lake Texoma treasure Island - 3.5 Mile paddle

The Lake Texoma Treasure Island Paddle begins at Highport Marina in Pottsboro, Texas, where open water, broad skies, and steady shorelines set the tone for the day. From the launch, paddlers head out across calm sections of the lake, following a route shaped by both natural geography and long-standing travel corridors. This is a paddle designed for ease, conversation, and discovery rather than distance.

Lake Texoma exists because of the Red River, one of the most historically significant waterways in the southern United States. For centuries, the river marked boundaries, guided trade, and shaped settlement across Texas and Oklahoma. Indigenous tribes traveled and lived along its banks long before European arrival, using the river as a source of food, transport, and connection.

With the construction of Denison Dam in the mid-20th century, Lake Texoma was formed, transforming a working river corridor into one of the region’s most important recreational lakes. Yet even as a reservoir, Texoma retains the character of a river system. Its islands, coves, and shifting shorelines reflect the Red River’s long history of movement and change.

The paddle’s destination is Treasure Island, a small, tree-lined refuge rising from the lake. Islands like this were once natural stopping points for travelers moving along the river, offering shade, fresh air, and a place to rest before continuing on. Over time, they became associated with local stories, informal names, and the quiet romance of hidden places just offshore.

Arriving at the island, paddlers beach their boards along sandy shoreline and step into the shade of mature trees. A catered lunch awaits, featuring fresh sandwiches, seasonal fruit, and iced bottled water, served right on the island. The atmosphere immediately shifts from movement to rest.

Lunch unfolds unhurriedly. Some participants spread out under the trees, others wade at the shoreline, and many simply lounge on the sand with feet in the water. The island provides natural shelter from wind and sun, making it an ideal mid-paddle gathering place.

This is the heart of the experience. No schedules to chase, no pressure to move on. Just food, shade, water, and the gentle rhythm of the lake surrounding you.

When the group is ready, boards are launched again for the return to Highport Marina. The route back feels lighter, conversation easier, and the lake more familiar. The same water that carried paddlers out now carries them home, closing the loop with a sense of calm completion.

Wildlife sightings are common on the return, from birds skimming the surface to fish breaking the water nearby. The lake feels expansive but welcoming, holding space for both movement and stillness.

The Lake Texoma Treasure Island Paddle is not about covering miles or testing endurance. It’s about choosing a destination that invites pause. By combining a gentle paddle, a shaded island stop, and a thoughtfully prepared lunch, this experience creates room to relax, connect, and enjoy Lake Texoma at its most approachable.

Some paddles challenge you.
This one restores you.