Plan Your Visit to Caddo Mounds | Texas Historical Commission

More than 1,200 years ago, the Caddo established a permanent settlement here in the Neches River valley. For the next 450 years (A.D. 850–1300), this location served as a major civic-ceremonial center—one of North America's most sophisticated pre-Columbian communities. Three earthen mounds, remnants of 110+ acres of village and ceremonial spaces, and 200+ museum artifacts tell the story of a hierarchical society with extensive trade networks, advanced religious practices, and remarkable engineering.

In May 2024, after a devastating 2019 tornado, the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and the Texas Historical Commission reopened this site with a new visitor center and a rebuilt traditional grass house. This site is held in trust and actively managed by both entities, ensuring Caddo cultural knowledge shapes the visitor experience.

Essential Information

Where: 1649 State Road 21, Alto, TX 75925 – 26 miles west of Nacogdoches (25 min drive)
When: Tuesday–Sunday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays
What: Museum, 0.7-mile self-guided trail, three mounds, grass house, borrow pit, Camino Real Trail (0.4 mi), 1.5 mi scenic trails, pond, bird blind, prairie restoration, picnic area
Cost: Family $8, Adults $5, Seniors/Teachers/Veterans/First Responders $3, Youth 6–17 $2, Children 5 and under free

Featured Program: First Saturdays

A Morning Walk Through 1,000 Years of Memory Every first Saturday at 10 a.m., join educator John Zumwalt for a guided walk through the site to learn what 75+ years of archaeological study reveals about this ancient capital.

Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost: Included with admission "Come for the history. Stay for the feeling you've stepped somewhere sacred."

Accessibility

The Caddo Mounds museum is fully accessible. The Mound Trail and a portion of El Camino Real Trail #1 are granite-covered and accessible for most wheelchairs and strollers. All other trails are non-accessible, with some steep grades, steps, and dirt and grass surfaces.

Please note: We do not offer golf carts or shuttle services.

Facilities

Restrooms are available on site. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic items to enjoy in the designated picnic area.

Tour Reservations

Tour Reservations Reservations for guided school tours should be made three weeks in advance via the tour request form. Self-guided adult groups can be scheduled in advance by calling 936-858-3218 or emailing caddo-mounds@thc.texas.gov. For specialized tour experiences, contact the site directly.

Trail of the Caddo: Discovering Caddo Mounds
- Capacity: 1–15 visitors
- Timing: 1–3 hours
- Cost: Standard site admission Caddo Mounds State Historic Site is a prehistoric village and ceremonial center. Start in the visitor center to view the exhibits and an introductory video about the Caddo people and the Caddo Mounds site, then lace up your walking shoes to visit the 0.7-mile self-guided interpretive trail, which includes a traditional grass house, mounds, and borrow pit. Visitors can then walk along 0.4 miles of the Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, seeing a section of the original road. There is also an additional 1.5 miles of scenic walking trails that include a pond, bird blind, prairie restoration areas, and picnic area. Walk-ins only; advanced reservations are not needed.
Backpack Adventures (Free with Admission)
Adults and children are invited to borrow a backpack of supplies and head out on the trails.
- Birdwatching Backpack Adventure: Visit the Bird Blind overlooking the pond using provided binoculars, bird guides, and drawing materials.
- Exploring Snake Woman's Garden: Observe plants grown and used by the Caddo, look for native pollinators, and learn the story of the Snake Woman.
- STEM Backpacking Adventure: Explore the Prairie and Woodlands ecosystems with creative family-focused projects.
School Tour: "Tejas is Caddo for Friend"
- Grades: K–12
- Timing: 1.5–2 hours
- Cost: $1 per student. One chaperone free for every 10 students; additional adults $1.
Students will explore the history of the Caddo tribe through hands-on activities, visiting the museum, the Caddo Grass House, Snake Woman's Garden, and a section of the Camino Real de los Tejas. Students in grades 4–12 will also learn about early hunting technologies by trying their hand at using an atlatl.
Adult Group Tour: From Prehistory to the Present: 1,200 Years of Caddo Culture
- Capacity: 10–60 adults
- Cost: $3 per person
Start in the visitor center to view exhibits and an introductory video, then head out on foot to visit the traditional grass house, mounds, and borrow pit. Groups can then walk along the Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail and additional scenic walking trails that include a pond, bird blind, and picnic area. Groups may also elect to watch "Koo Hoot Kiwat-Caddo Grass House," the award-winning PBS video about the building of the grass house replica.
While you're in the area, visit these nearby sites:
- Mission Tejas State Park, 6 miles west of Caddo Mounds, in Weches
- Davy Crockett National Forest, 20 miles west on Hwy 7
- Texas State Railroad, 25 miles north on Hwy 84 in Rusk
- Heritage Center of Cherokee County
- Ratcliff Lake Recreational Area
- Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden
- Stone Fort Museum
- Texas Forestry Museum
For additional travel and history information, see the following resources:

Contact Us

If you have questions about booking tours at Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, please contact the site staff using the information listed here.

Phone:
+1 936-858-3218
Email:
caddo-mounds@thc.texas.gov
Address:

1649 State Road 21
Alto, TX 75925
United States