Although the Authority does not own or maintain canoe/kayak launch points on the Brazos, there are many put-in and take-out locations available along the Brazos river.

The most popular paddling locations are the stretches of river below Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Granbury. You can find points below the dam at Possum Kingdom Lake by clicking here. For the area below Lake Granbury you can find a map of distances and access points here.

Information including access points and hazards along sections throughout the basin can be found through the helpful resource of Southwest Paddler by clicking here or Houston Wilderness by clicking here. 

The streambed of all navigable rivers in Texas is state-owned; therefore, camping, fishing and picnicking are legal there, including on the sandbars.

When camping or picnicking along the river, it is important to stay alert for possible rapid increases in river levels and speed due to rainstorms or water being released from the upstream dam. Be sure to respect the adjoining private property along the river by not trespassing and by cleaning up and packing away any trash that you create.

Yes, Authority parks have campsites that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Camping is free year-round at Granbury and Limestone Lakes, as well as September through May at Possum Kingdom Lake.

Each Authority park offers amenities ranging from tables to shelters and grills and pits. Many of the parks also offer nearby restrooms and showers. If you prefer something a little less rustic, private groups offer cabin and RV sites. For more information about camping opportunities at Authority lakes, call the Public Information Office at (888) 922-6272.

Texas law requires motorized boats, sailboats 14 feet or longer and U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels display a state registration on Texas public waters. This law does not apply to non-motorized canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts. For more information about state permits, go here.

Of the Brazos River Authority reservoirs, only one requires a permit.  Possum Kingdom Lake’s Recreational User Permit may be purchased through the lake office or through local vendors for one, three or five days.  Annual permits are also available.  For more information, click  here. 

In Texas, the state requires anyone who fishes in public waters to have a valid fishing license. There are a few exceptions to this law:

• No license is required for those younger than 17 or Texas residents born before Sept. 1, 1930.
• Residents born after this date that are 65 or older, can buy a Senior Resident Fishing License.
• People are also not required to have a license when fishing at a state park, such as the one at Possum Kingdom Lake.

For more information about fishing licenses, go here.

Fishing is allowed in these areas, though under Texas state law a fishing license is required to fish in public waters. There are exceptions to this requirement however. Those younger than 17, whether Texas residents or non-residents, are exempt. Also, Texas residents born before Sept. 1, 1930 are exempt from license requirements.

Texas residents, 65 and older that were born after Sept. 1, 1930 may buy a Senior Resident Fishing License All visitors to Texas state parks can fish without a license. The only such location at an Authority lake is Possum Kingdom State Park.  For more information about fishing regulations in Texas, go to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife Web site.

Since the river is a public stream, it belongs to all Texans and people are free to enjoy a variety of activities within its banks, including hunting. However, people should be mindful of state laws related hunting in these areas.

Hunters should also be careful where they walk in the riverbed to avoid violating Texas trespassing laws by straying onto private property. Under state law, the river bed is public property up to the “gradient boundary.” Though the definition of the boundary can be confusing, it roughly means the point where more woody plants begin to grow.

Also, while hunting is allowed in riverbeds, state law prohibits people from firing a weapon onto or across private property without the owner’s approval.

And, motor vehicles, including wheeled and tracked vehicles are prohibited in navigable Texas riverbeds, including the Brazos.  For further information about hunting in Texas, and state regulations, go to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife Web site.

Hunting is allowed in designated areas at the Authority’s three reservoirs. Each August, the Authority holds a drawing to lease duck blind locations on Possum Kingdom, Granbury, and Limestone lakes. Some 48 locations are designated for hunting blinds in areas that are less populated.

Hunting is not allowed on Authority property that is not specifically designated for waterfowl blinds, target ranges, or bow hunting. For more information about the drawing at a specific lake, call that lake’s office. The numbers can be found on the Authority’s Web site, here

To prevent infection by primary amebic meningeoncephalitis (PAM), it is recommended that those taking part in warm, fresh water-related activities use nose clips or hold their noses shut while jumping into water. With the ameba often found in soil, it is best to avoid stirring up underwater sediment.

The Texas Department of Health recommends that people avoid stagnant or polluted water and take “No Swimming” signs seriously. PAM cannot be spread person to person nor by drinking water. Swimming pools and hot tubs that are properly cleaned, maintain and chlorinated are generally safe, as is salt water.

Primary Amebic Meningeoncephalitis or PAM is a rare, almost always fatal disease caused by an ameba (naegleria fowleri) found in all untreated, fresh surface water and in soil. Most common during the summer, the ameba thrives in low levels of fresh water that is stagnant or slow-moving and is warmer than 80 degrees.

The infection occurs when water containing the organism is forced into the nasal passages – usually from diving or jumping into water or from water skiing. The ameba makes its way into the brain and spinal cord, destroying brain tissue. Although PAM is rare – affecting about one to three people a year in Texas – those infected usually succumb to the disease within a week.