Caddo A 805 WMA Launch
Simple kayak paddle map in Caddo, an early trip there for me. Caddo swamp, near Uncertain, Texas, is closest place to try for those in the DFW area who want to get out of town and experience paddling in a ‘real swamp’, something different from open lake or flatwater river paddles, something a bit more exotic. Finding that a swamp was so close to Dallas was a big surprise for me. Something clicked. In this section on Caddo trips there are several paddle routes and maps (A, B, C, etc.). The area includes Carter Lake, Clinton Lake, Big Cypress Bayou and, further down, Caddo Lake. Most of the routes start at the 805 WMA launch, which is at the end of a dirt road off of Highway 43 coming out of Marshall Texas. And most are more complicated than the one above. A WMA Access permit is required to use the 805 launch site. Its worth it because the 805 launch puts you in the swamp right away. There is also a launch at Caddo Lake State Park but its two miles flatwater on the bayou before you enter the swamp (and two miles back). There are also launches at Johnson’s Ranch Marina and in the Caddo Lake NWR (Starr Ranch).
The TPWD website has a number of easy, named, trails here, Carter’s Chute, Hell’s Half Acre, Turtle Shell, and several more. Those are good trails to start and there are signs to identify each route. My first few times at Caddo I paddled VERY carefully from sign to sign to sign so as not to get lost. The route in the map above matches the TPWD Carter’s Chute trail pretty closely: it launches at the 805 WMA put-in, goes around Carter Lake a bit, goes out Carter’s Chute just north of Goat Island till it reaches Clinton Lake, and tries to go into Back Lake (but the Salvinia was too bad). The TPWD and powerboat trails have markers but there are no signs if you go ‘off trail’. It is pretty easy to get lost in Caddo so it’s good to know the general north south east west framework of the place. Getting lost is no fun believe me. Sometimes there will be mudboats, airboats, and once in a while jet skis, on the routes but it’s not too often. There is even a movie about the Uncertain, Texas that follows the lives and experience of several local guys.
Above: A beautiful winter swamp scene, only a few colors.
Above: Along Carter’s Chute near the small bridge.
Above: The 805 launch site. The salvinia has not yet died completely so it will be some work to get out to Carter Lake. This stuff ruins everything.
Above: There is actually an otter in the picture.
Above: Ugh, salvinia.
