Texas State Parks stole my heart after my first visit to one. The Hill Country is a unique place with rolling hills, breathtaking views, challenging but rewarding hikes, and endless opportunities. Lost Maples State Natural Area is located at 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885. Many Texas State Parks require reservations now, and I highly suggest making them as soon as possible; day pass reservations open 30 days in advance. Some of the parks sell out on the weekends quickly, which is when I am able to go. I've set alarms on my phone for 8 am on the day reservations opened for some parks, and boy, am I glad I did! They were sold out by noon on the same day. Of course, this is directly related to the popularity of the park and the time of year you are trying to go.
I've now been to Lost Maples twice, and I learned a few things along the way. First, make sure you bring enough water! I first went on July 4, 2020 with my boyfriend Alex and one of my good friends Ashlee. We wanted to do something fun for the Fourth of July, but the pandemic was peaking, so options were limited. I had the idea for us to opt outside and enjoy nature, one of the only activities encouraged at the time. While I don't regret our decision, I do regret the one too many cocktails I had the night before. Hiking in 105 degree weather when you've had a few drinks the night before is definitely not advisable. I may or may not have taken small naps underneath the trees at the top of one of the hills where the sun and heat were quite unforgiving. The views were incredible and obviously captured my attention because we went back in November of 2020, only a few months later, to see the fall foliage. Alex jokingly refers to this park as Lost Ankles because it is rocky and steep in places so have good, sturdy hiking boots and watch your footing!
Monkey Rock
November 14, 2020 - Fall Foliage
In November, I went back with Alex and two of our good friends Sarah and Austin. We left early in the morning to enjoy as much of the day out there as we could. We ended up hiking nearly the entirety of the park. That was still the most hiking I've done in one day, and my knee was acting up toward the end of our trek. Yikes! Would I do that again in one day? Probably not. It is, however, awesome to be able to say that I have done that in the past though! I L O V E and live for Fall. It is by far my favorite season. The trees don't change colors in many places in Louisiana, so moving to Texas and taking to the Hill Country with friends was a real treat. The morning was pretty cloudy and chilly, but by the afternoon, the clouds had cleared. The weather when hiking is always a bit unpredictable where large hills or mountains are involved, but something about cloudy, moody weather still makes me smile. Breathing fresh air, taking in my surroundings, moving, and spending time with people I love will always be at the top of my list of favorite things.
This decline is the reason Alex started calling this park Lost Ankles. So steep!
The Grotto
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