Crossing Off Four More Texas State Parks On My Bucket List
Caddo Lake State Park
Caddo lake was added to my weekend simply because of proximity to the other parks and I wanted to check it off my parks list. I knew from my research that there was less than 30 minutes of total hiking at this park, which is always my goal when visiting so I had low expectations.
Like many of the other parks in this area, Caddo Lake State Park is really for those who want to get out on the water by boat, canoe, or kayak. What makes this park unique is the ability to float in a bayou! I was really hoping to get to the park early enough to rent a canoe, but I didn’t make it before sundown on this visit.
Arriving at the park
Caddo Lake has a typical State Park entrance sign as well as a huge rock constructed entrance to welcome visitors to the park. When I arrived I went into the office to check in per usual and the first thing I noticed was the headquarters wasn’t just a check in spot, but a full souvenir shop, one stop camp shop (with firestarter, hot dog roasting sticks, bug spray, etc.) and an indoor tiny museum to share the history of the park.
Trail Hiking Experience
As mentioned above, Caddo lake only had about 2 miles of trail that I managed to zip through in less than 45 minutes. If you’re at the park, I’d say they’re worth exploring, but I definitely wouldn’t visit this park for the hiking. Nothing too exciting to share.
Surprisingly, I saw more hikers on this small 2 mile trail than I saw at any other park this weekend.
Despite the short hike, I did get this cool shot. Although I love when the trees are green and everything is alive in the peak season, I also love the eerie, grey, misty ambiance too.
My Overall Review
Since I’m on a hikers journey through the state parks, and I didn’t get to this one in time to enjoy it to it’s full potential, I highly advise you take some time to look at all the park has to offer on their website. They have some great photos of the bayou on the water experience that I just can’t share in words.
I did not camp here so I do not have a review of the campsites or amenities, but worth noting, there was not a restroom near the trails or the docks, just a single port-a-potty.
Since I finished my hike much faster than I imaged I would I sat down to do some journaling at the picnic tables near the boat dock. I wrote notes in my Texas States Park Passport about my experiences at the parks I’d been to thus far and things I wanted to include in this blog post for all of you!
Katelynn is a Texas-based writer and travel enthusiast who makes the most of her time exploring new destinations while balancing a full-time 9-5 job. She has visited 12 countries and 27 U.S. states. She describes herself as a weekend warrior and shares her passion for travel, outdoor adventures, and solo journeys on her blog, KatelynnOutLoud.
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June Reimagined - by Rebekah Crane
Thank you for including the essentials of what you brought to eat. I always like suggestions and soup is perfect! The camping checklist is so great, too!
Thanks for reading! I used the REI camping checklist sooo many times before I created my own that really works for me. I’ll hopefully get a post out soon about that. In regard to the food I take, I always love reading posts about what others bring too because I am introduced to new ideas all the time. I haven’t gotten to a place where I feel comfortable bringing along a cooler with perishable foods so I’m still working with “just add water” or other easy options.