A Magical, Mysterious Off-the-Grid Getaway to Caddo Lake, Texas

Have you heard of Caddo Lake? It’s a largely unexplored and unknown east Texas treasure.

The largest naturally formed lake in Texas and the largest bald cypress forest in the world; this is no ordinary lake. Instead of dazzling blue water, picture shades of emerald enveloping you from acres of dripping Spanish moss, towering trees, lotus flowers, lily pads bigger than your head, and a maze of lush greenery through the inlets and boardwalks of this weird, wonderful, and eerily beautiful inland bayou. A unique ecosystem teeming with wildlife, birds, and swamp creatures like alligators and water snakes, it looks nothing like the rolling hills, ranches, or urban sprawl you picture when you think of Texas.

It’s a beautiful place to visit any time of year but is especially popular (and green) in spring, while the autumn months offer one of the best places to see fall colors in Texas. Just across the border from Shreveport, Louisiana, it’s an easy three-hour drive from Dallas, Little Rock, or Hot Springs, Arkansas, 3.5 hours from Beaumont, four from Houston, and 5 1/2 from Austin, making it a great Texas road trip from just about anywhere.

Despite being right outside the small town of Uncertain, Texas, it is most certainly a must if you’re looking for a unique, off-the-grid getaway.

Caddo Lake Boat Tours

The #1 thing to do at Caddo Lake is explore the backwaters of the bayou, whether that’s on your own or on a tour. There are 10+ paddle trails at Caddo Lake and dozens of places to rent kayaks and canoes, but I highly recommend going with a guide if you’re looking to go deep into the forest, as it’s extremely easy to get lost in the maze of inlets and trees. For a guided kayak or canoe tour, reach out to Caddo Outback or Riverbend Outfitters.

If you’d rather relax and save your arm muscles, there are also a number of pontoon boat tours, which offer everything from haunted rides to fishing expeditions with Captain Ron, Big Cypress Tours, and Mossy Break Camp, which has sunrise and sunset photo tours and Bigfoot Safaris.

Hike Caddo Lake State Park

Built by the CCC, Caddo Lake State Park has been called the Crown Jewel of the Texas Parks and Wildlife system and is a great place to stretch your legs and explore the area by land. There are easy to moderate .7-mile trails that can be combined into longer jaunts and loops. They’re mostly shaded and take you through the forests, skirting along boat docks and marina. You can also rent a cabin or camp there with reservations.

Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is also next door and completely free, which has a six-mile self-guided drivable audio tour to learn about the unique ecology and wildlife of the area.

Fun Fact: Caddo Lake is home to hundreds of alleged Sasquatch sightings, so keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual!

Where to Eat in Caddo Lake

While most people bring their own supplies to cook or grill over the campfire at Caddo Lake, if you forgot anything, don’t worry; you’re not too remote or removed from civilization. Caddo Outpost is the local grocery, but the lovely ladies there also make mean biscuits and gravy and breakfast burritos. They’re right down the road from the Flea Market, which is an excellent way to kill a few hours as you never know what treasures you may find (I took home a vintage camera and a retro Chicago poster, which I was psyched to find since I’ve been feeling a bit homesick lately). When you’re ready to toss one back, the Lighthouse Bar & Grill is the local watering hole for hole-in-the-wall beers.

There is often a killer taco truck at Johnson’s Ranch Marina, and locals swear by Aseret Mexican Restaurant (the owner’s name, Theresa, spelled backwards). If you’re up for a bit of a drive, Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich & Pie Bar in Jefferson, Texas, has been featured on several TV shows for their uniquely cravable cornbread sandwiches.

The Best Cabins on Caddo Lake are a quirky Art Escape

The majority of cabins at Caddo Lake aren’t on any of the major booking sites, and few have online reservation options, which is part of the magic of this place; you just have to know about it. While I generally find that lack of convenience annoying (who wants to actually talk to people these days?), it did allow us to book an amazing cabin over a holiday weekend at the very last minute, so in that respect, it worked out in our favor. The Uncertain tourism board has a great list of all the lodging options near Caddo Lake with phone numbers to check availability.

If you’re looking for a unique and memorable place to stay, I emphatically recommend the Spatterdock Guest Houses. The seven cottages and cabins sleep 2-12 and are all completely different and decorated with artistic touches inside and out like a living gallery trail. From murals and mosaics based on the cottage theme to large installations outside, make it a scavenger hunt to find all the decorated VW art cars, whimsical sculptures, secret gardens, and painted canoes (including the one suspended in the sky). Our cabin, Waterlily, had a bathroom floor that looked like it was straight out of a Monet painting. Whether you stay there or not, make it a point to visit and see the quirky art embedded in the forest.

Spatterdock Cabins also include unlimited use of their private docks plus free kayaks, canoes, and Jon boats, which alone is worth the price considering most rental fees are about $10-50/hr. They’re also super dog-friendly and allow fur babies for just $10/night per dog, which, if you’re used to traveling with doggos, you know is virtually unheard of, making it an extra pawsome getaway the whole family could enjoy.

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