Welcome to the 2022 Earth Day Flotilla

Mark this date – April 23, 2022

Put in your canoe or kayak for a beautiful morning on one of three paddling trails that leave from Uncertain, TX, on the shores of Caddo Lake, in northeast Texas, on the border of Texas and Louisiana. Caddo Lake is one of the best examples in the southern United States of a mature bald cypress forest. The area is known for its exceptional wildlife diversity. The “lake” is actually a sprawling maze of bayous and sloughs covering 26,810 acres. The Caddo Lake area has 10 trails designated as part of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Texas Paddling Trails system. Each trail has unique features, and all are good for birding, photography and so much more. The trails include:

From Johnsons’ Ranch – The Turtle Shell Trail will take paddlers through a well-marked maze of boat roads where they will see a beautiful, mystical and almost primeval Cypress swamp. Paddlers will be amazed by the expanse of American Lotus lining this trail. Standing several feet above the water and in some areas hanging over the trail, with their large yellowish/white flowers and “showerhead” seed cones, these plants are some of the most photographed on the lake. This trail will pass by charming cottages hidden along the shoreline as you return to the put in.

From Shady Glade – The Cathedral Trail on Caddo Lake is a turn-around trail. From the launch, travel along the Boat Road U passing charming residences and B&Bs. Marvel at some of the older trees that stand alone in the water. The trail is a short, but exhilarating stretch of towering bald cypress trees and inviting sandy rest stops. When the rain is right, the forest floor is covered with a variety of ferns, jack-in-the-pulpits, and lizard’s tail. Don’t forget to look up for Wood Storks and Prothonotary Warblers.

From Crip’s Camp – The Old Folks’ Playground Trail starts out in Goose Prairie, an area known for its abundance of white water lilies, their large white flowers open in the mornings and close in the afternoon. Other areas along this trail have large stands of American Lotus. This plant has large pads that sometimes stand up out of the water in excess of 3 feet. The flowers of this plant can also stand out of the water and the seed pods resemble inverted showerheads. Paddlers will pass by a portion of the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Advance Registration now available via EventBrite!

Scan QR code to be taken directly to EventBrite

Registration:

Early Bird: 2/04/2022 at 12:01am until Saturday 4/9/2022 at 12:01 am. Tickets are $20.00. T-shirt included (be SURE to add your size!) SPECIAL PRIZE FOR FIRST TO REGISTER!!
Regular Tickets: 4/10/2022-4/17/2022 tickets are $30.00 No guarantee of t-shirt.
Adult Event Day: $30.00 No guarantee of t-shirt.
Paddlers 13 and under $10.00 with an adult registration

Your ticket includes a t-shirt (If registered on time), one raffle ticket and breakfast foods .

Fabulous food truck for lunch; raffles and silent auction. The silent auction ends at 12:15pm. New this year! Chair massages by Laura!!

BIG FOOT – HE’S OUT THERE – SPECIAL PRIZE FOR FIRST TO SPOT HIM!

Contact us at: 22flotilla10@gmail.com or 903-736-3063

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS AVAILABLE:

Crappie $1.00-$250.00

Large Mouth Bass -$251.00-$500.00

Paddlefish – $501.00-$1000.00

Get your registration in now! SPECIAL PRIZE FOR FIRST TO REGISTER.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CLICK THE BUTTON FOR T-SHIRT SIZE BEFORE YOUR ORDER IS COMPLETE !!

Included in your pre-registration fee: A t-shirt and one raffle tickets.

Funds raised will go toward this year’s flotilla expenses. After those expenses are covered, the remainder will go to maintenance of the paddle trails, kiosks and signage. Other projects that benefit recreational development for Caddo Lake are always under consideration and review. Lots of improvement to the paddle trail signs this year !

This is a self-guided flotilla but we have experts standing by to answer any questions you have about the trails.

SEE YOU THERE!!