While some of us are tearful saying goodbye to summer, the rest of us are so excited to say hi to fall and welcome its yellow, orange, and red hues with open arms. The latter is especially true if you have ever experienced fall in Texas.
It is that time of year when the afternoon sun brings so much light to The Lone Star State it makes it look golden. Not only that, but it also comes to life with people who flock to the many state parks to see the colors changing and all the wildlife that comes with it.
And, not only is it beautiful, but there’s also a lot to do in Texas when the fall comes around. So, whether you’re a local Texan looking to see your state in a new light or you’re a visitor who wants to see Texas in its full fall glory, you’re in luck!
In this article, we will discuss the 11 most beautiful places to experience fall in Texas. If you’re interested, read on for more!
Here are the 11 most beautiful places to experience a Texas fall!
Did you know that Fort Worth’s Botanical Garden is the oldest in Texas? And, not only is it the oldest botanical garden in the Lone Star State, but it is also one of the most beautiful gardens to see the fall season in all of its beauty!
Many of the plants and flowers present in this garden were donated by Nagaoka, Japan, the sister city of Fort Worth (Also check out The Best Breweries In Fort Worth). The maple trees in this wonderful Japanese garden turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red every fall, and it is truly a sight to see.
Amongst them, the hanging granite lanterns, waterfalls, and cherry trees will make you feel a sense of tranquillity, no matter how windy or chilly the fall season may be.
While taking in the sights, visitors can also enjoy many other activities like traditional tea ceremonies, origami, dance, and listening to traditional music from Japan.
If you feel overwhelmed and stressed with your day-to-day life, then allow the Japanese Garden at Fort Worth, Texas to make you feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
There is so much to see and do in the capital city of Texas, that admiring the fall foliage is not high on anyone’s list. However, we recommend you change that, and change that fast, because Austin is home to some of the most beautiful fall colors in all of the Lone Star State.
There are many parks and trails that you can traverse that seem to glow in a golden orange light on chilly fall evenings, so make sure you pack your best sweater for all the Instagram shots you will inevitably take as you start on these paths.
The best parks to experience a Texan fall in Austin are Zilker Botanical Gardens, St, Edward’s Park, Mayfield Park, Lady Bird Lake, and more!
And, once you feel you have made the most of your beautiful fall evenings, you can participate in many of Austin’s fall activities, such as Halloween costume shopping, pumpkin picking, and more!
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is situated in El Paso, Texas, in the Guadalupe Mountain Range. It is a 45-minute drive away from Carlsbad, so it can make for a fun Texas road trip if you want to take in even more of Texas’ scenic fall beauty.
What’s more, the beauty of the season doesn’t stop when you get to the park, because the junipers, pines, Bigtooth maples, and mesquites allow you to see the most amazing leaf color changes for miles around.
This national park is actually home to four of the highest peaks in Texas, and if you climb to the top you are sure to be rewarded with some of the best views in the state, where you can almost see the leaves changing color in real-time, and witness the fall season sweeping the land.
If you want to walk a trail here, then the most popular is the McKittrick Canyon trail. Traversing this trail will eventually lead you to Pratt Cabin, a 100-year-old building where you can rest amongst the fallen leaves and enjoy watching the wildlife, stargazing, or birding.
The Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located near Fredericksburg (Also check out Best Airbnb In Fredericksburg), just 18 miles to the north! It boasts a huge granite dome that is surrounded by tails on all sides. These trails offer some fantastic fall views that you’ll want to go back to time and time again!
Many mesquite, woodland, and oak trees surround the dome, and they are at their brightest during October, coming to life with mesmerizing golden light in the evenings.
When hiking here, you will be surrounded by many others who also want a taste of golden fall, and you will also find many others participating in rock climbing, stargazing, or just taking the opportunity to enjoy a campout with friends and family.
The best way to embrace fall in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area would be to hike the Summit Trail, as this is the only trail to offer a panoramic view of the natural area. It is also the best place to sit and watch the sun setting, which makes for an amazing dating experience!
Then, once your time at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is over, visitors can make their way down to Luckenbach. Here, there are many trees to rest under while locals will play you music and tell you their favorite tales.
Just East of Johnson City, not too far from Austin, you will find Pedernales Falls State park. This wonderful park is perfect for those who want to experience a quaint, ambient Texas fall.
Here, there are many rocky slopes and wonderful canyons you can explore, all while being surrounded by the changing leaves of cedar elm trees.
The Pedernales River runs for 8 miles through the park, which means you have plenty of time to be alone with your thoughts as you begin to embrace a colder season.
And, if you want to walk a hiking trail, then the Wolf Mountain Trail and the Twin Falls Nature Trail are the ones to go for!
Although, please be warned that these trails are challenging, perfect, or adventurous but not for the faint-hearted! It is also good to note that there are separate equestrian trails for horse lovers among you
Once your hike is done, you can choose between having a picnic next to the river or in the cool shade of a cypress tree. You can also choose to go swimming, geocaching, or kayaking in the Pedernales Falls State Park.
