Austin Memorial Day Weekend

[gts-20]

We are going to be in Austin 5/25-5/29. Depending on the day, we'll be on either Lake Austin or Dunlap, possibly Travis.

Anyone else going to brave the crowds and get out on the water?

[broncotw]

I am considering Lake Austin or Travis! Lake Austin will be crazy!

[gts-20]

Originally Posted by broncotw

I am considering Lake Austin or Travis! Lake Austin will be crazy!

Lake Austin was crazy in the afternoon last year. That's why we were considering Dunlap. We went there one afternoon during Memorial Day weekend last year and we were almost alone on the water. Only a few other boats out. I'm staying at my parents on Lake Austin, so we will be out there early for a few mornings. I haven't been to Travis in a while, since the ramps have been closed. How is it?

[pmkkdx]

only good thing about Lake Austin on a holiday weekend, they normally ban the lake lice (personal watercraft).

I believe that only one public ramp is open on Travis, Mansfield Dam ... http://www.lcra.org/parks/boat_ramp_info.html

[pmkkdx]

Lake Georgetown is back to full ... Corp lake, only 3 ramps/parks and they only allow so many boats (limited to parking spots at ramps). Belton is full too ... either of those are within an hour or less of Austin. LBJ will likely be crowded too, but constant level, filled with lake lice due to all the true waterfront properties.

[gts-20]

Originally Posted by pmkkdx

Lake Georgetown is back to full ... Corp lake, only 3 ramps/parks and they only allow so many boats (limited to parking spots at ramps). Belton is full too ... either of those are within an hour or less of Austin. LBJ will likely be crowded too, but constant level, filled with lake lice due to all the true waterfront properties.

I've never been to Lake Georgetown. How is it? What direction is it from the Westlake/Lake Austin Blvd area?

[gts-20]

I apologize for apparently starting this thread in the wrong section.

[pmkkdx]

Lake Georgetown is immediately west of the city of Georgetown. Google Georgetown TX and go to the satellite view. It's probably about a 45 minute to an hour drive from the Westlake area depending on traffic, maybe slightly less if you take Mopac all the way up to 45, to 35 to hwy 29. Its a nice small lake and can usually find some decent water with all the surrounding cliffs/hills that break the wind pretty nicely. Rollers from other boats are typically more of an issue than wind. the picture is a screen capture of Lake Georgetown from last summer when it was so low all ramps were closed. I put red across a couple of coves on the north side that are no-wake areas and then lined the west end of the lake with red where the water line is when the lake is full like now. the double lines across at the extreme west end I would not recommend you taking a motorized boat up there unless you are familar with the river channel as they didn't remove any trees/stumps when the lake was built more for fishing. I also highlighte the 3 ramps in yellow. from the dam up to the double crossed red lines is about 8 miles. with only 3 parks that really limits the number of boats that are allowed. get there early and make a day of it setting up in one of the picnic areas (Cedar Breaks Park on south side close to the dam is like owning waterfront property with a covered picnic table where you can use as a base camp, rotating people on the boat also offers a great swimming area with easy access to pull boat in for loading & unloading (do NOT beach your boat!!!) 10-20 foot swim). It's 5-6 minutes from my house ...

[pmkkdx]

it's a small diamond in the rough Mon, Tues, and Wed ... Thursday is when several of the bass fishing clubs have their unofficial fishing night and they are i d i o t s ! ! ... anchored & set up in all the best smooth water. Lake Belton is another one that is a real gem too just about another 30-40 minutes on up I-35, especially during the week ...

[gts-20]

Thanks for the info pmkkdx!! We may head up there on Sat or Sun, one of the crazy days on Lake Austin. Do the parks open at a certain time in the morning?