Austin, TX · lake · best for beginners
Lady Bird Lake
Austin's downtown reservoir on the Colorado River — no motorboats allowed, so it's paddler heaven. Sunset bat-watching under the Congress Avenue Bridge is a rite of passage.
Fair
Paddle Score, from live wind and water conditions
Wind
9 mph
gusting to 14 mph
Air temp
99°F
1% chance of rain
River flow
67.9 cfs
runnable 100–5,000
Wind, next 12 hours
mph| Hour | Wind (mph) | Gusts (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 3p | 9 | 14 |
| 4p | 9 | 13 |
| 5p | 9 | 12 |
| 6p | 8 | 11 |
| 7p | 6 | 11 |
| 8p | 5 | 11 |
| 9p | 7 | 15 |
| 10p | 10 | 26 |
| 11p | 11 | 28 |
| 12a | 9 | 27 |
| 1a | 8 | 25 |
| 2a | 6 | 22 |
Is this flow normal for July 30?
Today's 67.9 cfs is 95% below the median for this date — which counts as very low water here.
The median flow on this date is 1,470 cfs, across 127 years of USGS record at this gauge. Whether that is runnable depends on the stretch — this is context, not a recommendation.
Why this score
- Wind — 9 mph — noticeable but manageable-7
- Heat — 99°F — bring more water than you think-14
- River flow — 67.9 cfs — below 100 cfs, expect dragging-25
Launch notes
Easiest launch is the Rowing Dock or Zilker Park. Year-round season; summer mornings beat the heat.
Do your own homework
We show you live conditions. For local knowledge — where to put in, what the hazards are, whether it's worth the drive — here's where paddlers actually talk about this water. We don't vet these sources; check the dates and judge for yourself.
- Paddler discussion on Reddit
Trip reports and local warnings, straight from the source
- Search American Whitewater
Rapid classifications and gauge-linked run descriptions
- Satellite view and access roads
Check parking, put-ins, and what the banks actually look like
- Video from this water
The fastest way to see the character of a run before you drive
- USGS gauge 08158000
Full hydrograph, historical flows, and station metadata