Are you looking for amazing places to visit in Texas in the fall to see the fall foliage? Look no further, as I have a list of 10 incredible places to visit coming up!
Fall in Texas brings welcome relief after months of scorching heat and sun. That means that this gigantic state full of a multitude of outdoor adventures reopens to recreation again! While many people might wrongly assume that Texas is mostly flat and boring, it has a surprising amount of diversity. It beckons visitors with its mountains, forests, canyons, rivers, lakes, and even sand dunes! This unique tapestry found in destinations across the state is best enjoyed in the fall, with its welcoming mild temperatures and stunning fall colors!
Continue reading to discover incredible fall travel destinations in Texas that are perfect for a weekend getaway!
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Table of Contents
Best Places to Visit in Texas in the Fall
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located just a short drive outside of the sprawling Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Many visitors may not expect to find such a vibrant fall destination this close to a major metropolis! But Lake Mineral Wells State Park is the perfect fall destination for outdoor recreation in North Texas!
Boat, rock climb, or hike around the sprawling Lake Mineral Wells, with its surprising amount of forests and accompanying fall foliage! In this state park, there are both waterfront trails and forest trails. One of the standouts is the Penitentiary Hollow Trail. This trail offers the best overlook view of Lake Mineral Wells in the entire park!
Big Bend National Park
Located in far southwest Texas, Big Bend National Park receives the full brunt of Texas summer. But once again, it becomes an outdoor haven of adventures come fall, making it a perfect place to visit in Texas in fall. Much like its other National Park sibling to the north, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend offers a wide variety of exciting recreational adventures to enjoy.
Witness one of the most iconic sights in the entire park at Santa Elena Canyon. Stand directly on the shores of the mighty Rio Grande River, a formative lifeline in this region, and gaze into the mouth of this staggering canyon, which rises 1,500 feet from its base. You can hike the short Rio Grande Trail, which looks down from the heights of Santa Elena Canyon or delve further into Santa Elena Canyon itself by taking either a one-day or multi-day boating trip. Visitors can do both individually with their own boat, or through a guided boating or kayaking tour.
Another notable canyon hike is the Window Trail, which leads to a unique “window” formation, bordered by narrow canyon walls, that overlooks the stunning landscape of Big Bend National Park from above. Or maybe you want to enjoy a challenging, uphill hike to a mountain summit? Some of the best peak panoramas can be found on the Lost Mine Trail, located in the heart of Big Bend’s Chisos Mountains!
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
In Guadalupe Mountains National Park, you can witness the mountains, forests, and canyons, of the highest point in the entire state of Texas! Fall is the perfect time to hike some of the high-altitude trails in the park, as the strength of the sun and temperatures of autumn are much more conducive to extended amounts of time spent hiking outdoors.
If you want to become the tallest individual in the state, hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak! On this trail, you will traverse a variety of ecosystems, including the expansive Chihuahuan Desert, ponderosa forests, and rocky mountain summits. There is the payoff for this challenging uphill climb – standing on top of the highest point in Texas. Here, you will look out over the rest of the Guadalupe Mountains with its forests, canyons, and peaks!
For some of the most brilliant fall foliage in the Southwest, take a hike on the McKittrick Canyon Trail in autumn. Several unique species of trees, like the red-barked Texas madrone tree, add vibrant flashes of color to this already surprisingly lush and vegetated canyon. Expect to see yellows, golds, reds, greens, and purples in McKittrick Canyon, all with a towering backdrop of the majestic Guadalupe Mountains. It truly is one of the most incredible places to visit in Texas in the fall.
As a bonus, you can appreciate a few other unique things about this trail. There are the intriguing natural rock formations of “the Notch” and “the Grotto”. In addition, two historic frontier cabins still remain standing along the path – the stone Pratt Cabin and the Hunter Line Cabin.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon’s blazing bronze and golden hues become even more pronounced in the fall season! If you love red rock hiking in the fall, then the “Grand Canyon of Texas” is the place to be. This nickname is lovingly given to Palo Duro Canyon State Park because it is actually the second-largest canyon in the entire United States. It is second only to Arizona’s Grand Canyon!
The most beloved hike in the park is arguably the Lighthouse Trail, a 6-mile trek to a unique rock formation. It, unsurprisingly, resembles a bronze lighthouse, erupting from the surrounding canyon floor! You can even hike directly up to the base of “the Lighthouse”, making for an unforgettable fall backdrop!
