Lost Maples Puts Bandera County Into the Sabinal Canyon

Five miles north of Vanderpool, the road climbs into a different Bandera County. Lost Maples State Natural Area sits on the Sabinal River and crosses into Real County.

Fall color brings crowds in October and November, but the park is more than leaves. Steep canyon walls, the Sabinal River, Can Creek, birding, camping, backpacking, and about 10 miles of trails share the same narrow setting.

TPWD bought the private land in 1973 and 1974. The natural area opened on September 1, 1979. Its Uvalde bigtooth maples put on a fall show that changes with the weather.

Vanderpool's part of Bandera County is canyon walls, the Sabinal River, Can Creek, bigtooth maples, and more than ten miles of trails. Lost Maples puts all of that into one narrow canyon setting.