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Nestled between Austin and San Antonio on the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is a popular boating spot – and it’s actually known as the Water Recreation Capital of Texas and the “jewel of hill country.” With 80 miles of clear, gentle waters, it’s easy to see why. Plan a day to fish for striped bass or rainbow trout, or perhaps you just want to spend the day swimming, hiking around the lake, or tubing. Water sports and activities are naturally the mainstay of the area but there are other things to do and discover in and around Canyon Lake.
You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy this fantastic lake. All types of watercraft are available to rent, from top of the line wakeboarding and water-skiing boats to single-person kayaks. If fishing is your thing, you can catch catfish or several kinds of bass aboard shaded fishing boats. Rent a pontoon with your family on Canyon Lake for a casual day of cruising. Jet skis and wave runners are great for thrill-seekers. Houseboats, canoes, inner tubes – you name it, you can find it at Canyon Lake.
The floods of 2002 carved out the Canyon Lake Gorge below the lake’s spillway. You can witness waterfalls, marine fossils, beautiful geologic formations, and 110 million-year-old dinosaur tracks. Take a tour of the Canyon Lake Gorge – just know that it takes a little bit of forethought since only guided tours are available. The hike is three hours long and a bit strenuous, so shouldn’t be attempted if you have a health condition. It is also only open to children seven years and older. Plan your trip and book your tour here.
This Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country is just a few minutes from lakeside, and it’s a fantastic excursion that isn’t quite as physically intensive as the gorge tour. Sitting on almost 25 acres, the museum features over 200 dinosaur tracks on 28 different trackways. Well-versed docents lead tours throughout the day. There are also local history exhibits and plenty of fossils to see. Don’t miss the gorgeous nature trail that highlights native plants. The open-air picnic area is a great place to enjoy your lunch.
Whether you are interested in Canyon Lake boat rentals, Guadalupe River tubing, ancient geologic history or dinosaurs, the Canyon Lake area is an awesome destination. Pack your sunscreen and water gear, and be prepared to make life-long memories.
Boat rental prices on Canyon Lake start at $125/hour for a pontoon rental and can go up to $250/hour for a powerboat rental. There are many reasonably priced pontoon rentals available on Canyon Lake.
The best time of year to visit Canyon Lake in Texas is during the early summer or autumn months. April through June and September and October can be really pleasant with sunny days and warm weather. July and August can be unbearably hot, even if you’re renting a boat and going swimming.
The water temperature of Canyon Lake stays around 60-70℉ year-round. It is warmer in the summer months of June, July, and August, and the coldest in January and February.
You must be at least 18 years old to rent a boat in Texas, but operators can be as young as 13 years old if they have the proper safety education and certifications. A boating safety course is recommended before renting a boat in Texas.
Excellent experience overall! Boat was clean and fun, we loved the slide and the water pad! Pat was very timely professional and quick to respond. David was our captain and was amazing, found a great spot to swim around in and made sure the whole family was safe and had fun. Would highly recommend!
Pat and his crew were there waiting on time. Communication was great. He went over all the details of the boat and made sure to let us know he was available if we had any questions. We had a fantastic time! We will definitely book with him next visit.
NILS was fantastic, easy company, great boat! My daughter and son both skied on a Slalom. My son wakeborded and everyone wakesurfed. My son is 30 and it's been several years since he has skied. Nils is very experienced at pulling people. If I'm on Canyon Lake, I will choose him. In addition, he took us to a great place to hang out and swim. Thanks Nils!
Booked a 4-hour trip for a few friends and a couple kids. Pat was at the dock waiting well ahead of our departure date. The captain, Dean, was awesome! He took us to a few different spots. Everyone had a blast. Would definitely book again.
Wow! We had the best time out on the boat! We couldn’t have asked for a better experience! It made my daughter’s birthday truly memorable. The boat was amazing and in great condition. The kids…and adults had a blast on the slide! We loved the lily pad and tube. Captain Dean was the icing on the cake, he took us to some great spots and we always felt safe with him. We left already thinking about when we’d rent from Pat again! I recommend him 100x over. Thanks so much!
This trip was so awesome, all because of the experience on your boat! Pat and our captain Jimmy were so patient and kind with our whole party, kids and all! We were taken to a private location to swim, jump, and vibe to our music! We received education in the lake spots for our next trip that made everything very personable. We cannot wait to book again with you both, if you will have us…we were a fun crowd with a lot of questions lol
Nestled between Austin and San Antonio on the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is a popular boating spot – and it’s actually known as the Water Recreation Capital of Texas and the “jewel of hill country.” With 80 miles of clear, gentle waters, it’s easy to see why. Plan a day to fish for striped bass or rainbow trout, or perhaps you just want to spend the day swimming, hiking around the lake, or tubing. Water sports and activities are naturally the mainstay of the area but there are other things to do and discover in and around Canyon Lake.
You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy this fantastic lake. All types of watercraft are available to rent, from top of the line wakeboarding and water-skiing boats to single-person kayaks. If fishing is your thing, you can catch catfish or several kinds of bass aboard shaded fishing boats. Rent a pontoon with your family on Canyon Lake for a casual day of cruising. Jet skis and wave runners are great for thrill-seekers. Houseboats, canoes, inner tubes – you name it, you can find it at Canyon Lake.
The floods of 2002 carved out the Canyon Lake Gorge below the lake’s spillway. You can witness waterfalls, marine fossils, beautiful geologic formations, and 110 million-year-old dinosaur tracks. Take a tour of the Canyon Lake Gorge – just know that it takes a little bit of forethought since only guided tours are available. The hike is three hours long and a bit strenuous, so shouldn’t be attempted if you have a health condition. It is also only open to children seven years and older. Plan your trip and book your tour here.
This Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country is just a few minutes from lakeside, and it’s a fantastic excursion that isn’t quite as physically intensive as the gorge tour. Sitting on almost 25 acres, the museum features over 200 dinosaur tracks on 28 different trackways. Well-versed docents lead tours throughout the day. There are also local history exhibits and plenty of fossils to see. Don’t miss the gorgeous nature trail that highlights native plants. The open-air picnic area is a great place to enjoy your lunch.
Whether you are interested in Canyon Lake boat rentals, Guadalupe River tubing, ancient geologic history or dinosaurs, the Canyon Lake area is an awesome destination. Pack your sunscreen and water gear, and be prepared to make life-long memories.
GetMyBoat has 36 listings for boating experiences in Canyon Lake with 672 reviews.
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