Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, United States
4.0 (19 reviews) Spent More than 3 hours Ranking #6 in Karnack Nature & Wildlife Areas • Equestrian Trails • Hiking Trails
Great place to roam around and launch a canoe
My husband and I went to Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge on a Tuesday morning. We drove the Auto Tour Route and other roads (paved, gravel, dirt). Some roads are only open to vehicle traffic September 15 to December 31. The visitor’s center was closed, probably due to Covid-19. Luckily, there were not many mosquitoes on our visit. We saw remains of the 1942 Longhorn Army Ammunition plant. The plant operated for about 48 years. We saw deer, ducks and one snake. Our favorite lake viewing location was at the Ken Gentry Pavilion. That looked like a great place to launch a canoe or kayak. There are many hiking trails; Cemetery Trail, Magazine Trail, the Starr Ranch Trail and a short wildlife blind trail. The NMR is open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. There is no entrance fee. We could have easily spent a half day but we spent an hour.
Address
15600 FM 134, Karnack, TX 75661-3295
Mobile
Website
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Caddo
Current local date and time now
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 6:32
User Ratings
4.0 based on (19 reviews)
Reviews
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4DebV20 5:00 PM Jan 2, 2021
Unexpected Find
Our family spent an exciting couple of hours exploring the remains of the Army Ammunition Plants at the Caddo Lake Wildlife Refuge. Ruins can be found scattered throughout the area. Would have loved to have had our bikes to explore this protected land, but instead drove around and got out to climb amongst the ruins when we spotted them. It was definitely worth the detour for our family who finds this kind of history fascinating.
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5Nicolas Henderson 5:00 PM Aug 27, 2020
Otherworldly
If you’re bringing a family to Caddo to hike or fish, the state park is definitely a better option. But if you’re in for more of an adventure, this is the place. Don’t come here expecting to see a ton of wildlife, despite the name. The main attractions here are the incredible ruins of the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, which have to be seen in person to truly appreciate, the incredible view of the lake, and the hike to the Hope Cemetery. This place is huge, and it really feels like another world. Make sure your phone is charged when you’re here, because you don’t want to get lost in the evening. I’ve been all over Texas, and this is one of the most unique and almost indescribable spots I’ve visited.
