Caddo Lake State Park: A Simple And Amazing State Park
Recently,my wife decided that she wanted more experiences rather than material things as gifts. So for Christmas last year I decided to plan a trip up to Caddo Lake State Park in Texas after I saw a few pictures of the amazing swampland.
Watching the sunset behind the trees is always an amazing sight!
Where is it?
Caddo Lake spans across the border between Louisiana and Texas but Caddo Lake State Park is located on the Texas side.
The drive up from Baton Rouge is about 4.5 hours which is doable for a day trip, but not ideal. Luckily Caddo Lake State Park has cabins and camp lots for rent. If you do not want to stay on the park grounds, there are plenty of “AirBNBs" along the lake!
State park cabin
I booked us a cozy little cabin for two people since it was just my wife and I. I will say the cabins are scarce, and old but have been very well kept. Our specific cabin did not have a stove but that was ok for us because there was a microwave, an outdoor grill, and we brought our backpacking camp stove with us. Each cabin comes with different amenities depending on size, so be sure to read the fine print. Most cabins however, do not come with any towels or linens, so we brought our sleeping bag and camp towels. I tell you this so you don't forget to bring a pillow, like we did.
Unfortunately, the weekend we went the temperature decided to drop… A LOT! The low each morning was around 30 - 40. We barely brought enough layers and turned into popsicles each time we stepped outside. Thankfully the cabin stayed toasty warm thanks to its electric fireplace and mini-split heater unit.
This electric heater was a joy to have since it was literally freezing outside!
Exploring the lake
We decided to go out and explore on the water early in the morning in the hopes of seeing the wildlife looking for breakfast. So we woke up and put on all of our layers. It was about 30 that morning and a thin layer of ice was clinging to everything.
Setting off on a chilly 30 degree morning! Sorry if the photo is a little blurry my hands where not steady yet.
The water was calm. Steam rose up from the early sun dancing across the surface and offered an amazing site to see! We could have stayed out on our kayak all day. Don't get me wrong it was cold but it was bearable as long as the wind remained calm. We paddled around for about an hour before our fingertips were numb. The cold and wet finally creeped through our gloves.
During the trip back to the launch I heard my wife quietly trying to get my attention. Honestly she was make some strange and funny noises. Turns out, she'd spotted a female limpkin (related to the cranes) fishing for her breakfast, and was attempting to alter me without scaring her off. I totally would have paddles right past without ever noticing.
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Fun Fact: female birds often have more muted colors like browns and blacks unlike their male companions. This helps them to blend in while hunting and nesting. The egrets of Louisiana, however, all have white feathers.
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We stopped paddling and just floated by, content to watch her quietly. We could have reached out and touched her (Rule # 1 Don't ever touch/feed the wildlife). The beautiful bird never spooked, and continued to hunt along the bank. I was not able to get any photos of the encounter but i did get some decent GoPro video since I had it set up on the front of the kayak.
After our enthusiasm faded we started to feel the cold again and began to paddle back to the dock. Once we loaded the truck back up we headed back to our toast warm cabin for some lunch and a nap.
exploring the park
Caddo lake is an amazing spot to explore by water but it also has a decent trail system within the park. The trail is about 2.5 miles overall but can be broken down into smaller trails. There are multiple starting points that branch off into various loops so you can explore as much or as little as you want. The main trailhead was just across the parking lot from the cabins so it was perfect for us! One of the notable sights on the trail is the old CCC pavilion (Civilian Conservation Corps). The pavilion was built in the 1930s and showcases the amazing craftsmanship and skill of the builders at the time.
Another branch of the trail leads to Sawmill Pond. Sawmill pond is really just a small circular pocket of cypress trees off of Big Cypress Bayou. The pond features two docks that stretch out over the water to help you soak in the sights and sounds of nature.
One of the two docks stretching out over Sawmill Pond
Overall the trail is not too hard and is well maintained. There are some elevation gains and drops, and a set of uneven stone stairs at one point, so its not a boring stroll across flat ground. The ups and downs, as well as unique scenery along this 2.5 mile trail, make it an absolute joy to experience. My wife and I hiked the trail multiple days each times and chose a different route so that it never felt old.
Caddo Lake State Park has a lot to offer for many different people! The trails are just long enough to take the kids on without them getting too tired and the ability to alter the path keeps things from getting boring as well. As stated earlier, we brought our kayak along with us. But the park has kayaks/canoes for rent so all visitors can explore the water for themselves and have a different way to see the world!
We watched the sun set during our first night at the cabin unaware of the cold to come!
Don't waste any time, go outside and explore nature!
*** Bonus apparently there is a really good place to eat near the park called Big Pine Lodge, We didn’t get to eat during this trip but will definitely stop on the next trip!***
PARK REVIEW
DIFFICULTY: 7 OF 10
I give this a 7 not because of the trails, which are well marked and maintained, but because if you have never paddled before you might have a bit of trouble with the learning curve. If you have a partner, communication is key.
ABILITY TO FIND: 9 OF 10
As long as you are using gps you can easily reach the visitor center where you check in at. The signs are difficult to miss, but I managed to do it. After check-in it is a short drive to the fun!
ENJOYMENT: 10 OF 10
As stated above this small park has a lot going for it! The trails are easy yet provide different routes for you to try something a little bit different each time. The ability to explore by water should not be understated either. Lifejackets and kayaks are readily available and that is a huge plus!
FACILITIES :
Throughout the park there are numerous restrooms, some are simple port-a-potties but some are nicely built with showers, for the tent campers.
