Caddo Lake Bald Cypress

About this spectacle

Caddo Lake is one of the largest natural lakes in the American South, and its flooded forest of ancient bald cypress trees creates one of the most visually arresting landscapes in North America. Enormous, gnarled trunks rise from still, dark water, their flared buttresses and protruding knees draped in long curtains of Spanish moss. Narrow waterways wind between the trees, creating a labyrinthine world of shadow and reflection. In autumn the feathery cypress needles turn a rich burnt-orange and copper before dropping, setting the water ablaze with color. In spring, the fresh lime-green flush of new growth contrasts with the dark water and grey moss. Paddlers and boat passengers move quietly through these corridors, accompanied by the calls of great blue herons, wood ducks, and kingfishers. The scale of the oldest trees — some reportedly centuries old — and the cathedral-like quality of the canopy make the experience genuinely humbling.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — Nov

Getting there

Nearest airport: SHV. Nearest city: Marshall, Texas.

Booking options

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