Caddo C Johnson’s Ranch Marina Launch

A Caddo paddle route that goes around the entire area starting at Johnson’s Ranch Marina (there is 5 buck fee for parking). The route goes north to Big Cypress Bayou, takes Clinton Ditch (which is kind of a cool little channel, almost secret) into Back Lake, exits to Carter Lake, takes Carter’s Chute over to Clinton Lake and Blind Slough and back down the Government Ditch to the launch. The route is a bit longish but it hits all the spots! The back and forth in the Back Lake area was just for fun, no importance to it (also the dotted connecting line is a route option but not done on this trip). There is a lot of gator-this, gator-that advertising at Caddo. They are there but seeing them is kind of chancy, none this paddle. The problem tends to be that the shoreline is blocked by salvinia and cypress knees and so its hard to see them sunning there. I’ve only seen them in the water and on top of logs.

Above: Blue and Silver Caddo.

Above: Spanish moss is so silvery in winter.

Above: Cruising along government ditch.