Caddo Lake State Park, TX

[Wayfarer]

Caddo Lake State Park is about 15 miles north of Marshall, TX, between the villages of Karnack and Uncertain(?).  The main interest of most who camp there is fishing in the bayou (lake), antique shopping in the towns of Jefferson and Marshall, and, at the time of our visit (December), seeing the fantastic Christmas lights in Marshall.  

The temperature during our stay at Caddo Lake was in the low 30's at night and 40/50 in the day time with mostly overcast skies.  The fishing was no good from the fishing piers as the lake was way down and the water near the pier was only about 2 foot deep.  I did manage to wash a few lures but caught nothing but that green stuff that grows on the bottom.  For fishing you really need a boat but the two guys with a canoe reported no catches.

The camp itself is heavily wooded and overall in good shape.  The cabins, built by the CCC in the 30's have been refurbished inside and out and are really nice.  The camping sites: back-ins with W/E, a few pull-thru's with W/S/E, and screened shelters with W/E, plus some tent sites, all use one Restroom for showers and it is small with only two showers, two commodes, and urinals (mens).  The RR was clean, well maintained, and hot water was plentiful.  Of course, we were one of only about 6 campers in the park.  I can't imagine what it would be like in the summer with all the sites (28 RV/shelters and 20 tent) full and only one RR with showers.  Could get real messy!

While we enjoyed our stay in this park I doubt we'll be going back as it is a good 4-1/2 hour drive for us (unless, of course, DW cons me into going back for the Christmas lights next year or for antique shopping.)  If we do go again I hope not to forget my digital camera so I can get some shots of the lights.  Those one-time throw-aways are just not up to good photography.  What we did take, however, can be viewed at this Yahoo! Photos page and will give you some idea of what the park is like.

[Trlrboy]

We have been to Caddo Lake in the summer and I can promise you that you are correct about the bathrooms getting a good workout.  That part of TX gets steamy in the summer with all the humidity which doesn't help matters after a shower.  The good thing is that in the summer you also get some fog on the lake and combined with the Spanish moss hanging from the trees, Caddo Lake is very eerie at night.