Lost Maples State Natural Area

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2013 Lost Maples State Natural Area Foliage Color Change Report

November 25, 2013 Report: This is an especially beautiful time of the year at Lost Maples. The leaves are falling off the trees, creating a blanket of beautiful color on the canyon floor. This time of year it looks like Mother Nature is covering the ground with a colorful quilt for warming the spirit. This is a great time to come and enjoy the park during the fall changes. Come visit us to hike for the day, or stay the night.

This is the last fall foliage report for 2013. We will be back in October 2014, but come out for a visit anytime of the year, because it's always beautiful at Lost Maples State Natural Area. 

TPWD photos taken on 11/25/2013 by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece.
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece.
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 25, by Richard Treece.

November 19, 2013 Report: The Maples have changed almost overnight, and are displaying bright colors along the road from the Headquarters to the canyon walls in the Day Use Area. The best color is concentrated in the Day Use Area and on the Maple Trail. The colors are not the best we have had, but not the worst either. The weather has been challenging for the trees, but the last cold front made the colors that we have really show. We still have a few trees that have not changed yet. I am writing this on Sunday and if you are going to come I believe it should be soon. The Wind from one front can change the view in a day. The next color change coming is the Red Oaks in late November and early December; they will look like red tree ornaments among the Cedars. Come see us and hike our park, or just come have a picnic; it's a beautiful time of year to visit.

TPWD photos taken on 11/17/2013 by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece.
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece.
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece.  View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 17, by Richard Treece. 


November 12, 2013 Report: As this report is being written, many of the leaves on the trees are changing to the beautiful fall colors we love. Colors are just starting to show on many of the trees, but a few have already turned. Those that already changed have few if any leaves left, but a majority of the trees have just started turning. The East Trail is showing the most color, with a large number of trees on the Maple Trail in the beginning stages of transformation. This weekend should have the best color of this season concentrated on the Maple Trail, and in the Day Use Area along the canyon walls. The trees that have not changed are showing only a few leaves with color, but this time of the year that can change very quickly. The canyon walls along the Sabinal River, from the Headquarters to the Overflow Parking, are also showing good color. If no weather fronts with high winds come through for a week, then we should have very good color. High winds this time of year could relocate the colors on the trees, to colors on the ground, so contact your local weatherman and ask him to hold off on the windy cold fronts for a week.

TPWD photos taken on 11/11/2013 by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 11, by Richard Treece 


November 6, 2013 Report: The maple trees are starting to turn after the cold weather we had this weekend. Last week the color was starting to show all around the park, but the storm on October 30th sent many of those leaves off the trees and to the ground. In some areas, like the trail to the pond, the color is starting over. The Day Use Area is starting to show some fall color on the canyon walls, and the Maple Trail also has a few trees showing color. There are a large number of trees that have not started to turn, but that could change soon. We are expecting the next week to start showing some great color, but Mother Nature has fooled us before, so keep your fingers crossed.

TPWD photos taken on 11/4/2013 by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on November 4, by Richard Treece 


October 29, 2013 Report: The last color report may have been disappointing but, like the leaves, things change here at Lost Maples. This week we can report that the trees are starting to change all over the park. The color is spotty and scattered and the best color so far is on the canyon walls above Monkey Rock, on the East Trail. The trees are also turning in the Day Use Area, and a few trees have color on the drive from the headquarters into the park. There are a few trees with color on the trail to the pond, and up around the pond (Primitive Area C). The changes are happening at a good pace so maybe we will have better color in a week or two. The colder temperatures have been sporadic so the color change may be spread out over a longer period of time. It’s a beautiful drive through the hill country to our park so come on out and see us!

TPWD photos taken on 10/27-28/2013 by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 27, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 27, by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 28, by Richard Treece
View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 28, by Richard Treece
October 27, 2013 photo 4 by Richard Treece View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 27, by Richard Treece. View a larger version of this Fall Foliage photo taken on October 27, by Richard Treece.


October 21, 2013 Report: We just had some good cold nights that should start the Maples changing. The maples are in good shape and should produce some good color this year if we get some more cold weather. E-mail your weather man and ask him for some cold weather to give us some Fall color. The park is in great shape for hiking and the temperatures are mild, so come out and see us before the crowds arrive.

TPWD photos taken on 10/21/2013 by Richard Treece
October 21, 2013 photo by Richard Treece View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 21, 2013, by Richard Treece. View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 21, 2013, by Richard Treece.
View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 21, 2013, by Richard Treece.
View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 21, 2013, by Richard Treece.


October 13, 2013 Report: Welcome from Lost Maples and thank you to all our visitors that make this such a successful part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. The only foliage colors that we currently have are the Maximillion Sunflowers on the east trail, and the Virginia Creeper that is turning red. We have had some rain but not the cold temperatures that cause the Maples to start changing. The cold fronts cause the trees to change giving us the fall colors. We will keep you up to date and informed on the changes when they happen. Even though the foliage is not in full color yet, the park is looking great and we invite you to come enjoy your beautiful state natural area.

TPWD photos taken on 10/11-13/2013 by Richard Treece
October 13, 2013 photo of a Virginia Creeper View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 13, 2013 View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 11, 2013
View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 13, 2013
View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 13, 2013 View a larger image of this fall foliage update photo from October 13, 2013


October 8, 2013 Report: At this time there is very little color change to report and it is still too early to predict just when the best color will occur. The best color usually occurs near the first of November to the mid-November time frame. The last few nights have had low temperatures in the 50's which is good for getting the trees to brighten up, but the next few days are predicted to be in the 60's, with a chance for rain on the weekend. We will start posting pictures with next week's report. Now is a great time to visit the Natural Area for camping and hiking the trails before the large crowds arrive.