Lost Maples Camping & Reservations
A remnant ice-age forest in a limestone canyon — and the best fall foliage in Texas. Fall weekends sell out within minutes of the booking window. Here’s how to actually get a site.
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How to Get a Reservation at Lost Maples
With just 35 developed sites and the best fall color in Texas, Lost Maples books fast — especially October weekends. Here’s the strategy.
Know the 5-month rule
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance at 8 a.m. Central Time. For a late-October fall color weekend, that means booking in late May at 8 a.m.. Fall foliage weekends sell out in minutes. Set a phone alarm for 7:55 a.m. — you need to be clicking the moment the window opens.
Track the TPWD fall foliage report
TPWD publishes a weekly fall foliage update starting in October. Peak color typically runs late October through mid-November, but it shifts year to year based on rainfall and temperature. Once you know which weekend peaks, those are the hardest to book. Shoulder weeks right before or after peak can be nearly as beautiful and much easier to get.
Pick your campsite based on your priorities
Lost Maples has just two kinds of sites. The 35 developed sites have water and 30-amp electric — this is what you want if you need hookups or are bringing a small RV (it is tight; rigs over 24 feet struggle), and they go first. The 14 primitive sites are hike-in: you carry your gear in for real solitude and the best stargazing, but there is no water, so pack your own.
If it's sold out — monitor cancellations
Lost Maples regularly sees cancellations 2–4 weeks before popular fall weekends as people's plans change. Camp.land scans every 10 minutes and sends you an email the moment a site opens. Most users who snagged a fall color weekend at Lost Maples did it through a cancellation alert.
Fall weekends already sold out?
Set an alert and we’ll email you the moment a cancellation opens up. It happens more than you’d think.
Set a Cancellation Alert →Campsite Types & Pricing
Sites with Water & Electricity
$20/nightDeveloped campground · 35 sites · Water + 30-amp electric
The only sites with hookups — small RVs OK (tight). Book the instant your window opens
Primitive Hike-in
$10/nightBackpacking area · 14 sites · No water — pack in
Hike to your site — real solitude and the darkest skies
+ $6/person entrance fee. Texas State Parks Pass ($70/yr) waives entrance fees.
Can’t wait for a cancellation?
Grab a cabin or vacation rental near Lost Maples State Natural Area — privately-owned places around Vanderpool on Vrbo, ready to book tonight.
See cabins & rentals near Lost Maples State Natural Area →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Fall Foliage at Lost Maples
Lost Maples is home to a relict population of bigtooth maple trees — a species that shouldn’t exist this far south, left over from the last ice age when the climate was cooler. Every fall, these maples turn brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows against the backdrop of limestone canyon walls, producing fall color that rivals anything in the Ozarks.
Peak color typically runs from late October through mid-November, with exact timing varying year to year. TPWD posts weekly foliage updates during the season. On peak weekends, the park reaches day-use capacity by mid-morning and begins turning away visitors — a camping reservation guarantees your entry.
Peak window
Late October – mid November (check TPWD report)
Book this date
5 months before your target fall weekend — at 8 a.m.
Backup plan
Set a Camp.land cancellation alert for your peak weekend
Best Time to Camp at Lost Maples
Crowd levels, temperatures, and booking difficulty by month.
35–55°F
Quiet winter. Maples bare but trails open. Good birding.
40–60°F
Easy to book. Wildflowers starting. Golden-cheeked warbler prep.
50–72°F
Spring wildflowers. Creeks running. Very pleasant for hiking.
60–80°F
Warblers nesting. Lush green canyon. Easy to book.
68–88°F
Heat building. Sabinal may run low. Still quiet.
75–95°F
Hot and quiet. Off-season. Easy reservations.
78–98°F
Hottest month. Creek can be dry. Not recommended.
76–96°F
Still hot. Canyon shade helps. Very easy to book.
70–90°F
Cooling down. Canyon rains pick up. Maples still green.
55–80°F
PEAK FALL COLOR. Park at capacity. Book 5 months out.
45–70°F
Late color lingers. Still beautiful. Easier than October.
38–55°F
Winter quiet. Maples bare. Canyon hiking is excellent.
What to Know Before You Go
- →Fall weekends (late October–November) are the hardest reservations in the Texas state park system — book the moment the 5-month window opens
- →During peak fall color, the park turns away day visitors — arrive before 8 AM or have a camping reservation
- →Check the TPWD weekly foliage report before booking — peak timing shifts by 2–3 weeks from year to year
- →The East Trail canyon overlook is stunning but strenuous — wear good shoes and bring more water than you think you need
- →The Sabinal River can be completely dry in late summer drought — check conditions if swimming is your plan
- →Cell service is essentially zero inside the park — download maps, confirm your reservation, and tell someone your itinerary
- →The primitive sites are hike-in with no water — pack everything in, but you get real solitude and dark skies
- →A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives the $6/person entrance fee for everyone in your vehicle
Lost Maples Camping FAQ
When is fall foliage at Lost Maples?+
Peak fall color at Lost Maples is typically late October through mid-November. It shifts year to year — TPWD posts weekly foliage updates. Some years peak hits the last weekend of October; other years it lingers into the second week of November. Check the report before your trip.
What are Lost Maples' hours?+
Lost Maples is open for day use from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and registered overnight campers have 24-hour access to their sites. During peak fall-color weekends the park uses timed day-use entry and closes once it fills, so reserve a day pass ahead and arrive early. Confirm current hours with Texas Parks & Wildlife before you go.
Why is Lost Maples so hard to book?+
Just 35 developed (water + electric) sites, a two-hour drive from San Antonio and Austin, and the best fall foliage in Texas. During October weekends, demand vastly outpaces supply, and the 5-month booking window means competition is fierce. Cancellation monitoring (via Camp.land) is the most realistic path if the window has already opened.
Can I bring my RV to Lost Maples?+
Only a small one. The 35 developed sites have water and 30-amp electric but no sewer, and they are tight — rigs over 24 feet will have difficulty. This is primarily a tent and backpacking destination. If you have a large RV, Garner State Park or Inks Lake offer much better RV infrastructure.
What is the Sabinal River like at Lost Maples?+
The Sabinal River runs through a dramatic limestone canyon and has good swimming when the water is up. However, it can run low or dry in late summer drought years. Spring and fall tend to have better water. Check current conditions before your trip if swimming is a priority.
Is Lost Maples worth visiting outside of fall?+
Yes — the canyon is beautiful year-round. Spring wildflowers and golden-cheeked warbler nesting (March–June) make spring an excellent time to visit with far less competition for reservations. The hiking is also excellent in winter. Fall is just when it becomes exceptional.
Planning Lost Maples by month
What each month is like, when reservations open, and how hard it is to book.
Other Hill Country Parks to Consider
Don’t miss fall at Lost Maples
Set a cancellation alert and we’ll email you the moment a site opens. Fall weekends see frequent cancellations in the weeks before.
Set Alert for Lost Maples →