Lost Maples State Natural Area
State natural area in Bandera County, in the Hill Country region. Established 1979. 2,888 acres by TPWD boundary data.
Lost Maples is known for the fall color of its Uvalde bigtooth maples, about two hours northwest of San Antonio near Vanderpool. In October and November it reaches capacity every day, so a reserved day pass is the only way to be sure you get in. The rest of the year brings wildflowers, steep canyon walls and the Sabinal River, with more than 10 miles of trails.
Things to do
Fall color
The show depends on the weather. TPWD posts a fall foliage report starting in mid-October. Stay on the trails, because bigtooth maples have shallow roots that are easy to damage.
Hike the canyon and cliff
More than 10 miles of trails include a loop along the top of a 2,200-foot cliff. The terrain is steep and rugged, and TPWD asks visitors not to climb on rocks or hillsides.
Birding
The park is home to many birds, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. TPWD has a field checklist you can download.
Fish the Sabinal
Fish the Sabinal River or Can Creek. You don't need a license to fish from shore, and the park loans fishing gear.
Camping
There are 30 campsites with water and electricity, plus 30 hike-in primitive sites for backpackers.
| Site type | Sites | Sleeps | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites with ElectricityWater and electric | 30 | 8 | $20 |
| Primitive Campsites (Hike-in)Primitive | 30 | 6 | $10 |
Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.
Visiting with dogs
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.
Swimming
TPWD doesn't list swimming for this park.
Best time to go
- Busy season
- October through November and March through May
- Night sky
- Bortle 3
TPWD lists October through November and March through May as the busy seasons, and says the park reaches capacity every day in October and November. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Trails can close in bad weather.
Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).
Getting there
Vanderpool, TX 78885
(830) 966-3413
Open in OpenStreetMap (29.8077, -99.5707)
| From | Approx. drive | Straight line |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 1 hr 48 min | 67 mi |
| Austin | 3 hr | 114 mi |
| Corpus Christi | 4 hr 53 min | 203 mi |
| Waco | 4 hr 53 min | 186 mi |
| Houston | 5 hr 16 min | 251 mi |
| Midland | 5 hr 26 min | 215 mi |
Nearby parks
- Garner State Park
- Bear Creek State Park
- Hill Country State Natural Area
- Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
- Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area
Straight-line distance. See every park in the Hill Country.
Questions people ask
When do the leaves change at Lost Maples?
It depends on the weather. TPWD posts a fall foliage report starting in mid-October.
Do I need a reservation for Lost Maples in the fall?
Yes, to be sure of getting in. TPWD says the park reaches capacity daily in October and November and recommends reserving a day pass.
How far is Lost Maples from San Antonio?
About an hour and 50 minutes by car, based on OpenStreetMap routing.
Photo credits
- Lost maples day use area overlook.jpg by Aleksomber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Lost Maples Bluff 2022.jpg by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0.
- Lost Maples Texas Creek Crossing 2022.jpg by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0.
- Canyon of lost maples.jpg by Daniel Ziegler, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Honda Fit Lost Maples.jpg by Daniel Ziegler, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sources
Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Lost Maples has current alerts and closures.
- TPWD: Lost Maples State Natural Area, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Lost Maples State Natural Area campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Lost Maples State Natural Area history, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
- Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
- OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
- Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026