Caddo and the Bayou are a fantastic experience!  The Dallas Morning News ranked Caddo #6 among area lakes and I'm sure it would be higher if only it was closer. It should be *quite* different from any other area lakes you've been on. Because it is so well protected, we normally have very smooth to absolute glass conditions.

Surprisingly, most of our time is spent on the Bayou, and not on much on the lake. This lake has many trees, marsh areas, Lilly pads, and underwater plants. The lake is kept open in the form of "boat roads" or pathways that are clear and not a problem to ride in. Just stay in the boat roads (get a map at a local market), watch your fuel situation, and everything should be fine. While reportedly there are some unfriendly critters (gators) in the remote marsh areas, we've never seen anything in the well-traveled bayou areas.

Gas is available on the water at Johnson's Ranch. There is also a small station (Fina) just outside of the State Park on the way to Uncertain. Our X*2 made it all the way from the free ramp at 43 up to Jefferson and back again on one tank of gas (but did dip into reserve just a little ways before we returned to the gas dock). We didn't walk up the hill at the ramp in Jefferson to see if there was a station nearby. This was an awesome trip last time, better even than our other popular river ride up the Brazos River from Whitney!

Directions: Take 1-20 east to Marshall, Hwy. 43 east to Karnack, then FM2198 east to the state park or Uncertain, Texas, on the lake's western edge.

 TPWD also provides a nice overview at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/caddo/lake_id.htm

TPWD:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/images/inland/lakes/caddobig.gif

Microsoft Streets:

Also, you can use the following URL to find the area by typing in Uncertain, TX and zooming in one level :http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py

http://www.weather.com/weather/cities/us_tx_karnack.html

Johnson's Ranch
E Cypress Dr
Karnack, TX
(903) 789-3213

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/caddo/access/pointb.htm

I20 to Marshall, Take Hwy. 43 (north) east out of Marshall 15 miles to Uncertain, Texas. Take Hwy. 2198 east and follow signs. FM2198 ends at the lake near Uncertain, TX. Turn right and Johnson's Ranch is almost immediately on the left.

Cripp's Camp
E Cypress Dr
Karnack, TX

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/caddo/access/pointa.htm

This ramp is directly across the road from Johnson's ranch.

Public Ramp
Hwy 43 bridge over Cypress Bayou

The Waterfront Café is available at this ramp, but unfortunately they've stopped selling gas.  We usually have lunch here, too.

 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/caddo/access/pointe.htm

 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/caddo/caddo.htm

Uncertain Inn phone number is 903-789-3292. They have two properties, one a mile or so from the water and the other on the water. There is a ramp at Johnson's Ranch next door to the waterfront rooms. Also, payment is by cash or check, only. The Uncertain Inn people should be able to advise on other nearby places to stay when they're full.

http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypResults.py?Pyt=TFour11&YY=32754&city=Uncertain&state=TX&zip=&slt=32.7119&sln=-94.1211&cs=5&stp=y&stx=7737307&btype=default

http://jefferson-texas.com/5-bbic.htm

http://www.texs.com/caddo/mossy.htm

 http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypResults.py?Pyt=TFour11&YY=32754&city=Uncertain&state=TX&zip=&slt=32.7119&sln=-94.1211&cs=5&stp=y&stx=8014771&btype=default

Caddo Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
www.caddolake.org
1-866- AT CADDO

 http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Mesa/1056/CaddoLake.html

http://jeffersontx.com/jefferson/lodge.htm

http://jefferson-texas.com/1-clsc.htm

http://www.down-river.com/caddodir.html

http://nac.tamu.edu/x075bb/caddo/caddo.html

http://nac.tamu.edu/~x075bb/caddo/CaddoDining.html

More Ride Info

(courtesy of Gerald Massey, gmassey@softdisk.com)

This is a very secluded area and an off-the-beaten path that the average boaters and
riders miss and or just don't get to. I have to make that ride often, as it is the most pristine beauty I have seen anywhere. The water is relatively shallow there maybe only 4-5 feet. The boat roads are extremely narrow, barely wide enough for a boat or jetski to go through the lily pads. Meeting and passing another boat has to be done at a dead slow with each vehicle almost
touching each other. I want to make sure you have not missed this area.

Got a suggestion? Send it to jetskier@earthling.net

• All rights reserved, Copyright ã Apr-99 www.jetskiers.org