Author: Dale Harris
For most North Texas residents, the Trinity River has been largely inaccessible. Bounded by steep banks and visible only by overlooks, the Trinity River has loomed large in our collective imagination but, remained elusive to experience.
The recent development of river launches by forward-thinking, river-adjacent cities like Carrollton, Arlington, Ft Worth and Irving, has created a stunning, 127-mile continuous Trinity River Paddling Trail, opening up North Texas’ most precious natural resource to recreation and exploration.
Since river paddling has not been part of the North Texas collective consciousness, there is a bit of a learning curve. Not to worry, we have plenty of options available to beginner river paddlers.
If you are new to paddling, here are some tips to get started.
- Borrow a kayak from a friend. If your friend can paddle with you, that’s great. If not, get some tips and hit one of North Texas’ beautiful lakes to practice.
- Rent a kayak. You’ll get the bare minimum amount of gear and instruction, but it’s a low-cost introduction to paddling. Learn as you go!
- Sign up for a tour. See our list below to find an excellent North Texas outfitter. All have group tours but, ask about private tours for small groups. These outfitters are happy to help.
- Take a class. Many of our North Texas rental companies and outfitters offer introductory class with more in-depth instruction than a tour. This is a better option if you plan to take up kayaking in earnest. For advanced techniques like fast-water and white-water paddling, find an ACA-certified trainer.
Here is a list of North Texas rental companies and outfitters to help you get started!
Kayak Rental:
- Backwoods Paddle Sports (Ft. Worth)
- DFW Surf (Frisco, Little Elm, Grapevine)
- Trinity River Kayak Co (Coppell)
- White Rock Paddle Co. (White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX)
Outfitters:
