 © Evan Griffiths III
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
State Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
Get directions to this park:
State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Link:
Caddo Lake State Park
Nearby Parks:
Soda Lake State Wildlife Management Area
|
| State Park Contact Information: |
 |
Caddo Lake State Park
245 Park Rd 2
Karnack, Texas 75661
Phone: 903-679-3351
|
Area Accommodations
|
| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
|
Photography: add your photos
|
| State Park Reservations: |
|
Reservations: 
|
|
| State Park Overview: |
| Thick bald cypress and a tangle of aquatic plants thrive in the waters at Caddo Lake State Park. Because the vegetation is so lush, much of the lake is really a maze of sloughs, bayous, and ponds. The park affords excellent access to the diverse fishing in Texas. Also popular are the park's quaint cabins, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Caddo Lake State Park gets its name from Caddo Lake, a sprawling maze of bayous and sloughs covering, 26,810 acres of cypress swamp. The average depth of the lake is 8'-10' with the deep water in the bayou averaging about 20.' An angler's delight, the lake contains 71 species of fish. It is especially good for crappie and large-mouth and white bass. Naturalists can enjoy stately cypress trees, American lotus, and lily pads, waterfowl, alligators, turtles, frogs, snakes, raccoons, minks, nutrias, beavers, squirrels, armadillos, and white-tailed deer. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Caddo Lake State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
| |
| Camping: |
| Maximum 8 people per campsite unless otherwise noted. Applicable daily entrance fees are charged in addition to the campsite or facility fee.
20 - Campsites with water - Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, and a grill. Motorhomes are not permitted in this area. Pop-Ups and small trailers are allowed. Generators may not run from 10pm - 7am. $8 per night, $50 weekly rate.
18 - Campsites with electric and water hook-ups - Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, and a grill. $12 per night, $75 weekly rate.
8 - Campsites with electric, sewer, and water hook-ups - Sites have a picnic table, fire ring, a grill, 50 amp RV pedestal, and sewer connections. No tents are allowed in this area. $18 per night, $108 weekly rate.
8 - Screened Shelters - Shelters are 12' X 16' screened enclosures. They have a picnic table and electricity inside. A water spigot, grill and electricity (20 and 30 amp plugs) are located outside. $20 per night, $120 weekly rate. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing Regulations:
Game fishes on the Texas side of the lake are managed under statewide regulations with the exception of largemouth bass, which is subject to a 14-18 inch slot length limit, 5 fish daily bag limit. Louisiana harvest regulations differ for many species and apply when fishing the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake. For more information, visit the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website or call (318) 676-7594.
Angling Opportunities:
Largemouth bass is the most popular sportfish at Caddo Lake with good numbers of trophy-size bass (over 8 lbs) available. The lake also supports quality crappie, white bass, and sunfish fisheries. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are present and provide good seasonal fishing opportunities. Chain pickerel, a smaller cousin of the northern pike, is also present and frequently sought by anglers because of its sporting qualities.
Tips & Tactics:
Although largemouth bass fishing is good throughout the year, the time to fish for trophy fish is spring, with March being the most productive month. Crappie fishing is most productive in winter and early spring with good numbers of legal-size fish available for harvest. Peak fishing time for white bass occurs during winter and early spring in areas where water current is present. Chain pickerel are also good at this time of the year; the best habitat to fish is around submerged aquatic vegetation. Late spring and early summer is a most productive time to fish for sunfishes and catfishes at Caddo Lake.
|
| History of the Area: |
| This lake was the only natural lake in Texas until it was artificially dammed in the early 1900's when oil was found and for flood control in 1914. A new dam replaced the old one in 1971. Caddo Indian legend attributes the formation of the lake to a giant flood. Scientists believe the lake formed when floodwaters, blocked by massive log jams on the Red River, backed up into the Cypress Bayou watershed, forming the lake.
The park's original improvements were made by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Begun by Company 889 in June to November of 1933 and completed by Company 857 between October 1934 and March 1937. The U.S. Army had 15 barracks and an Army mess hall that were converted into the 9 log cabins and group recreation hall that we use today. There is also a CCC pavilion and remnants of original picnic sites and a latrine along the trails. |
| |
| |
| Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | |  | The Claiborne House - Jefferson, TX
Where Elegance, Relaxation and Therapeutics meet! Elegant rooms, relaxing on porches and therapeutic and relaxation massages ensure your stay at The Claiborne House will be a memorable one.
Web Site: http://www.claibornehousebnb.com |
|
|
| |
| | Advertise your park related business
on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
|
| Related Links: |
| TPWD: Caddo Lake State Park - Information on Caddo Lake State Park in texas ... Print-Friendly Page Home | Contact Us Caddo Lake State Park Site Links: Caddo Lake Home History & Nature Activities & Area Attractions ... | | Caddo Lake State Park & Wildlife Management Area - Digital vector delineation of the Caddo Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area. ... Archive/Data Server. Subscribe Caddo Lake State Park & Wildlife Management Area Title:Caddo Lake ... | | Handbook of Texas Online: CADDO LAKE STATE PARK - format this article to print. CADDO LAKE STATE PARK. Caddo Lake State Park, on Caddo Lake sixteen miles northeast of Marshall in Harrison County, comprises 478 acres, including an abandoned... | | Handbook of Texas Online: CADDO LAKE STATE PARK - return to handbook view CADDO LAKE STATE PARK. Caddo Lake State Park, on Caddo Lake sixteen miles northeast of Marshall in ... Recommended citation: "CADDO LAKE STATE PARK." The Handbook of ... | | Texas Lake Country - Caddo Lake State Park - Caddo Lake State Park in the Central Section of the Texas Lake Country Activities | Facilities | Nature | Directions | Elevation ... Schedule | Address Caddo Lake State Park, just outside of Uncertain ... | | Caddo Lake State Park - December 2000 Caddo Lake State Park -- An Aquatic Wonderland In our October 2000 issue, Texas Co-op Power profiled the "ghostly ... wonderland bears the name Caddo Lake State Park. One of the ... | | Campground Review - Caddo Lake State Park, Karnack, Texas - Campground Review - Caddo Lake State Park, Karnack, Texas ... > Free Credit Report Campground Review Caddo Lake State Park, Karnack, Texas Submitted by Ken Oney. Here you will see a part ... | | Caddo Lake State Park- Longview, Texas - Find information on hiking, camping, biking, balloning, canoeing, parks, golfing, boating, hotels, scenic drives, or anything else you can do outside in Austin, Texas. | | Caddo Lake State Park, Texas - Find information on hiking, camping, biking, balloning, canoeing, parks, golfing, boating, hotels, scenic drives, or anything else you can do outside in Austin, Texas. |
| Area Attractions: |
| Nearby attractions include Starr Family State Historic Site in Marshall; and nearby, Karnack is the childhood home of Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson and the Old City of Jefferson, famous as the commercial center of northeast Texas during the first half of the 19th century. Boat tours are offered by a number of operators on the lake. Schedules are dependent on the weather. Shady Glade Marina, Motel and Restaurant 903/789-3295; Caddo Lake Steamboat Company 903/665-1665; Jefferson Landing Riverboat 903/665-2222. Historic Jefferson Tour Headquarters handles the following information for Jefferson and Caddo Lake: tours, tickets and information on many events, including riverboat excursions, horse-drawn tours, home tours, city trolley tours, train rides, horseback riding, general information, souvenirs, gifts, and steamboat tours on Caddo Lake - 222 E. Austin St., Jefferson, Texas 75657; 903/665-1665. Marion County Chamber of Commerce - 903/ 665-2672; Marshall Chamber of Commerce - 903/935-7868; Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau - 800/551-8682. |
| Area Campgrounds | | |
| Directions: |
| Travel north of Karnack one mile on State Highway 43 to FM 2198; go east for 1/2 mile to Park Road 2. The park is 15 miles northeast of Marshall. |
|
|
| |
|
USA
