Canoe or Kayak Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas

I had seen a picture somewhere of the most otherworldly scene. I did some research and found the place to be called Caddo Lake. To canoe or kayak Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas immediately went on my bucket list of things to do if I ever made it to Texas.

Much sooner than I expected, I found myself in New Orleans, just a few hours from Caddo Lake during our 3 month, around-the-country van trip that fall. I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity to paddle a canoe around this mystical wonder.

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Caddo Lake History

Caddo Lake is 25,000 acres spanning across the northeastern Texas border into Louisiana. Populated for about 12,000 years, the area had been explored by both French and Spanish explorers as early as the 1600’s. The name Caddo comes from the Caddoan native people who populated the area and began trading with the new Europeans. Around 1800, the Caddo people began settling the lake area until their forced expulsion to Oklahoma by the US government when conflicts arose. The winding waterways were used for transporting goods but when the water level dropped 10 feet after removing a log dam, it was no longer usable for that purpose. 

Later, oil was discovered under Caddo Lake and the environment was drastically disrupted for this endeavor. The water was polluted, vegetation died, etc. 

In 1933 during Fredrick D. Roosevelts social programs after the Great Depression, the Civilian Corps were utilized at Caddo Lake, tasked with restoring the land and converting barracks to cabins for future generations to enjoy as a state park. 

Caddo Lake now thrives as a beautiful diverse habitat for many different species and recreational opportunities abound. It also has the honor of being the largest cypress forest in the world!

What to Do at Caddo Lake

You can fish, hunt, take jet boat rides, go bird watching, and of course canoe or kayak. Can you stand up paddle board? I think that people probably do, but given the alligator population, I personally would not. I felt much safer being in an enclosed canoe myself! Even though we didn’t see any snakes or gators, I’d be keeping myself safely inside a boat.

The water is not very deep, up to 20 feet at the deepest parts, but most of the areas where you’ll paddle through cypress trees are only a few feet deep at most. I’d really hate to fall in and be standing in mud. 

Tour Operators in Uncertain, Texas

Besides utilizing a tour operator to take you on an expedition around Caddo Lake, you can take yourself on a self guided paddle tour from Uncertain, which is what we chose to do.

Where to Canoe or Kayak at Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas

Even though there are probably plenty of places to put in a canoe or kayak or other places to rent from, we were so incredibly impressed by the friendly service of Johnson’s Ranch Marina, the oldest inland marina in Texas, established in 1908! So Johnson’s Ranch Marina is what I’ll be discussing here. The little village of Uncertain where it can be found is under 3 hours east of Dallas. I don’t think you can even call it a village – the population was 88 in 2021.

Johnson’s Ranch Marina

We pulled up to quirky Johnson’s Ranch Marina after dark. It felt like a scene out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, if I’m being honest. A bit of a hillbilly bayou vibe in the dark was my first impression. But as soon as I went into the little store I was greeted with such friendliness, I instantly felt welcome.

We discussed and planned out a canoe rental for the morning – I would have to wait until they opened up to make the payment and then we could embark on our journey. I asked if she knew a place we could safely park our van to stay the night and, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world, she said “Well right there,” gesturing to where we were already parked in their yard. We were so grateful after a long drive and it was so convenient to wake up there.

You can take a tour with a guide which takes about an hour for $40 per person, or you can rent the canoe or kayak on your own and go out for however long you’d reasonably like to for the same price starting at 6 am. The marina will provide you with a map of the area, and it can get confusing when you’re out there, but there are little signs here and there to guide you. We paddled for probably 2-3 hours max.

Where to Stay to Canoe Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas

There are a handful of locally run guesthouses and cabins in the area as well as a few convenience stores and restaurants like Shady Glade Cafe. Even Johnson’s Ranch Marina has cabins for rent.

Shipwreck

Hodge Podge Cottage

Spatterdock Guesthouses 

Caddo Lake Lodge

Or alternatively, you could stay in the cute town of Jefferson, Texas just 20 minutes away from Uncertain. There are a few more hotel and restaurant options there.

Jefferson, Texas Hotels

What to Bring to Canoe Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas

You’ll want to check the weather and bring layers if it calls for it. We visited in November and it was quite chilly but the daytime sun was warm when it came out.

Bring a jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses, and wear shoes. The bottom of the boat may be a little wet or have something you don’t want to step on, so I recommend close-toed shoes. Even rubber boots would be a good idea.

Snacks are great too but don’t feed the alligators! And absolutely leave no trace; carry out all your trash!

But for the love of god, bring your camera. This place is stunning! Depending on the time of year, you may get fall colors, more greens or yellows, or even more silvery grey. At the time of writing this, there are no prohibitions against drones in the area.

I hope this post has been helpful in planning how to canoe or kayak Caddo Lake in Uncertain, Texas! It really was one of the most unexpectedly awesome things I did on our van travels.

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