2025's Towns In Texas That Come Alive In The Fall
As October deepens across Texas, towns from the Hill Country to the Piney Woods shift into bold swatches of color. Maples, sweetgums, and oaks ignite hillsides, riverbanks, and lake edges, creating natural backdrops that invite exploration. While many head to New England or even Colorado and Wyoming to see the summer fold into the fall, Texas is easily one of the most underappreciated places in the United States to enjoy the cozy season. Naturally, big cities like Houston aren't the places to do this. Instead, you might want to head to these remarkable towns in 2025, while fall still holds court over The Lone Star State's spectacular landscape.
Fredericksburg
By the time October cools the Hill Country nights, Fredericksburg is already buzzing with fall color and outdoor recreation. The first weekend of the month belongs to Oktoberfest, filling downtown with music, dancing, and open-air stages that spill German heritage into the streets. The following weekend brings the Texas Mesquite Arts Festival, and by late October 2025, the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival takes over, showcasing Texas vineyards and producers in an outdoor tasting that feels tailor-made for crisp evenings. Just beyond town, autumn paints the trails at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, where pecans and oaks shift into gold along Live Oak Creek. Families head to Jenschke Orchards, where wagon rides bounce through fields, kids race into the corn maze, and pumpkins are pulled straight from the patch.
Glen Rose
An hour southwest of Fort Worth, this "Dinosaur Capital of Texas" turns autumn into prime hiking season at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Trails wind through cedar breaks and ridges overlooking the river, where cooler air and thinning crowds make it easy to linger at the dinosaur track sites. The Oak Springs Trail runs through mixed hardwoods that flare into gold, while the Overlook Trail rewards that climb with broad fall scenery over the Paluxy River. October is the prime time to visit Glen Rose, not because of the changing colors but because of the High Hope Ranch Harvest Festival, held across two weekends in 2025 on the ranch's wooded acreage outside town. Families pile onto hayrides that circle pumpkin patches, kids disappear into bounce houses and carnival games, and the afternoons close with live music.
Wimberley
Autumn lingers through early November in Wimberley, but it really settles by mid-October, especially along the Blanco River and Cypress Creek. Walking through Cypress Creek Nature Preserve feels almost otherworldly, with giant roots clawing into the water while migrating birds chatter in the canopy. The season also draws people to Blue Hole Regional Park, normally a popular swimming spot, but in the fall, it's all about the trails. A couple of miles away, Wimberley Zipline Adventures allows for a far more intimate experience with the changing trees... riders soar through them, after all. October weekends pulse with outdoor energy. Wimberley Market Days (the first Saturday of the month in 2025) sprawl across Lions Field with live music, local art, and rows of seasonal stalls.
Marble Falls
Brilliant foliage can be found along Marble Falls' namesake (and manmade) lake, which is part of the Colorado River system. It's the perfect setting for some fall kayaking or paddleboarding. Sweet Berry Farm is one of the star autumn attractions in Marble Falls, and it sits mere minutes from the center of town. Here, fall visitors can enjoy a corn maze in the shape of the state of Texas, hayrides, pumpkin painting, and the Sweet Berry Express Barrel Train. The Fall Festival in Johnson Park, held from October 24-26, offers carnival rides, live music, and market vendors, creating a lively atmosphere that celebrates the season. The combination of the Colorado River and nearby Inks Lake State Park creates a distinctive landscape that enhances the fall colors. The reflection of the changing leaves on the water adds to the vibrant reds, oranges, and golds, offering a serene and picturesque setting.
Concan
By late October, the hills around Concan begin shifting from deep green to bursts of red, gold, and burnt orange, with peak foliage rolling through November. The Frio River cuts straight through town, and in autumn, its banks are lined with towering bald cypress glowing copper against clear water. Unlike the crowded tubing scene of summer, fall here feels open and unhurried; locals wander down to the water to watch the trees flare up at sunset. Garner State Park, right outside of town, is where most people head when the colors hit. More than 16 miles of trails loop through limestone ridges and river overlooks. The Old Baldy Trail is short but steep and one of the best spots to take it all in. Out in the flats near the river, migrating warblers and hawks pause on their way south. Concan is absolutely one of the best fall 2025 destinations. It's tucked into the Texas Hill Country near the western edge of the Edwards Plateau, about 80 miles west of San Antonio.
Vanderpool
Vanderpool is one of the few places in Texas where you can catch a genuine blaze of red and gold. The reason is Lost Maples State Natural Area, where rare Uvalde bigtooth maples transform the limestone canyons into a canopy of color. The best time to plan a trip is late October to mid-November, when the park updates its weekly foliage reports, allowing visitors to know exactly when the leaves are peaking. The East Trail is the signature walk, climbing up rocky ridges before dipping into groves of maples and sweetgums. The West Trail winds along the Sabinal River, where the reflection of the turning leaves doubles the vibrancy. The cooler air brings out flocks of birds above the quiet campsites inside Lost Maples. While you won't find much in the way of infrastructure in the small town, you will have near-endless nature to enjoy. If you'd rather witness it from the car, Vanderpool is known for scenic drives, especially for motorcyclists.
Burnet
Burnet sits above Marble Falls, which means it too enjoys Sweet Berry Farm in the fall, with its Texas-shaped corn maze, hayrides, and Sweet Berry Express Barrel train. But Burnet is also far closer to Lake Buchanan. Vanishing Texas River Cruise launches into the lake over 20 minutes away from Burnet, and fall is the best time to be on deck. It's one of the best ways to experience bald eagles circling above the fiery trees as they change color in October through November. Lake Buchanan is the largest of the Highland Lake chain and feels like it was made for autumn, with the surrounding bluffs framing the streaks of yellow and rust orange leaves. Closer to town, Inks Lake State Park offers sparkling blue water around rock outcrops, another wonderful place to become immersed in outdoor autumn activities.
Daingerfield
The Piney Woods around Daingerfield flare into deep red and bright orange by late October, a show that usually carries on well into November. The centrepiece of the town is Daingerfield State Park, a 500-acre spread built around Little Pine Lake. The 80-acre lake mirrors the hardwoods and cypress that close in on its banks, doubling the effect when the colors peak. Three miles of trails give you options, whether circling the water on the Rustling Leaves Trail or climbing the Mountain View Trail for the park's highest perch. The latter cuts straight through what locals call a "cathedral of trees", where tall oaks and sweetgums mingle with the pines. Down at the waterline, canoes and kayaks drift past; the perfect activity for a sunny fall day in 2025.
Texas Towns in Their Fall Glory
From Vanderpool's limestone canyons to Daingerfield's incredible State Park, autumn in Texas is more layered than most expect. Burnet and Marble Falls share one of the best fall farms in the state, while Fredericksburg brings the party during Oktoberfest. Texas may be a state where summer is king, but fall isn't far behind. If you want to see trees turn glorious shades of red, yellow, and orange, you may want to skip New England and the like and head down to the Lone Star State while fall 2025 is still changing the landscape.
