Did you know that there are beautiful fall colors in Texas?
Many people think of New England and the Northeast USA when they think of vibrant colors of the autumn season.
Everyone who loves fall foliage wants to visit Vermont or New Hampshire to see the leaves change color.
However, Texas is one of the most underrated fall foliage destinations in the country.
The state may not be packed with fall foliage drives but it has its own share of fall colors and autumn festivals.
There are several wide open spaces in the Lone Star State to take in the beautiful fall foliage.
Here is an ultimate guide to the best fall colors in Texas.
Best time to Visit Texas for fall colors
Visiting Texas for fall colors? Plan your Texas road trip late during the season.
You will find vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges throughout Texas during late October and November.
This is when peak fall season occurs in Texas.
Just a week before Thanksgiving is the perfect time to visit Uvalde County for fall splendor.
Best Places to see fall in Texas
Texas has several national forests full of oaks, maples, and cypress trees that change color in the autumn.
The best areas in the state to see the fall colors are definitely the state parks and natural areas.
Fall colors in Texas also vary a lot depending on the region.
For the most vibrant fall colors, we recommend Central Texas, especially the Texas Hill Country.
North Texas and East Texas also have a smattering of fall colors throughout the season.
These are our favorite places to see the best fall foliage in Texas:
Garner State Park
Garner State Park is located in the Uvalde County of Texas Hill Country.
The park comprises several acres along the banks of the Frio River with large, shady cypress, oaks, mesquites, and persimmon trees growing along the banks.
The trees change color late October to early November resulting in one of the best fall colors in Texas.
The state park also has several beautiful limestone bluffs along the river banks.
Visitors can also see the fa colors reflected in the river.
The natural beauty of this park makes it one of the best Texas State Parks for fall colors.
On the hiking trails, you will find riots of red, orange, and yellow colors.
Camping at Garner State Park in the fall is also great fun.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Most people think Texas is hot year round and looks pretty much the same through different seasons.
That’s why so many tourists are surprised to visit Lost Maples State Natural Area and see the beautiful deep orange fall colors of the Uvalde Big tooth Maples.
Located on the Sabinal River, the Lost Maples State Park looks photogenic and amazing when the red maples trees change colors.
Lost Maples State Park also has plenty of other outdoor attractions like fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking.
This is definitely one of the best places to experience fall in Texas.
Big Bend National Park
While most Texans associate Big Bend with spring wildflowers, the park also looks stunning in the fall.
The hot summer temperatures start cooling off, ushering in Big Bend’s busy tourist season.
Autumn in Texas is definitely well spent on a trip to Big Bend.
You can see dramatic fall foliage in the backdrop of Chisos mountain ranges.
The national park is pretty much a desert and has very few trees, but the ones that thrive here do change color resulting in vibrant splashes of reds and orange against the desert landscape.
McKinney Falls State Park
Located just 13 miles south of downtown Austin, McKinney Falls State Park is a great place to see fall colors in the Lone Star State.
The park is located where the Onion Creek and Williamson Creek meet and is home to the beautiful Lower McKinney Falls waterfall.
Cypress and oak trees grow along the creeks and have beautiful fall colors.
The best time to plan a day trip from Austin to the park to see the fall colors is early November.
Dallas Arboretum
Looking for the best fall colors in Dallas? Head to the Arboretum.
Autumn at the Arboretum is just spectacular.
The trees look brilliant with splashes of red, orange, and yellow.
But it is not just the trees that are the highlight of this event.
You will also find the Pumpkin Village which is made of over 90,000 pumpkins!
Kids and adults alike are enthralled by this spectacular attraction, making it one of the top things to do in fall near Dallas.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
If you’re looking for a wonderful fall escape from the bustling city and need to relax, Fort Worth Botanic Garden is the perfect destination.
This botanical garden features over 20 acres of lush landscapes and plants that will make your visit worth it.
The gardens look spectacular in the fall.
