lost maples state natural area
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lost maples state natural area印象
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A beautiful state park. Some things to keep in mind when thinking of a visit. If you are coming during peak foliage season, come EARLY in the day. When we were exiting the park at about 1 pm there was a line of about 100 cars in line to enter. There is limited parking and some of it is quite a walk from the picnic area and trailhead. Also, this is not a drive thru park. To enjoy this park, you must hike. And wear good shoes as some of it is pretty rugged. Bring water to carry with you - you will need it. With all that warning - enjoy the natural area. It is beautiful and the trails are obvious. If you go during peak season it will be crowded. We didn't camp here, but drove thru the campground for a look. Very nice. This park is quite remote, so if you like camping where it's quiet and you may actually see stars without much light pollution - give it a try.
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I imagined a park we could drive through and have a canopy of maples around us. Actually, you cannot drive through. You park and seeing the area is all through a series of hiking trails. The trails are good, but children or elderly might have issues with the long walks and rocky terrain. It is a beautiful park, don't get me wrong, but it is more cedars and oaks with some maples scattered among them. The maples that were there were beautiful.The picnic area by the parking lot is really nice with tables, grills, restrooms, and lovely (planted) maple trees.It is worth the pleasant hill country drive, but set expectations accordingly. This is not Connecticut.
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As the Ice Age retreated, about ten thousand years ago, it left behind some fantastic trees in the north facing canyons. Maples in the canyons at higher altitudes, such as exists at Lost Maples State Park, hence the name. First time we drove to Lost Maples, naively up and over the twisty pass, steadily climbing in altitude. I would not recommend this circuitous route seen on the map as the 'shortest' from Kerville, if you are driving a 35' motor home plus a tow vehicle. We used low gear and took up the entire road on the numerous hairpin curves. The drop-offs are spectacular btw. The day we crested, the clouds were low and we were on instrument flight rules. After setting up at our site in the nice little park, we disconnected the tow and drove higher around the area, then did a bit of hiking just at dusk. The trails we were exploring for a short time before darkness set in, were simple and in a way somewhat primal, with maple trees not normally seen in Texas. As we left the trail head, we parked on the bridge for over an hour during one trip and watched glittering flies, listened to frogs chirping in concert, as if in another part of the country. Guadalupe Bass were prolific in the stream on one trip. Stars are a scenic wonder at altitude anywhere. Western states are even more brightly lit, with millions of dots in familiar patterns.This park is a bicycle riders well earned rest area. Their night camp is appreciated, after the grueling low gear climb in altitude to get here. Motorcyclist also enjoy the great circle route through the hill country of Texas. Our night was peaceful and silent, as everyone was very tired. We will return again another day.... using the other route. :>)
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We went in late November and the trees were gorgeous. The short trail is perfect for all ages and is quite scenic. As we came back from the hike the sun was going behind the hill and the trees were so bright they seemed to be on fire. It was not crowded when we went but I am sure in the summer it can be quite full. Who says to have to go to Vermont to see beautiful colors?
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I have been here twice. The first time I came in the middle of the week in December to see the foliage and found a good amount of people but I owed it up to the fact that this was prime season for the park.Well, I just got back from a late February trip and I was shocked at how packed the campground was. There were a ton of RVs and families with kids, which is really not my thing, so I decided to do the primitive camping instead. This was great at first since no one else was around but then even these hike-in sites were soon busy with a group of college students.I live in the middle of a big, busy city in Texas and I like to go camping and hiking to escape people and find solitude, so places like Enchanted Rock and Lost Maples are very disappointing to me due to crowds.The scenery is nice but the hiking trails seem more like driveways with how perfectly paved they are, and the sight of all of the powerlines is a bit of a turn off.The hiking is OK but is far from challenging and I ran into way more people than Id have liked.It is a pretty place but not what I am looking for. I do not think I will return.
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The first night I spent the night with my family in the water and electric area in our camper. It was nearly full when we got there and a couple more people pulled in after us. The spots are a little close to each other but there is a lot of room behind the spots. The park rangers were friendly and answered any questions we had. The bathrooms are clean and have nice hot showers as well. At 10 pm everyone around us respected quite time.The next day I hiked into a primitive camp spot with some friends. Be sure to come early because the good ones are usually taken pretty early. The trail to our spot was challenging but doable. We hiked the rest of the day and saw some beautiful sights. I will be returning.
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This park and the landscapes were a pleasant surprise! I've never seen an east coast fall, so the colors we saw here were fantastic. Not like the whole park is red/orange, but plenty of spots to see the fall foliage. Beautiful spots to take pictures. We did a half day hike (East Trail) and had a picnic lunch. The hike was definitely not tough, except for a 10 min incline stretch, the hike is very doable. Even outside the park, the drives thru Hill country (Hunt, Bandera, Medina) are great to see fall colors. Its important that you go when the foliage is predicted. The park website does a good job of predicting when the fall colors will be at their best.
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According to the Park Ranger 2014 has not been a particularly good year---drought, heat then cold and heat again. Some of the trees were pretty but for the most part brown was the predominant color. The park had lots of people hiking the trails, having a picnic, etc. The drive from the park to Leakey is always pretty whether green or multi colored! It made a nice day trip even though the leaves were not at their best.
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'60-something' couple touring Texas for the last 4 years, pulling a small travel-trailer.We did not occupy a campsite here, but did spend a pleasant late February afternoon walking the trails of Lost Maples State Park. The entry/welcome structure seemed minimal for offering detailed history, artifacts, trail info, or standard state park products. The small campground is sufficient but offers little buffer between the level and relative large sites. A large picnic area is available adjacent to the river, however views of the water are obstructed by vegetation filling the low water embankments.The hiking trails will take you down rocky pathways, across flowing creeks, and up moderately steep grades. Wear appropriate footgear. A secluded 'primitive' campsite area is accessed via one of the trails, and the pooled water there makes for an interesting setting. As a camper,I would select Lost Maples over the nearby Garner State Park simply for its smaller, less activesetting.
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We hear about Lost Maples sate park from a newscast about fall foliage. The colors of the leaves, the beautiful area in the park, along with the hiking makes this park a must do on anyone bucket list. The hike will take about 4 hours and can be a challenge and is quite steep. The air is crisp and clean. The view from the top of the cliff is just breathing taking. Best time to go is mid November. We will be back!!