Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Texas

When calendar pages turn from August to September and the laziness of summer vacation becomes a fond memory, Texans turn their eyes toward autumn. Although it's still awhile before the cool northers blow through, there seems to be a slightly different feel to the air. Or maybe it's just their imagination hoping for a break from the sweltering days of summer.

The fall season is long in Texas. While some northern states experience snow before the holidays begin, most of Texas enjoys pleasant temperatures well into December. And while New England has its spectacular fall foliage in September and October, the Lone Star State boasts brilliant yellows, coppers and golds in October and November.

Fall foliage in Texas? Yep. Although temperatures sometimes stay warm until late in the year and some trees lose their leaves before they can turn to brilliant colors, pockets of spectacular color can always be found dotted around the state. One doesn't have to drive far to find a dazzling display.

Lost Maples State Natural Area in the Hill Country wears a cloak of deep purply red sprinkled with yellows and browns provided by the bigtooth maples, sycamores, cottonwoods, and red oaks after the first cold snaps of late October and November.

The Big Thicket area in East Texas is emblazoned with color during autumn. Village Creek State Park near Beaumont is heavily forested with beautiful river birch, mayhaw, and yaupon. Martin Dies, Jr State Park shows off the beauty of its beech trees which turn a golden yellow and the blackgum trees which flame with ruby red.

Farther north, a wide variety of deciduous trees stands in glorious autumn splendor near Winnsboro which hosts an annual fall festival celebrating the beautiful colors surrounding their town. Visitors will find suggested routes for the best autumn scenery the entire month of October and the first two weeks of November. Three 30 mile tours are recommended by the Autumn Trails Tour. Other festivities to enjoy in the pleasant fall temperatures of Winnsboro are a chili cookoff, barn dance, parade, and other activities.

Southwest of Fort Worth, in Cleburne State Park, oak, elm, cottonwood, sycamore, ash, sumac, redbud, and mesquite trees stand in a blaze of red, gold and copper glory during the autumn months.

Farther north near Amarillo, the Caprock Canyons State Park is host to an annual fall foliage tour in an open-air vehicle with a ranger for a guided view of the park and a look at the fall color provided by cottonwoods, hackberries, and other native trees.

Even in the desert lands of West Texas, solitude seeking travelers will find plenty of fall color in the maple, walnut, ash, oak, and Texas madrones of the Guadalupe Mountains.

No matter what area of Texas a traveler finds himself in, a stunning fall foliage display is only a short drive away.

For updates on specific fall foliage areas in Texas call the Texas Travel Information Center at 1 800 452 9292.