I've already covered wonderful state parks in Texas, but I think our gorgeous national forests and preserves deserve some attention, too. I could get lost in the piney woods in East Texas for hours, and if you are a nature-lover, avid hiker, or seasoned bird-watcher, you will love the following national forests just as much as I do, I'm sure.
This 153,179 acre national forest stretches across four different counties and lies in both the Neches River Basin and the north and south shores of the Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Bouton Lake, Boykin Springs, and the Sawmill Hiking Trail are popular recreation spots here.
Here you'll find the impressive 128 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail winding through the park, and the Little Lake Creek Wilderness and Big Creek Scenic Areas are popular as well.
Named after the legendary pioneer, the Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area offers guests hiking trails, including the Four C National Recreation Trail, swimming, picnicking, boating, and fishing.
This park forms part of the border between Texas and Louisiana, and the 28-mile Trail Between the Lakes hiking trail extending from the Toledo Bend Reservoir all the way to the Sam Rayburn Reservoir offers plenty of hiking opportunities and wildlife sightings.
I come here often for the beautiful hiking trails and abundant wildlife; you will totally forget about modern civilization in the solitude of this ecologically diverse, enchanting forest.
Which of these national forests or preserves have you been to? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below!
Fall is almost upon us, and while we may not see much in the way of temperature change here in Texas, the leaves definitely obey the unsaid rules of the season and change into some of the most vibrant, breathtaking colors you've ever seen. In our opinion? Autumn in Texas is completely, wildly underrated. We aren't just a series of deserts and plains, y'all!
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This state is stunningly lush and can be outrageously beautiful. It's a true gem: one of the best places to visit if you're looking for a bit of southwestern spice alongside your autumn color. This Smoky Mountains fall foliage map makes it easy for you to figure out when and where to head to Texas. Normally, the best time to view fall foliage in our state will be around early to mid-October, but that varies slightly depending on the region and the year. Take a look at the Texas fall colors map, plan your trip, and figure out when to see fall colors in the Lone Star State this season.
Here you can see how the fall foliage map helps folks to understand peak foliage in their state. In Texas, it tends to be a bit more difficult to nail down the absolute best spots to experience leaves changing color. Normally, they tend to show up later in the season as opposed to earlier. These five state parks and natural areas offer up some of the best ways to experience fall in Texas:
Garner State Park is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in Texas. That's even more true in the fall, when cypress, oak, mesquite, and persimmon trees boast varying shades of the most vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows you've ever seen. There are 11 miles of trails, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to experience the scenery.
Lost Maples is known across the state for having some of the most intense fall foliage and as one of the best places to see fall foliage in Texas. The Uvalde Bigtooth Maples show their colors in late October and early November, and most of the trees can be found on the East Trail. The leaves here are such a big deal that the park posts an annual fall foliage report that you can check before your trip to make sure you're going at the peak of the season. If by the time you click the link it hasn't been updated yet, check back often! The fine folks at the park service are great at keeping it up to date year to year.
It's time to show north Texas some love. This state park has so many different ways to enjoy the Texas fall foliage - hiking, kayaking, picnicking, and taking a scenic drive are among them. Anytime between late October and late November will guarantee you a front-row seat to the show.
Just an hour away from Fort Worth, this park offers more than just ancient dinosaur tracks - it's also a hub for breathtaking fall leaves. You can hike, bike, fish, camp, or all of the above from the end of October to the beginning of November to best experience the foliage.
Now we're headed over to east Texas, arguably the mecca of fall foliage in the state. From mid-October to mid-November, the sweetgum, hickory, and red maple trees follow the order of the season and change their leaves into a brilliant display of color. Hike, bike, fish, or simply gaze at the amazing spectacle surrounding the water.
Will you be visiting Texas this year? Have you found the best state parks to visit, hike through, or fall in love with during the beautiful months of autumn? Let us know in the comments!
Don't miss out on the opportunity to indulge in the autumnal beauty of Texas this year, folks. This fall colors map for Texas is a great roadmap for your autumn adventure in the Lone Star State!
Keep in mind that some of these places are on this fall foliage road trip in Texas. Maybe you'll consider adding the rest, too.
Most people are surprised to learn that Texas boasts some incredible fall foliage. That's right - the Lone Star State isn't all rolling pastures and oppressive humidity! If you're interested in doing some leaf peeping this year, it's important to know when the foliage will peak in various parts of the state. SmokyMountains.com has taken all the guesswork out of it with their interactive fall foliage map, so all you have to do is plan out your adventures and enjoy the views.
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If you've been asking the all-important question of when fall foliage will peak in Texas this year, save yourself hours of research (or, even worse, a wasted trip) and use the interactive tool at SmokyMountains.com instead.
This handy map features a do-it-yourself slider that lets you see exactly when the leaves will be at their most spectacular in any given area of the state. Pictured here are the predictions for September 20 - Texas has only just started to exhibit signs of fall.
By the week of October 25, the uppermost northwestern corner of the Panhandle has begun to peak.
This would be a great time to visit Palo Duro Canyon. Since the area is dominated by red rocks, most people don't associate the state park with fall, but that's a huge mistake.
Here's a glimpse into the pure magic that is fall in the canyon.
It looks more like New England than Texas, don't you think?
Lost Maples State Natural Area is another fall favorite, its meandering trails dotted with crimson, honey, and rich amber hues that promise to leave you breathless.
Don't forget to stop by Love Creek Orchards/The Apple Store on your way home for some freshly baked apple goodies!
Click here to view the map and try out the interactive tool for yourself. While things may not pan out this way to a T - as you probably well know, Mother Nature has a mind of her own - the Smoky Mountains predictions are usually fairly spot-on. Even better, the map will be updated mid-season for improved accuracy. Here, you'll find a list of Smoky Mountains' favorite places to see fall foliage in all 50 states - Lost Maples made their list, too!
Will you be utilizing the Smoky Mountains map for your leaf-peeping adventures this year? Where are your favorite spots in Texas to view the changing leaves? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below, then check out our previous article for some of our top picks.
