These 5 Texas parks are an autumn explosionBy Rebecca L. Bennett |
| With stir-craziness rising and temperatures falling, Texans are undoubtedly looking for ways to safely spend time in nature. While park regulations and closures can change anytime, at the time of publication, the following five parks in Texas were open. |
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Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State ParkEasily the most well-known Texas destination for fall foliage, the nearly 3,000-acre Lost Maples State Natural Area not only contains the usual color-changing species native to the Texas Hill Country (including cypress, oak, sycamore and walnut), but it also contains a large population of maple trees. Autumn is usually so stunning in this park — as well as the less-trafficked Garner State Park — that the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department maintains a Fall Foliage Color Report on the park’s website each season.
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Dinosaur Valley State ParkLocated in Glen Rose, Texas, Dinosaur Valley State Park is an unexpected haven of fall colors in North Texas. The winding Paluxy River not only contains the famous dinosaur tracks, but also supports a healthy collection of color-changing flora right along its riverbanks. |
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Palo Duro Canyon State ParkWidely regarded as “The Grand Canyon of Texas,” Palo Duro Canyon State Park’s canyon features a palette of colors. Add in a healthy crop of cottonwood, Skunkbush sumac and other chameleon fauna, and the park is stunningly vibrant (and much cooler) in autumn. |
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Tyler State ParkTyler State Park is an excellent nature escape in any season. However, its huge crop of cedar, elm, oak, pecan, pine, sassafras, sweetgum and walnut trees, as well as other plant species like Flameleaf sumac, make for amazing fall colors. |
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Guadalupe Mountains National ParkGuadalupe Mountains National Park protects an impressive diversity of plants and animals within its desert, woodland and canyon habitats, including autumn color contributors like ash, oak, madrone, maple and walnut.
Check the National Park Service’s Fall Foliage Report for updates. |
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