Fall foliage destinations in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee
While New England trees seem to get all the glory, hardwoods will be ablaze in and around the Lone Star State this season, too. Pack a bag, gas up the car and hit the road on a leaf-peeping journey of autumn’s annual display in Texas and beyond.
Texas
The two best places to find color-turning hardwoods in Texas are in the Hill Country and in East Texas, near Tyler. Start with these two tree-filled parks.
Lost Maples State Natural Area, Hill Country
Drive from Tarrant County: about 4 hours, 45 minutes
Just an hour outside Kerrville in Texas’ slice-of-heaven Hill Country, Uvalde bigtooth maples put on a fiery show of red, orange and yellow at this popular state park. Lost Maples sits on the Edwards Plateau and features a variety of landscapes — limestone canyons, thick woods and a stand of bigtooth maples that draws legions of leaf-peepers each fall.
To avoid the biggest crowds, plan to visit on a weekday between the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November. Pack your hiking shoes and take advantage of 11 miles of trails.
Foodies might want to time their trip to nearby Fredericksburg’s annual Food & Wine Fest, Oct. 24, while contemporary craft lovers should check out the annual Texas Clay Festival in Gruene that same weekend.
For a sampling of other Hill Country events, head to www.hill-country-visitor.com. Note: In 2013, NBC News named this one of the 11 best places in the country to see fall colors. Take that, Vermont!
Park fees: $6 per day, free age 12 and younger. Learn more via Texas Parks & Wildlife weekly reports on color, October through November. Go to http://tpwd.texas.gov, then click on “Find a State Park,” click on Lost Maples from a drop-down menu in the search field, and click on the Fall Foliage Report tab.
Daingerfield State Park, East Texas
Drive from Tarrant County: about 2 hours, 45 minutes
If a little leaf-peeping time translates into an opportunity for outdoor adventure, Daingerfield State Park might be just the ticket. Get on the water, an 80-acre lake, by renting a canoe, kayak, hydra bike or flat-bottom boat. Bring your fishing rod or maybe even your swimsuit, or just gear up for some nature studies.
The park was developed in part by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the New Deal years, and has recently benefited from more than $5 million in renovations and upgrades. Nature sparkles in fall in shades of red and gold as oaks, maples and sweetgum trees ready for the colder days ahead.
On the way there and/or back, you’ll want to take a spin through Winnsboro, also known for its show-off-y deciduous trees. Winnsboro hosts an annual Autumn Trails festival every weekend in October, with a variety of events, from antique car parades to sidewalk sales; details at http://winnsboroautumntrails.com.
Park fees: $4 per day, free age 12 and younger. Learn more at http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/daingerfield.
Oklahoma
Talimena National Scenic Byway
Drive from Tarrant County: about 4 hours
One of the best ribbon-of-color roads is Talimena National Scenic Byway, a 54-mile stretch that runs through eastern Oklahoma (starting in Talihina) and western Arkansas (the end point is Mena) and takes you through the Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-taw) National Forest. Enjoy all or part of the drive and then head south an hour and a half for a stay at Beavers Bend State Resort Park.
Learn more about the byway at www.talimenascenicdrive.com.
Beavers Bend State Resort Park, Broken Bow
Drive from Tarrant County: about 3 1/2 hours
This popular state park on the edge of the clear waters of Broken Bow Lake and Mountain Fork River in southeastern Oklahoma boasts both pine trees and hardwoods. The park features 47 cabins, many with fireplaces, campgrounds and the Lakeview Lodge, as well as a nature center and restaurant and gift shop.
In the park, fill your days with hiking, biking, fishing or boating (rent a canoe or a paddleboat). Other amenities are train rides, mini golf and horseback riding.
While in Broken Bow, you might want to visit the Gardner Mansion & Museum, the former home of a Choctaw chief that now houses a collection of Indian artifacts. The home is close to a landmark cypress tree on the Trail of Tears.
The annual Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show, this year Nov. 13-15, offers a petting zoo, folk music, turn-of-the-century crafts and great food.
Book your cabin through the TravelOK website, by clicking on State Parks. Learn more: www.travelok.com.
