Lost Maples

Trail
11.00 Miles
N/A
N/A
3point5stars (3.83)44
2point5stars (2.71)
2point5stars (2.78)
N/A
No
No
N/A
Vanderpool
Bandera
More Info
Photos
Monkey Rock
This interesting rock formation has an uncanny resemblance to a monkey's head. (Photo by Blaze)
Rock Ledge
This rock ledge near the East Trail is very impressive. (Photo by Blaze)
View Of The East Trail
The trail up this hill is rugged and steep. (Photo by Blaze)
View From The Trail
The trail offers some scenic views, like this one. (Photo by Blaze)
Steep Hills
Some of the hills are steep and rugged, but not too long. (Photo by Blaze)
Ginger and Crumpet
On the Maple Trail. (Photo by Ginger)
Sunrise
Sunrise at Lost Maples State Natural Area. (Photo by kharker)
Mystic Canyon
Part of the path down into Mystic Canyon, a small tributary that feeds into Can Creek. (Photo by kharker)
Lost Maples
Some maple trees in the foreground. The maples by and large grew only very close to the bottoms of the canyons. (Photo by kharker)
Can Creek
A pretty field beside the larger, lower pond in Can Creek. This was also one of the designated primitive camping areas. (Photo by kharker)
Pond
A pond along the trail at Lost Maples State Park. (Photo by kharker)
Backpacking
Backpacking along the trails in Lost Maples. (Photo by kharker)

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Log Entries
Lost Maples West Trail
By melendrez on 10/27/2015
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Beautiful Maples And Rock Ledges
By Blaze on 8/25/2013
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 10.90 Miles Duration: 5 hours, 59 minutes

I hiked the trails at Lost Maples as a part of a hiking group.  We hiked the East and West Trails.  There are some fairly steep hills to climb, but they're not too long or difficult.  The views at the top are nice.

The signage in this park is very good.  Some areas are very scenic, but I was shocked by the lack of water in the creeks and rivers.  Many of them were bone dry.  Still, this is one of the nicer places to hike and would recommend it to others.  My understanding is that the leaves "turn" at the end of October/early November, so this would be an ideal time to go.  It should also be a lot cooler then.

By gypsydawn on 12/19/2010
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 11.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Such a pretty trail. I really want to go when the leaves are changing.
had a great time
By lawhit on 9/3/2010
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 7.50 Miles Duration: N/A

We started out first thing in the morning 9am The weather was just right the trail was well marked except in certain areas in the river bed were we thought we were surely going the wrong way> Loved the several creek crossing don't recommend the norht loop it was a waste of time would of rather of took the east trail would recommend this hike to any one

Maple Trail and East Trail to stairs
By Ginger on 11/17/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A

The weather was gorgeous--mid 70's.  We went on a weekday, so it wasn't too busy, but there were a lot of people on the Maple Trail.  Mostly geriatric people enjoying the colors of the trees and taking it easy.  Traffic thinned out after that .8 mile trail ended.  We went farther, but were short on time so didn't do the full East Trail.  There was some color to the trees, but they were far more magnificent last time we went.  It was pouring down rain that time, and we did the entire 4.9 miles of the East trail in a downpour, fording flash flooded streams and sipping coffee from a thermos.

Great area once you get past the crowds at entrance
By Riff Raff on 11/12/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 5.50 Miles Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Take note that when they say "steep" on the trail map, they really do mean it.  I could only do one of those steep sections (up and down the other side that is).  Another one would have had me not walking anywhere for a week.  At any rate, it's always odd standing in line at a state park (on a weekday at that) but if you go to Lost Maples around peak color time then I expect you probably know what you're in for.  Took the East Loop, with a spur of the West Loop to the spring area and back.  Great fun overall.

Maple Loop Trail
By buzz9298 on 9/26/2009
Rating: 1star Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 1star
Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: N/A

Took the grandparent's, wife and son to see the changing colors of the Big Tooth Maple Trees.

Nice trail, probably better on off-peak days
By Dickgreenie on 4/17/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
We did the East and Maple trails at about 10 am, we had three dogs with us and they had a hard time with the rocks, I guess that's why Labradors are not the pinnacle of the food-chain in mountainous areas. There were people all over the trail, but most were friendly and quiet.
Troop 381
By Weilo on 3/20/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 12.00 Miles Duration: 2 days

We had a great time at Lost Maples. There were two tough climbs. We camped out at campsite B. Lots of rocks on the trails but we had a good time.

Great weekend
By haysinaustin on 2/7/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 18.00 Miles Duration: N/A

We started off the hike in search for isolation, and thats what we found. We started off initially towards site H, but stopped at C and G to check them out as well. Site H is definately the furthest out and the most Isolated. There is a steep incline right before you get to it that will definately make you appreciate arriving to the site. Although it is on top of a hill, there is not much of a view due to the dense foliage. We ended up setting up at site H because it was getting late. The next day we traveled up to the scenic overlooks which were great. The wind was probably 20-30mph and there was a light drizzle. It was fantastic weather in my opinion. We hiked along the creeks, off trail, which was one of the highlights of the trip. That along with the ridge over site C was the best part.

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