It is so easy to lose hours in this wonderful place as the fall seasons drift by.
If you love a busy, lively call full of warm bursts of color, then you need to visit Guadalupe River State Park! This is probably the most popular state park to go to for a Texas fall experience.
The park is located in the middle of the 9-mile Guadalupe river, and it is the perfect place to rest your legs for an hour or two if you are walking the full length of the river for the day. There are many things to see and do in this wonderful state park.
From admiring the cypress, oak, sycamore, and cottonwood trees and their changing colors, to walking the hiking trails, and exploring the centuries-old Bauer House, you will never be starved of activities! What’s more, there are plenty of water activities to partake in, too.
Water sports lovers can enjoy tubing, canoeing, and fishing on the Guadalupe river. And, the parts of the river that are too shallow for any water sports have accessible pebbles where kids can learn to skim rocks!
This beautiful state park makes for a wonderful family day out, so be sure to add it to your list of Texas fall activities!
If you travel two hours out of Austin, you will eventually stumble upon Colorado Bend State Park. If you love hiking no matter the season, then this is the fall Texas experience for you!
This state park is a paradise for hikers and those who love to exercise in the great outdoors. So, be sure you have brought all of your gear with you because trust us – you’re going to need it!
The landscape of this state park is varied, and on your hikes, you will be able to explore both underground caves and rugged canyons. If you’re adventurous enough, you can even take part in a cave tour of the Spicewood Springs.
And the magic doesn’t end there! There are many activities to do in Colorado Bend State Park that can entertain both kids and adults. You have the option to kayak, fish, or swim in the Colorado River.
And, when all the excitement is over, you can set up camp right next to it and watch the stars glow amongst the red leaves that sit high up in the trees.
Tyler State Park is just 11 miles from Tyler, Texas. The whole park is centered around a lake and is shrouded by trees that tower at 100-ft tall! This means that during the fall, their red hues come to life.
However, fall happens rather late in Tyler State Park, with the leaves beginning to change and fall in early December.
However, this is great news for all of you fall lovers out there, because once fall is over everywhere else, you can experience it once more in Tyler State Park just before winter sets in – that is the magic of Texas!
Make sure you wrap up warm if you want to see fall in Tyler State Park. Even though the trees on the Whispering Pine and Lakeshore Trails look like they’re on fire because of how scarlet the leaves are, it can still get very chilly!
But, despite the cold, as soon as you enter the park a whole host of activities await, including camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, boating, mountain biking, and even swimming (if you’re brave enough!)
As previously mentioned, there are plenty of camping spaces at Tyler State Park where you can pitch up and spend the weekend surrounded by nature.
However, there are also cabins where you can choose to rest your head instead, which only adds to the fall experience (and may be a little warmer at night.)
If you live in or are visiting San Antonio, then a great fall day trip idea is a fun-filled drive to Garner State Park, followed by a busy afternoon partaking in all of the activities you can do there!
Garner State Park spans 1700 acres, many of which are adorned with junipers, persimmon, mesquites, oaks, and cypress trees that encapsulate the fall season. Make sure you have on your favorite crochet scarf as you travel along the Frio River!
This river is considered to be one of the cleanest and most transparent in all of the US, so while walking you will easily be able to see the gold and bronze colors of the trees that line the banks. Trust us, it makes for an extremely peaceful experience.
And, if you’re after a little more excitement, Garner State Park can provide that, too! In this wonderful park, you can spend your time hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and even partake in pavilion jukebox dancing!
It is important to note that, since this is one of the most popular fall spots in Texas, the number of visitors per day is limited. So, it is best to purchase your tickets beforehand to truly appreciate all Garner State Park has to offer!
Right on the outskirts of Daingerfield, Morris County, Texas, you will find Daingerfield State Park. This state park is smaller than the others, spanning just 507 acres, but that makes it no less enjoyable. Photographers and artists alike will love this state park.
It boasts shades of sunny yellow, burnt orange, and crimson red for the months of October and November, and you can paint or capture some seriously beautiful images as you spend time among the trees.
Not only that, but Daingerfield State Park is home to an 80-acre lake, known as Pine Lake, where visitors will be able to swim and fish to their heart’s content. If you want an easygoing fall experience, then this is the park for you.
The hiking trails are simple and you can spend the evenings simply enjoying the various entertainment the park has to offer, from karaoke, jukebox, or live music.
The Lost Maples State Natural Area is situated next to the Sabinal River. This area protects Bigtooth maples, and we’re very grateful because these maples produce some of the most stunning fall colors that you will see all season.
If you follow the hiking trails of this wonderful area, you will travel across grasslands where you can spot foxes, pigs, and wild cats, all of which are preparing for fall in their own way. After your hike, you can unwind by stargazing, birding, or fishing.
And, if you’re adventurous enough, you can even try your hand at mountain climbing, and embrace Texas fall from a whole new vantage point!
Final Thoughts
Fall is a beautiful season, but it doesn’t get more beautiful than it is in Texas. We hope you enjoyed our 11 top picks to spend your Texas fall days!
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
