The ethereal beauty of Caddo Lake, with all its bald cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss, is haunting and remarkable to say the least. Autumn is a popular time to visit as the cypress needles turn a deep rust color, making for a striking contrast against the dark trunks and silver moss.
But my favorite has always been winter when the trees have gone dormant. They lose all their needles, causing the steely, eerie mosses to take on a ghostly glow when the sun is low, clashing drastically with the shadowy trunks and murky swamp waters. It's dramatic, it's spooky, and it stays with you long after you leave.
The trees have "knees" in this swampy bayou ecosystem - they are actually part of the root system and their minion-like appearance as they surround the trees adds to the creepiness of it all.
And did you know that the Spanish moss isn't moss or lichen? It's actually in the same family as pineapple (they're both bromeliads) and they even bloom!
These murky waters and creepy forests are home to so much wildlife - including Bigfoot apparently lol! There are many sightings reported and they hold festivals here.
On my last visit, I saw so many birds, including several bald eagles and an osprey doing a high dive off a cypress to catch his lunch. There are over 75 species of fish in these waters, as well as alligators, though I've never seen any floating around - probably too cold when I visit.
The lake itself spans over 25,000 acres and straddles the border between east Texas and Louisiana - and the bald cypress trees are the state tree of Louisiana. It's the only natural lake in Texas and the largest. I was born and raised in these swampy lowlands - and Caddo Lake is, by far, the gem of the region.
My favorite spot on the lake to rent a boat or take a cruise is Johnson Ranch Marina - the oldest inland marina in Texas. They have wonderful captains on call to take you out when the light is right for photography and they run regular trips throughout the day as well. They also offer canoe and kayak rentals.
In the surrounding area you'll find Caddo Lake state park which is excellent for hiking and they also rent canoes but you can only access Big Cypress Bayou and not get out into the main lake since it's further out. There's also a wildlife management area owned by The Nature Conservancy that offers hiking as well.
Not to mention tons of campgrounds in the state park and surrounding areas (privately owned) with tent sites and cabins too. If you're at all into nature and the great outdoors and water sports of all sorts - this is a perfect family friendly location for you. read more