Arkansas
The two best places in Arkansas to seek color are the Ouachita Mountains in west central Arkansas (more about this in our section on Oklahoma, as the two states share the Talimena Scenic Byway) and the Ozarks in the north.
Color comes to the Ozarks in late September or early October (peaking in mid-October), and to the Ouachitas in early to mid-October (peaking in late October and early November). The state goes wild with foliage celebrations, so there is always fun in store. Check www.arkansas.com for fall foliage reports.
Hot Springs
Drive from Tarrant County: about 6 1/2 hours
For a plunge into color, head north from McKinney on U.S. 75, which becomes U.S. 69 in Oklahoma. At Stringtown, bear northeast onto Arkansas 43 (to Arkansas 2, then 63) until you come to Talihina. Pop onto the Talimena Scenic Byway, heading for Mena, Ark. You’ll be driving through one of the nation’s loveliest leafy stretches. Follow Arkansas 88 through the Ouachita National Forest until it joins up with U.S. 270 and leads you to Hot Springs.
For those who like a little luxury with their outdoorsy vacation, this is a great little city that developed around a series of naturally heated, therapeutic springs. Get an overview of the area and its history at the Fordyce Bathhouse, where you’ll find the visitors center. Treat yourself to a spa experience, take a walk in the city’s 210-acre botanical garden, do a little shopping, or stroll through the many art galleries. Kids might want to head to the Magic Springs/Crystal Falls theme and water parks.
For those with the time, stay in Arkansas awhile: Head northwest to Mount Magazine along Route 7 for another fabulous, colorful drive. Learn more at www.hotsprings.org.
Mount Magazine State Park
Drive from Tarrant County: about 6 hours
Arkansas’ tallest mountain, Mount Magazine tops out at 2,753 feet, drawing rock climbers, hikers, hang gliders, mountain bikers, backpackers and, yes, leaf-peepers. Stay at the state park in the 60-room lodge or one of 13 cabins — all offer views of Blue Mountain Lake and the Petit Jean River Valley — and let the chefs at the lodge’s Skycrest Restaurant comfort you with their Southern classic cuisine.
Between 1938 and 1941, the mountain, smack-dab in the middle of the Ozark National Forest, was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which laid out the initial cabins and campsites. The park currently sprawls across about 2,200 acres. Yelp reviews marvel about the views, the reasonable rates and the oh-so-soothing hot tubs at the lodge. Learn more at www.mountmagazinestatepark.com.
Tennessee
Natchez Trace Parkway
Drive from Tarrant County: about 12 hours
This parkway winds through 444 miles of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee and is known for its breathtaking scenic views.
Head to Memphis for a mandatory stop at Graceland and then take U.S. 64 east until it intersects with the parkway near Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area, then head north toward historic Franklin. Stop at the Meriwether Lewis monument (milepost 385.9) to learn about one of our country’s intrepid explorers. Hike to a waterfall along Fall Hollow Trail (milepost 391.9).
You’ll find numerous historical and natural areas of interest along the way — but the parkway is part of the National Park Service, so what you won’t see are commercial buildings (though you can easily exit to find what you need).
Downtown Franklin is charming, and it’s possible you’ll run into one of the country music stars who choose to live in this beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Nashville (http://downtownfranklintn.com). If you have time, spend a day or two in Nashville, the state’s capital and home to the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as Andrew Jackson’s intriguing Hermitage.
Learn more at www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Drive from Tarrant County: about 7 1/2 hours
On the border of the mighty Mississippi, just 13 miles north of Memphis, is this 13,476-acre forest filled with hardwoods including oaks, hickories, American beech trees and sweetgums. A nature center is open Friday through Sunday with live exhibits of native reptiles and fish. This is also a great spot for birdwatching — keep an eye out for the American bald eagle.
The park has cabins for rent and, of course, a campground. Take your bike to ride the 5-mile intermediate trail, or rent a boat and spend some time on the Mississippi, contemplating Tom Sawyer days. The park is also popular for hiking and fishing.
Head back home through Memphis with that obligatory stop at Graceland and be sure to catch the marching of the ducks at the beautiful and historic Peabody hotel.
Learn more at http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/meeman-shelby.
This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Fall foliage destinations in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee."