White Rock Lake, Dallas Kayak Paddle

White Rock Lake, White Rock Creek, Dallas Kayak Paddle

A popular place in the Dallas area for kayaking sailing fishing biking dogwalking running etc. Several boat launches are located around the lake; the one above is at the north end. There are many paddle route options, hang around the launch, go out and back to the spillway (about five miles round trip), go around the perimeter of the lake, (about 7-ish miles), go up Dixon branch on the east side, and go up White Rock Creek. For the creek, the stretch to Loop 12 Northwest Highway is always open, the stretch to Skillman is typically fine, and the stretch to Greenville Ave is ok if the water is up a bit and if you don’t mind a logjam or two. Before the Skillman crossing there is a railroad track and sometimes the DART trains come flying by. A couple tunnels are located here and there. There is, unfortunately, lots of trash in the creek, an amazing number of shopping carts, and the water is very green, but there are usually lots of birds and turtles and once in a while a beaver or even an otter.

Above: This angled tree trunk has been a feature on the creek for years.