11/26/08 Report: This is the last report of the 2008 season. The colors have returned in a big way. The Red Oaks are at peak and the Lacy Oaks have really shown what they can do in the last few days. There is tremendous fall color all over the park. The West Trail is a little better than the East trail, but you should not be disappointed on either. The weather has been dry and temperatures have been cool to cold, perfect for hiking and camping. A cold front is in the forecast, but little rain is expected with it. It has been a very dry year. We should have very good color for another two weeks, so come on out and enjoy. The weekends are still crowded so, if you can, come out on week day to avoid the traffic.

TPWD photos taken on 11/26/08 by John Stuart

11/19/08 Report: The Maple leaves are mostly on the ground, about ten percent of them are still on the trees. The Red Oaks made a big change this week and are becoming quite pretty. The Lacy Oaks are still waiting; I guess they want to be the last trees standing. We are expected to get another cold front Friday that should kick off more change. The Red Oaks will be peaking about Thanksgiving and the lacy oaks a little later. We have decent color on both trails right now; the West Trail has a little more than the East. It is still excellent weather for hiking and camping. Remember it is far less crowded on week days than on the week ends.

TPWD photos taken on 11/19/08 by John Stuart

11/12/08 Report: The strong winds and rain Sunday and Monday knocked a lot of Maple leaves to the ground. We still have some good color on the East Trail, but the Maple leaves will not last much longer. The Red Oaks are starting to turn in big numbers; they should look good in two weeks. The weather looks good for the coming week, with lots of sunshine. We could get some cold nights, this weekend. They are calling for our first light freeze on Sunday. This will help the Red and Lacy Oaks turn. It has been very busy on weekends with waits of up to three hours to get in park, so come on a week day if you can.

TPWD photos taken on 11/12/08 by John Stuart

11/05/08 Report: We are in peak color right now. Most of the Maples have done better than they have for years. The East Trail has excellent color on both sides. The West Trail is just starting, as the Red Oaks and Lacy Oaks are getting a little color. It was very windy last night and this morning, as we have a cold front approaching. The lower temperatures expected the next two days will help get the Oaks turning a little more. No rain is in the forecast for this week so it should be good weather for camping and hiking. It is very crowded on weekends and we are not restricting access due to high visitation, so we suggest you come on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

TPWD photos taken on 11/05/08 by John Stuart

10/29/08 Report: The fall colors are becoming breathtaking in some areas on the East Trail. We are maybe a week or so from peak color and it should be beautiful for the next two to three weeks, unless we get a major wind storm. The weather has been near perfect for the color change this season and we are having the best color season in many years. The East Trail has the best color because it has the most Maples. The Red Oaks and Lacy Oaks along the West Trail are just starting to turn and they will put on a good show after the Maples are done around Thanksgiving. The days have been sunny and dry and the nights have had cool to cold temperatures. It is great weather for hiking and camping, so come out and enjoy the fall colors.

TPWD photos taken on 10/29/08 by John Stuart

10/22/08 Report: There has been a tremendous amount of color change since last week. The cool nights and sunny days have been just what the Doctor ordered. About 70 percent of the Maples have started turning. We are starting to see some brilliant trees in the river bottoms on both sides of the East Trail. There is also a lot of color change and it is getting very pretty on the one mile drive through the park. The cold front that just went by is going to kick off even more change this week. We should see peak color in two weeks, and it should last for about two weeks. Camping and hiking should be good with cool nights and sunny days predicted for this week. Come out soon or miss the Maple color.

TPWD photos taken on 10/22/08 by John Stuart

10/15/08 Report: It has been a little cloudy and rainy this past week, with remnants of Hurricane Norbert going by our area. We had a few morning sprinkles and expect a good chance of rain on Thursday. Color change has started in about twenty percent of the Maples on the East Trail. A few areas are starting to pop out with good color. Some of the best changes are near primitive camping area A and by the ponds. The one mile drive in the park is also showing some good color change. We are about three to four weeks from peak color and peak crowds. It is still excellent weather for camping with cool nights, warm days, and lots of sunshine predicted for this weekend, so come on out and enjoy.

TPWD photos taken on 10/15/08 by John Stuart

10/08/08 Report: A few more of the Maple trees have started to turn. A little color is spread over most of the East trail. We are experiencing cool nights and warm sunny days. Except for the one night of rain, the weather has been somewhat conducive for color change but it still needs to get colder to kick off a major change. Temperatures in the thirties, for a few nights, would be helpful. We are about a month from peak color conditions and the peak crowds. The weather is expected to be cool at night and warm in the days during this coming week with some scattered rains possible for Monday and Tuesday. Almost perfect hiking conditions this time of year, so come out and enjoy.

TPWD photos taken on 10/08/08 by John Stuart

10/01/08 Report: The cool nights and sunny days we have been experiencing have created a good start for this fall foliage season. The Walnut and Sycamore trees have been turning for a few weeks. The Walnut trees are turning yellow-gold and the Sycamores are turning brown, they are usually the first trees to turn color, out here. We are seeing some Maples starting to turn, which may be a good sign for things to come. This should be a much better year than last year. Last year we had so much rain that the Maples made seed and not much color. This year no seed was seen on any of the Maples, so they are all ready to make color. The dryer conditions we have had this year, usually produces the best color. Camping conditions are very good now with cool nights and warm days, and little to no chance of rain. Remember it is always a little less crowded on week days, than on weekends.

TPWD photos taken on 10/01/08 by John Stuart

• Current Lost Maples fall foliage Report
• Archived Lost Maples fall foliage reports from previous years