Sabine National Forest
Sabine National Forest is a great place to see the fall colors in Texas.
Start your fall viewing trip at Nacogdoches.
The city has an established fall foliage trail that will take you through the Sabine National Forest of East Texas.
The route is 161 miles long and is amazing to drive in November.
There are hiking trails which will take you deep into the woods and up close with the fall foliage.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area looks pretty beautiful in fall.
You can drive to the area to see the leaves turn yellow and red during autumn.
From the trail to the summit, you can see the beauty of the fall colors spread out before you.
We love visiting Enchanted Rock in fall since you can understand and admire the stark, rugged beauty of Texas fall perfectly from here.
Enchanted Rock is also popular for bouldering and mountain climbing activities.
You can also visit the city of Fredericksburg which is very romantic in the fall.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, located in the southwestern part of the state, is another good place to see fall colors.
The colors here are sparse but vivid, since the primarily desert landscape has very few trees.
Take the scenic drive in the park or hike on its many trails to see the park in the fall.
This is also a great time to visit the park, since the Texas heat has all but disappeared and the cooler climate makes for excellent hiking and camping conditions.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Texas fall may be lovely, but it can still be hot and humid.
That’s why we love visiting Dinosaur Valley State Park in the fall.
You can see the beautiful vivid fall colors along the banks of the Paluxy River while you go wading deep in the river bed to see dinosaur footprints.
If it gets too hot, you can swim in the river.
If it gets suddenly cool, skip the river bed and see the gigantic dinosaurs at the adjacent Dinosaur World.
There are many other things to do in Glen Rose and this makes for an excellent fall getaway.
Caddo Lake State Park
Fall months in Texas are perfect for exploring the outdoors.
Whether you plan to take a hike, go biking, or plan a kayak trail, Caddo Lake State Park in East Texas is the perfect place to do it.
The highlight of this park is the bald cypress trees in the Big Cypress Bayou.
The trees start changing colors around the last week of October and the color lasts till the end of November.
Explore a kayak trail to see the park in its splendor; Caddo lake is one of the best places to kayak in Texas.
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Another gem located in the Piney Woods region!
Visit Lake Bob Sandlin State Park from mid October to mid November and you will see bursts of color throughout the park.
The color here comes from trees like hickory and sweetgum and is a brilliant burgundy and orange red.
The colors look especially pretty at dawn or dusk or when reflected in the lake waters.
Other activities include fishing on the lake, scenic drives, and hiking in the park.
Daingerfield State Park
In northeast Texas, you will find the hidden gem of Daingerfield State Park.
Much of the park is a forest of pines, oaks, and cypress trees.
Located in the Piney Woods region of Texas, the state park and its landscape looks striking throughout November.
You can see the fall colors reflected on the lake or hike to see them up close.
The state park is also popular for kayaking, paddle boarding, and more.
Stay in a rustic cabin in Piney Woods to make the most of this romantic weekend getaway.
Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park, also located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, is a great place to visit for scenic fall foliage drives.
The drive to the park itself is beautiful in fall. You can see splashes on red, orange, and yellows on the roadside.
In the park, you can spot the foliage on hiking trails and have a picnic among the trees.
The Whispering Pines trail is a 1.3 miles loop lakeshore trail that is perfect for fall colors.
Other favorite activities at the park include camping, biking, hiking, and picnics.
This is definitely one of the underrated places to see fall colors in East Texas.
Also Read: Best Things to do in East Texas
Guadalupe River State Park
Guadalupe River State Park and the adjacent area of Canyon Lake is one of the most underrated destinations for seeing fall colors in Texas.
Majestic bald cypress, Spanish oak, and cottonwood trees create beautiful splashes of color along the river banks.
Drive along the scenic River Road in New Braunfels or go hiking in the state park to enjoy the amazing colors.
We hope you liked our post on the Best Places to see fall colors in Texas.
Did we miss out on any spots that look stunning in the fall? Let us know in the comments.