Features
About this place
The distance is 7.6 miles round trip and takes ~3-4hrs. There is an entrance fee of $3/ person (free for children under 12) and you can rent kayaks/canoes for $10/ hr (discount with a Texas State Parks Pass). With incredible scenery and year-round kayaking/canoeing this is the only natural lake in Texas.
To start this trail you'll enter Caddo Lake State Park located on Park Road 2, Karnack, Texas. Immediately after turning into the entrance, you'll see the park headquarters where the park rangers will get you set up with a key to a canoe. You'll drive to Saw Mill Pond after that to find a small cabin that has life vests and your designated canoe next to it.
After launching your canoe into Saw Mill Pond, head to the opposite end where you'll find the bayou and turn right. You'll follow the bayou through Hell's Half Acre and end in Carter's Chute where you'll turn around and head back to Saw Mill Pond. This canoeing trail is great because if you have the time and desire to do the full 7.6 miles, you can, but if you're interested in only paddling around for about an hour Saw Mill Pond offers spectacular views of the unique Bald Cypress trees that are only found in the Southeastern region of America.
If you don't live near Caddo Lake and you're visiting during the cooler seasons (October- April) there is a campground to stay the night in. For those muggy summer months, camping in Texas isn't for the faint of heart. You might want to consider renting a cabin in the park to find some relief from the heat. Either way, make sure to bring some firewood, hotdogs, and marshmallows to enjoy a day of canoeing and an evening away from the city.
Leave No Trace
