Saw Mill Pond Loop

The Saw Mill Pond Loop at Caddo Lake State Park combines natural history with human heritage, circling a historic pond site associated with 1840s logging operations that once harvested the giant bald cypress trees of the Caddo Lake swamp. The old sawmill site is now reclaimed by bayou and forest, but the pond it created remains a productive wildlife habitat that rewards patient observation throughout the year.

Wood ducks are the signature species of Saw Mill Pond, nesting in cavities in the surrounding bald cypress and swamp tupelo and raising their broods in the protected waters of the historic pond. The distinctive calls of the male wood duck carry through the swamp with an almost comical quality. Great egrets, little blue herons, and belted kingfishers work the pond margins. The bottomland forest surrounding the loop supports a rich variety of woodland birds including prothonotary warblers, which nest in tree cavities over the water and glow like small suns in the green swamp light. Barred owls are vocal year-round and commonly spotted on daytime roosts. The loop terrain is flat and easy throughout, making it accessible to hikers of all ages and abilities. The combination of historic interest and excellent wildlife viewing in an authentic East Texas bayou setting makes the Saw Mill Pond Loop a deeply satisfying walk.