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Lost Maples State Natural Area is located in a region of central Texas known as Hill Country. In the fall, you can expect these Texas hills to be blanketed in rich autumn hues and include Lost Maples. Lost Maples State Natural Area gets its name from the resident bigtooth maples that dot the landscape here, creating some of the richest forest foliage in the state.
Hike the park’s East Trail and West Trail to climb to the top of steep cliffs, which provide fantastic overlooks of the fall colors, reflecting off of the serene Sabinal River.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
It is true, there are actual sand dunes located in the heart of Texas, many miles away from any ocean! While you won’t see many traditional fall colors here, this unique state park still checks the box for the best places to visit in Texas in the fall.
With its zero-shade environment, stark white sand dunes, limited protection from the elements, and dry west Texas location, Monahans Sandhills State Park is pretty much off-limits in the summer months, which in Texas can stretch longer than in other parts of the country! Conversely, in winter, bitter West Texas winds and freezing temperatures can also make this destination less appealing. So when is the best time to visit the sand dunes at Monahans Sandhills State Park? In the fall. This is when the temperatures are just right to enjoy a full day of playing in the sand while enjoying that balmy West Texas sun!
This state park is perfect for families, or simply any individual who wants to let their inner child’s imagination roam for the day! Build sand castles, hike the dunes, catch brilliant and unobstructed sunsets and sunrises reflecting off the ivory hills, camp beneath an unfiltered starry night sky, or participate in a favorite pastime at Monahans Sandhills State Park – sand sledding! You can bring your own sledding device to use, or simply rent a disc from the park’s Visitor Center. Either way, sand sledding down the tallest dunes in the park, with nicknames like “Mount Everest” given by park staff, is guaranteed to be a unique fall memory!
Colorado Bend State Park
For anyone who appreciates the bonus of waterfalls with their fall experiences, then Colorado Bend State Park delivers with its Gorman Falls! Gorman Falls is the highlight of this park year-round, but it shines in autumn. Witness this 70-foot tall waterfall, as it gracefully cascades down a series of rock steps, surrounded by a tapestry of fall colors!
There are over 35 miles of additional hiking trails in Colorado Bend State Park, and each trail offers spectacular views of autumn in Texas Hill Country!
Garner State Park
Garner State Park is a nearby neighbor of Colorado Bend State Park. It is also located in the rolling Texas Hill Country region. Groves of trees line the resident Frio River, dressed in their best fall colors, with sheer cliff faces looming from above.
The hiking trails in Garner State Park take full advantage of these stellar views, with many trails following along the picturesque Frio River. Other trails traverse uphill to the top of rocky lookouts. The overhead views of the golds, yellows, and reds reflect off the waters of Garner State Park.
Daingerfield State Park
Continuing with our amazing places to visit in Texas in the Fall with Daingerfield State Park. This tiny state park in east Texas has maintained its under-the-radar status when it comes to fall destinations in Texas. The surprising secret it holds is that it is home to some of the tallest forests of trees in the state! Towering pines provide a shady canopy throughout this state park. What better way to appreciate fall in Texas than in the shadow of some of its tallest and most majestic forests!
Hike relaxing trails among the bases of these towering pines, or paddle a boat around Little Pine Lake. Be sure to admire the autumn hues of its tree-lined shores.
Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests
It might surprise many to discover that Texas contains several National Forests! Davy Crockett National Forest and Sam Houston National Forest are adjacent neighbors, both located in southeast Texas. As you might guess, there is plenty to appreciate in a National Forest in the fall. Endless miles of trails and camping opportunities abound, surrounded by thousands and thousands of acres of peaceful pines.
Sam Houston National Forest contains the long-distance Lone Star Trail, a 128-mile-long backpacking trek. It is hands down best enjoyed in the fall season when daytime and overnight temperatures are perfect for backpacking and camping! And there is plenty of scenery to appreciate along the way, which is unbeatable in autumn!
Parting Words
What a list of incredible places to visit in Texas in the fall! Fall is the perfect season to get outdoors in Texas with the cooler weather. The parks around the State beg you to visit in the fall with the incredible foliage. Will you be planning a fall weekend getaway in Texas to explore the outdoors? I sure will be soon!
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Where are your favorite places to visit in Texas in the fall? Let me know in the comments!
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