River Activities

The river trails offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the quiet serenity of nature while paddling through the parks and riparian corridors of Waco. Although there are no man-made obstructions on either of the trails, there may be snags to avoid, especially when water levels are low. Heavy rains and high water can create dangerous conditions.

The Brazos and Bosque Rivers are readily influenced by rainfall runoff that may create temporary high flows and undesirable water quality conditions. Flow and water quality information is available to paddlers on the Brazos River Authority's website.

Emergency: 9-1-1

Operation Game Thief: (800) 792-4263

City of Waco Parks and Recreation: (254) 750-5980

TPWD Inland Fisheries: (254) 666-5190

Army Corps of Engineers Waco Office: (254) 756-5359

The two Waco paddling trails (Bosque Bluffs and Brazos Bridges) can be paddled to enjoy as many miles as you wish. They were designed for beginning or novice paddlers, with no shuttle or portage necessary. The trails offer wonderful opportunities to enjoy the quiet serenity of nature while paddling through the parks and riparian corridors of Waco.

Although there are no man-made obstructions on either of these trails, there may be snags to avoid, especially when water levels are low. Heavy rains and high water can create dangerous conditions. Th Brazos and Bosque rivers are readily influenced by rainfall runoff that may create temporary high flows and undesirable water quality conditions. Flow and water quality information is available to paddles on the Brazos River Authority website at www.brazos.org.

Bosque Bluffs Paddling Trail: Total 4.5 miles (one way) from Brazos Park East kayak/canoe ramp to Bosque Park. The trail is 1.2 miles (one way) from Brazos Park East kayak/canoe ramp to McLennan Community College boat ramp and 3.3 miles (one way) from McLennan Community College boat ramp to Bosque Park.

Brazos Bridges Paddling Trail: Total 4.8-mile loop from Brazos Park East kayak/canoe ramp to Bledsoe-Miller Community Center dock and back to Brazos Park East kayak/canoe ramp.

Expect float times of 1 to 3 hours, depending on the route taken, time spent on the river, water level, flow rate and wind speed.

Trail segments can be combined, paddled as a loop with a single put-in/take-out, or completed as single segments. If paddling a single segment, we recommend planning ahead for a shuttle vehicle at your selected take-out location.

Bosque Park Access Point: 31.5848, -97.1940
Getting there (from the McLennan Community College boat ramp): Head west on Cameron Dr. toward College Dr. Turn right onto College Dr. Take a left onto Lake Shore Dr. Turn right onto Airport Rd. The park will be about 0.3 miles down on your left.

Brazos Park East Kayak/Canoe Ramp: 31.5879, -97.1534
Getting there: From I-35, head west on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Drive 3 miles. The park will be on your left.
Getting there (from the McLennan Community College boat ramp): Head west on Cameron Dr. toward College Dr. Turn right onto College Dr. Take a right onto Lake Shore Dr. Turn right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The park will be about 0.8 miles down on your right.

McLennan Community College Boat Ramp: 31.5929, -97.1693
Getting there: From I-35, head west on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Turn left onto Lake Shore Dr. Turn left onto College Dr. Turn left onto Cameron Dr. Boat ramp and dock are located on your left about .2 miles.

Rivers are ever-changing dynamic systems with inherent dangers. Follow basic safety rules:

• Wear a Coast-Guard approved life jacket and appropriate footwear.
• Carry drinking water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
• File a float plan – tell someone where you’ll be and when you’ll return. Never paddle alone.
• Carry a sound-signaling device (whistle or horn) and a white light source (if paddling from sunset to sunrise).
• Plan and prepare for weather and water conditions.
• Be sure your skills match the trail.

The Brazos and Bosque rivers are readily influenced by rainfall runoff that may create temporary high flows and undesirable water quality conditions. Flow and water quality information: www.brazos.org.

• Public use of the river is allowed. If necessary, the banks may be used to portage hazards, but re-enter the water as soon as it is safe to do so to avoid trespassing.
• Respect landowners by not trespassing and keeping noise levels down.
• Stop invasive species! Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
• No littering; dispose of trash properly.
• Avoid the use of glass, plastic containers under 5oz. or Styrofoam while on the water to prevent accidental litter.
• Respect wildlife by keeping your distance and not harassing them.

Fishing License

A valid Texas freshwater or combo fishing license is required for anyone over the age of 17, or born after 1930. Penalties for fishing without a license in public waters can include fines and forfeiture of equipment.

The first Saturday in June is a statewide free fishing day where no license is required.

Species

These sections of river provide angling opportunity for numerous freshwater species, including:

• Channel, blue, and flathead catfish
• Smallmouth buffalo
• Common carp
• Largemouth bass
• White bass
• Crappie

Catfish, buffalo and carp require stout tackle and natural baits. Bass and crappie are caught on jigs, plastic worms, spinner baits or minnows.

Flowing through the heart of Waco, the Brazos River supports a thriving riparian ecosystem where aquatic and woodland habitats meet. Cottonwood, pecan, and oak trees line the banks, providing shade, stabilizing soil, and supporting a variety of wildlife.

Common Wildlife

You can often spot:

• Birds: great egrets, herons, scissor-tailed flycatchers, red-tailed hawks, and migratory songbirds
• Fish: largemouth bass, white bass, catfish, crappie, and carp
• Mammals & Reptiles: raccoons, deer, foxes, turtles, and occasionally alligators

Unique & Protected Species

The Brazos River is home to species found nowhere else, including:

• Brazos water snake (Nerodia harteri), a rare, river-dependent species
• Freshwater mussels such as the Texas fawnsfoot and Balcones spike, protected through state and federal conservation efforts

Environmental Importance

The riparian corridor provides:

• Bank stabilization and erosion control
• Shading that helps regulate water temperature
• Habitat and food sources for fish, birds, and mammals
• A migration route for numerous bird species

Explore & Enjoy

Whether you’re paddling, fishing, or walking trails near Cameron Park and Lake Brazos, you’ll experience one of Central Texas’s most vibrant natural corridors—where city and nature meet along the water.

Rules are set and governed by the City of Waco, the Brazos River Authority, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Penalties include substantial fines and criminal charges.

• Use designated boat ramps/docks such as at Brazos Park East, McLennan Community College Boat Ramp.

• Operators must comply with general boating safety: life jackets for everyone onboard, safe speeds, proper signaling equipment.

• No sewage/liquid waste discharge into the surface water of the river/lake.

• Rental boats and group-hire motorized boats must be licensed/permit-based.

• Slow “No-Wake Zone” areas are specified:
  • On Lake Brazos downtown segment, between the Waco Drive Bridge and ~200 yards past the Lake Brazos dam.
  • Between the Bosque River and MLK Jr Blvd Bridge at Brazos Park East.
  • On the Bosque River, between Brazos Park East and Lakeshore Drive Bridge.

• It’s prohibited to create a wake or wash that is hazardous to other watercraft or persons in those zones.

• Motorized water sports are only allowed upstream on the Brazos River starting at the MLK Jr Blvd Bridge.

• Airboats (flat-bottom swamp-style craft with airplane-type propellers) are prohibited in the Lake Brazos section.

• If you are planning a special event (drag boat races, regattas, large motor-boat group hire, etc.), you must obtain a special permit.