When do the leaves change in Texas?
Texas foliage varies wildly by region: bigtooth maples blaze red at Lost Maples State Natural Area in the Hill Country, East Texas Piney Woods hardwoods turn gold, and Davis Mountains aspens color the far west, mostly in November.
Peak: November 13–November 25
Color builds from November 4 · mostly bare by December 13
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures (Open-Meteo) drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model; terrain shifts timing ~1 day earlier per 300 m of elevation. Temperature alone can’t tell a maritime autumn from a continental one — two places at the same latitude and the same September can peak weeks apart, because the trees differ — so each region is also calibrated against published peak dates. Estimates, not promises: typically within a few days, occasionally a week or more out. Check locally before you travel.
Known for
Things to do in fall in Texas
20 iconic stops — scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
State parkPeak November 26
A relict stand of bigtooth maples, cut off from Appalachian relatives since the last ice age, turns red and orange along the Sabinal River each November, Texas's singular fall-color destination, popular enough that the park caps daily entries.
Don’t miss: Ice-age relict maple population · Sabinal River canyon trails
McKittrick Canyon
National parkPeak November 9
Bigtooth maples and velvet ash light up a spring-fed desert canyon inside Guadalupe Mountains National Park, usually peaking in late October or November, a 4.8-mile round trip past the stone Pratt Cabin to the canyon's famous grotto.
Don’t miss: Pratt Cabin · Spring-fed desert canyon maples
Caddo Lake State Park
State parkPeak November 17
Bald cypress draped in Spanish moss ring a maze of sloughs and bayous on the Texas-Louisiana border, and paddling out from the park near Uncertain each fall brings amber cypress needles and still water among the largest cypress forest in the world.
Don’t miss: 1930s CCC cabins · Paddling among bald cypress
Dark Hour Haunted House
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 16
A Plano warehouse haunt staffed by the Sisters of Mercy coven, running full-contact scare experiences through the fall. The team also runs lights-on oddities like Chicken Night, billed on their site as "A FRIGHT FREE EVENT!" for visitors who want the sets without the scares.
Don’t miss: Sisters of Mercy coven cast · Warehouse-scale sets · Fright-free nights offered
Phobia Haunted Houses
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 26
Eight separate haunted houses stacked on one Beltway 8 site south of Houston, with two more at the company's Kemah Boardwalk location. Phobia tells visitors to arrive early and budget about 15 minutes per attraction, so a full eight-haunt run is a genuine evening out.
Don’t miss: Eight haunts on one ticket · Beltway 8 location · Kemah Boardwalk sister site
13th Floor Haunted House Houston
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 26
Named one of USA Today's Top 5 most terrifying haunted houses in the USA, this northwest Houston haunt runs two attractions for its 2026 season: Containment: Sector 9 and Cannibals Crossing. A Respawn Pass lets you walk both houses a second time.
Don’t miss: Containment: Sector 9 · Cannibals Crossing · Respawn Pass for a second run
Cutting Edge Haunted House
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 18
Guinness World Record holder for the longest walk-through haunted house, set inside a 100-year-old abandoned meatpacking plant in Fort Worth. The walk averages about 55 minutes, and HauntWorld rated it the world's scariest haunted house for 2025.
Don’t miss: Guinness world-record length · Century-old meatpacking plant · About 55 minutes end to end
Thrillvania Haunted House Park
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks November 17
Fifty haunted acres east of Dallas holding three attractions: Haunted Verdun Manor, Cassandra's House of Clowns and Sam Hain's Trail of Torment. The wooded Terrell site leans on outdoor trails and a built manor rather than warehouse corridors.
Don’t miss: Haunted Verdun Manor · Cassandra's House of Clowns · Sam Hain's Trail of Torment
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Texas in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 13–November 25 (best estimate November 19). Color starts around November 4 and trees are mostly bare by December 13.
- How reliable is the Texas forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out — mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is Texas's autumn season?
- Texas colors during autumn (September–November). Texas foliage varies wildly by region: bigtooth maples blaze red at Lost Maples State Natural Area in the Hill Country, East Texas Piney Woods hardwoods turn gold, and Davis Mountains aspens color the far west, mostly in November.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Texas?
- The iconic stops: Lost Maples State Natural Area, McKittrick Canyon, Caddo Lake State Park, Dark Hour Haunted House, Phobia Haunted Houses, 13th Floor Haunted House Houston. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
- What are the best things to do in autumn in Texas?
- Autumn — autumn (September–November) — is peak season here. Pair the color with Lost Maples State Natural Area, McKittrick Canyon, Caddo Lake State Park, Dark Hour Haunted House, Phobia Haunted Houses; each is on the map above with the window to catch it.
Nearby & similar
Cities in Texas
Local peak timing and things to do in fall, computed for each city.
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak November 13–November 25
November 4 → December 13