Large, pristine area of beautiful hills and canyons on the upper Sabinal River in the Edwards Plateau Region of Texas
General Information
How to Get There
From Kerrville (43 mi): Take TX-16 South to Medina, turn left onto FM 337 toward Vanderpool, then turn right onto TX-187 North and continue approximately 5 miles to the park entrance on the left.
Overview
Lost Maples State Natural Area protects nearly 3,000 acres of canyons and hills along the upper Sabinal River in the Edwards Plateau, about 5 miles north of Vanderpool and 70 miles northwest of San Antonio. The park takes its name from a stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples — a relic of a cooler, wetter climate thousands of years ago — that puts on one of the best fall foliage displays in Texas each October and November. Because it's designated a natural area rather than a state park, Texas Parks & Wildlife may restrict access or activities whenever needed to protect this fragile canyon ecosystem.
Things to Do
Experience Texas Fall Foliage
Lost Maples is famous for its spectacular autumn colors produced by rare Uvalde bigtooth maple trees. Visitors from across Texas come each year to see vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Hike More Than 10 Miles of Trails
Explore rugged trails that wind through canyons, wooded slopes, streams, grasslands, and scenic overlooks throughout the natural area.
Visit Scenic Overlooks
Several trails lead to elevated viewpoints offering sweeping vistas of the Sabinal River Valley, limestone cliffs, and Hill Country landscape.
Top Trails
Lost Maples East Trail Loop
Distance: 5.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: The Grotto, dramatic cliffs, maple groves, creek crossings, and elevated overlooks.
Lost Maples West Trail Loop
Distance: 7.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Scenic overlooks, canyon views, unique rock formations, birdwatching opportunities, and fall foliage.
East-West Trail to Birds Eye View
Distance: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Excellent viewpoints overlooking the Sabinal River Valley and surrounding Hill Country terrain.
East Trail, West Trail & West Loop Combination
Distance: 10.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Highlights: Cliff-top views, rugged terrain, extensive maple stands, and some of the best scenery in the park.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lost Maples State Natural Area", used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
-1000.jpg)
.JPG){kind=link}
