This past weekend, we made the trek out to place I have been lusting over since my favorite travel instagrammer Chelsea Kauai went there in November – Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas. We spent the weekend camping in Caddo Lake State Park celebrating my Dad’s 60th Birthday. It was a great time of year to go before all the swamp critters come out to play and the mosquitoes become the size of golf balls! Winter in the swamp is the only way to do the swamp in my opinion.
Caddo Lake State Park itself is pretty small and not actually on the lake itself. Millers Pond where you can fish and rent canoes and a boat dock where you can go from the bayou over into the big lake. The park offers 50 miles of paddling trails but with my passable at best canoe skills, I wasn’t about to try crossing the big waterway just yet. The canoe rentals from the park are super affordable – $10 for an hour and $20 for 3 hours! We opted to spend one day in the State Park fishing and canoeing around the pond. It was so cool to enjoy the gorgeous cypress tress up close!
That evening, we took a boat tour from the big lake. We booked our pontoon boat tour with Michael Landrum from Big Cypress Tours and had an amazing time. Michael was a fantastic guide, so knowledgeable about the whole area. He’s been coming to Caddo Lake since he was a kid and then eventually living here full time several years ago. He gives you plenty of time to take photos and ask questions – we all had a blast!
1. There aint any 2. There never has been 3. There aint gonna be none
On our second day, we enjoyed a slow morning at the campsite and then drove 13 miles Northeast to Jefferson. I must say, this cute little town is worth a trip in it of itself! We explored the historic downtown area, stopping in all the antique stores, and had some great Burgers and Fried Shrimp at Taste of Caddo Cafe. Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich and Pie Bar was our go to, to grab a homemade pie for the Birthday celebrations back at camp! The chocolate pecan was delicious by the way*
- Taste of Caddo Cafe – 201 W Austin St, Jefferson, TX 75657
- Kitt’s Kornbread – 125 N Polk St, Jefferson, TX 75657 (be sure to look at hours!)
Our last day was spent lazing around the campsite and checking out more of the State Park. The wooded campsites are so great because it does feel a little more private. We booked to spots together, so we felt like we had our own private little spot in the park! Another thing I really liked about the Park was the visitor center at the front. Not only do they have great little gifts and souvenirs, but they also had a small exhibit showcasing some taxidermy animals local to the park. Which is always fun for the kiddos to see!
I hope y’all enjoyed this guide to Caddo Lake – if you have any questions please leave them in the comments below!
xo Sarah
