Caddo Lake State Park

Texas Outside Review of Caddo Lake

There are more than 50 miles of paddling through ten Texas Trails in this maze of sloughs, swamps, and bayous. If you don’t have your own you can rent equipment from park headquarters and nearby outfitters.

Canoe rentals available from the Park headquarters and Jon boat rentals available from private individual

Park rangers offer different guided paddling trail trips. You can either paddle a couple of hours close to the park or more hours that takes you into the backcountry. Enjoy 3 to 16 miles of trails, depending on the route you choose and enjoy amazing wildlife watching opportunities!

This trail covers about 5.3 miles of quiet water on the Navasota River from the Confederate Reunion Grounds to Fort Parker State Park. The route is characterized by hardwood bottomlands and limestone bluffs which features deep water and bird watching along the limestone bluffs.

The Mustang Island Paddling Trail consists of three trails with 20 combined miles. All of the trails follow the western shoreline of Mustang Island in Corpus Christi Bay, and cover some of the best shallow-water fishing for sight-casting. These trails allow for outstanding bird watching.

The wild, scenic Devils River draws kayakers and canoers to paddle the 47 miles from the paddler put-in at Baker’s Crossing at Highway 163, or 32 miles from Del Norte, downriver to Lake Amistad National Recreation Area. This trip is highly strenuous and recommended only for experienced paddlers equipped to spend at least three days in a remote area. This breathtakingly beautiful area requires a Access Permit.

Located on the San Marcos River and on the park’s lake near the city of Luling, this six-mile river trail can be floated in two to four hours. Paddlers will enjoy a gentle family-friendly ride on this quiet river lined with beautiful trees and wildlife. The park rents equipment. Experienced paddlers can get in at Luling and spend 6-7 hours paddling to the park.

Come out to the beautiful Hill Country and experience 6 miles of the spring-fed South Llano River! From quiet pools to gentle riffles and runs, this river is an experience you don’t want to miss. Depending on the flow of the river, this trip takes 2-4 hours along the crystal clear, spring fed river. Bring fishing gear and binoculars.

In Big Thicket there is 21 miles of flat water paddling trails through smaller streams, oxbow lakes and sloughs. Wildlife abounds in this area such as belted kingfishers, wood ducks, herons, freshwater mussels, turtles, otters, and beavers.

Enjoy quiet pools and several small riffles on the first inland paddling trail to include a State Park. Located on the San Antonio River near the town of Goliad, this 6.6-mile river trail can be floated in two and a half to four hours. Great place to fish for sunfish, bass and catfish with deer and other wildlife watching you.

There is an 1.8 mile easy trail or a 10 mile advanced trail to experience coastal duck hunting and fishing or if you enjoy observing alligators, roseate spoonbills, egrets, and herens you have that as well.

This trail will be ready sometime this year, but until then you can still enjoy the current paddling trails along the four miles of river frontage.