Fall Foliage
When asked where to find the best fall foliage, most folks will suggest the Great Smokies or New England. But after the first nippy days of October, some of the most colorful displays of autumn color in the nation occur right here in the Lone Star State.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Lost Maples State Natural Area Located on the Sabinal River, the quiet Lost Maples State Park is known for its spectacular Uvalde bigtooth maple trees, including the largest isolated stand east of the Guadalupe Mountains. When the seasons change, visitors are treated to a dazzling show of fall colors. (The best time of the year to see it is generally the last two weeks of October through the first two weeks of November.) The sprawling 2,174-acre park is filled with steep, rugged limestone canyons, springs, plateau grasslands, wooded slopes and clear streams, and is home to a number of rare birds like the green kingfisher, the endangered black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. You’re also likely to spot a variety of wild animals, from gray foxes and white-tailed deer to armadillos, raccoons, bobcats, javelinas and rock squirrels.
The Texas State Railroad Foliage Brunch Train
The Texas State Railroad, one of the nation’s largest and most historic surviving steam engine train systems, has been traversing the Piney Woods of East Texas since 1893. Now, over 100 years later, visitors can get a taste of time travel with a scenic ride in a historic passenger car pulled by an antique locomotive. Marvel at some of the most spectacular displays of color in the state while relaxing and enjoying a light meal on the Fall Foliage Brunch Train, a special excursion specifically designed to give nature lovers an opportunity to see the annual show closeup.
MOUNTAIN MARVEL: One of the state’s most impressive shows of autumn foliage can be found along the canyons of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Bigtooth maples and other trees provide awesome fall color in the Lost Maples State Natural Area.
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Fall foliage probably isn’t the first thing you think of when you imagine the Chihuahuan Desert, a stark landscape that seems too harsh for anything but the hardiest of plants. Guadalupe Mountains National Park’s slopes are covered with ponderosa pines and Douglas fir greenery year-round, but there’s a special spot that attracts thousands of fall leaf seekers. McKittrick Canyon, in the northeastern part of the park, is known for its geology, flora and sparkling streams. Here, Bigtooth maples, oaks, walnuts and shrubs turn brilliant shades of yellow, red and orange each fall, creating a scene so striking that sometimes park managers must limit entry to prevent damage from crowds. Most times of the year, however, visitors are more likely to run into elk than other hikers, as GMNP is one of the least visited of all the national parks.
Canadian River Valley Fall Foliage Festival
The city of Canadian is particularly scenic in the fall, when the foliage is ablaze. The Fall Foliage Festival has been a local tradition since the mid-1950s, an annual event on the third weekend in October. Attendees can cross the picturesque Canadian River Historic Wagon Bridge and walk the trails at Lake Marvin and the Black Kettle National Grasslands. Other nearby attractions include the Citadelle Art Foundation, the Canadian River Art Center, home tours, wagon rides, an arts & crafts festival, special exhibits at Lake Marvin and special museum exhibits. Visitors will see a multitude of cottonwood, persimmon, hackberry, mulberry and soapberry trees, along with plenty of wildlife — rabbits, deer, swallows, flycatchers and more.
