentle Class I–II riffles through Hill Country limestone. Barton Springs, fed by the Edwards Aquifer at 68 degrees year-round, anchors one of America's great urban swimming and paddling corridors.

Trip sections
Lady Bird Lake — 5 mi, flatwater through downtown Austin
Above Tom Miller Dam — 10 mi, Lake Austin, scenic reservoir
Below Longhorn Dam — 15 mi, Class I–II, Hill Country riffles
Outfitters
Texas Rowing Center
Kayak, canoe, and SUP rentals on Lady Bird Lake
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.