Authentic Texan
CHANGING BEAUTY
Set amidst the striking fall foliage for which it is renowned, Lost Maples State Natural Area offers far more than just maple trees. Rugged, rocky trails wind through the landscape, leading hikers to sweeping vistas, shaded canyons, and trickling streams. Quiet campsites provide the perfect places for campers and backpackers to recharge and immerse themselves in thousands of acres of pristine Hill Country wilderness.
The natural area’s most celebrated residents are the bigtooth maples, with their vibrant red foliage. Other trees also put on a show – the hand-sized golden leaves of sycamores in the fall, and the deep green leaves and cinnamon bark of the Texas Madrone creating a striking contrast. After the burst of autumnal color, the canyons grow quiet in winter, as last year’s fallen leaves line the ground, destined to nourish the new growth of sycamores, maples, and madrones in the springtime.
SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN THE HILL COUNTRY
The bigtooth maple and Lacey oak were not first discovered by recent settlers and scientists. These trees, along with countless other plants, sustained prehistoric populations long before the establishment of modern ranches, parks, and towns. Though the ancient names of many flora and fauna remain unknown, it’s clear that early peoples depended on them for survival.
These rugged canyons and plateaus have sustained human life for millennia. The abundance of fresh water, edible plants and game, as well as high-quality stone for tools, once drew people to settle here, if only temporarily. They would stay as long as the local resources could support them, then move on as seasons and food sources shifted. Considering the challenges of gathering sufficient food, water and shelter in this harsh environment, it’s remarkable that generations of people were able to eke out an existence in these remote, arid lands.
In the fall, the small orange-red fruit of the madrone tree likely provided them sustenance. The near-constant flow of the Sabinal River, a soothing presence in warmer months, quenched their thirst. Some groups constructed large earth ovens using rocks and dirt to cook fiber-rich plants. They roasted leaves or roots for up to two days, softening them into an edible state. The remains of these ovens, known as burned rock middens, now appear as piles of scorched rock concealed amidst dense brush.
Ashe juniper (cedar), mountain laurel, and prickly pear cactus – common native plants we see today – only began thriving after farmers and ranchers modified the landscape.
MORE THAN MAPLES
The hilltops reveal a distinct landscape, with tall grasses and small clusters of trees dotting the land. One of these plateau dwellers is the Lacey oak, named after Hill Country naturalist Howard Lacey. Lacey, an Englishman who moved to the area in 1882, lived on a ranch outside Kerrville where he bred goats and closely studied the natural world around him. He was particularly interested in birds, mammals, and butterflies, and documented other living things like the Lacey oak, whose gray-green foliage sets it apart from other deciduous trees – some even refer to it as the “blue oak.”
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37221 FM 187 Vanderpool, Texas Map
