[{"id":2512,"date":"2022-02-05T13:06:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T19:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/cypress\/?page_id=2512"},"modified":"2022-02-05T13:39:54","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T19:39:54","slug":"2022-flotilla","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/txmn.org\/cypress\/2022-flotilla\/","title":{"rendered":"2022 Earth Day Paddling Flotilla"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2022 Earth Day Flotilla<\/h1>\n

Mark this date – April 23, 2022<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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 \u201clake\u201d 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:<\/p>\n

From Johnsons\u2019 Ranch <\/u>– The Turtle Shell<\/strong> Trail<\/strong> 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 \u201cshowerhead\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

From Shady Glade<\/u> \u2013 The Cathedral Trail<\/strong> 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\u2019s tail. Don\u2019t forget to look up for Wood Storks and Prothonotary Warblers.<\/p>\n

From Crip\u2019s Camp<\/u> \u2013 The Old Folks\u2019 Playground Trail<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Advance Registration now available via EventBrite<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

Scan QR code to be taken directly to EventBrite<\/a>\"QR<\/a><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Registration: <\/strong><\/p>\n