![]() ![]() The water from Onion and Williamson creeks help support the bald cypress trees, along with red Turk's cap wildflowers, at the park. The tree is 103 feet tall, has a trunk with a diameter of 60.5 inches and is 195 inches around. "Old Baldy" is one of those trees and is thought to be more than 500 years old, making it one of the oldest such trees on public land in Texas, the park's website says. More: Big Bend National Park makes National Geographic's 'Best of the World' list "Bald cypress trees do lose their leaves, so they'll turn from green to a rusty red." They line a lot of our rivers and creeks," Raney said. "I think one of the kind of underappreciated trees that change color in the fall are bald cypress trees. ![]() McKinney Falls State Park, which is just west of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, is home to bald cypress trees, said Katie Raney, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regional interpreter. You don't have to go far for a taste of fall. If you're looking for a leaf half-day: Head to McKinney Falls State Park, just about 10 miles southeast of downtown Austin. The city has 31 sweetgum trees in its inventory, with 14 acquired last year, Erickson sad. The bonus is that the two kinds of tree will pop with color in the fall. The city is working to add more sweetgum trees and tupelo trees to increase species diversity. The greenbelt has received several sweetgum trees over the last several years, and while none are large enough to stand out just yet, Erickson sees them being a fall feature of the park in the future. Seabrook Greenbelt to become a hot spot for fall foliage. In the coming years, Erickson expects J.J. More: Get inspired with 'Chicago's' Christina Wells, see her on stage in Austin performances ![]() Instead, Erickson encourages Austinites to visit one of the city's many trails or preserves to see what they can find. When we asked Erickson about fall foliage, he stewarded our question about the best spot for color in Austin to his colleagues, but they weren't able to land on the spot. "There are a variety of trees along the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake that makes it probably the best option in town," Erickson said. Taking a walk or run or bike ride around Lady Bird Lake via the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail is a safe bet. Short on time? Or just want something pretty to look at real quick? We suggest staying in town. If you're hoping to see some nice fall color without trying too hard: Check out the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. Weekend days are more busy than during the week. ![]() (A note: Make a reservation for Texas State Parks, whether you're camping or just visiting for the day. We've listed these according to how much time you may want to spend on your foliage adventure. More: This party is your first chance to see Austin's Trail of Lights in 2022 A cold snap that leads to warm days and cooler nights would be ideal for pretty colors, said Joshua Erickson, urban forestry program manager in Austin's Parks and Recreation Department. Leaves start to change color with cold temperatures. Less moisture will make for less brilliant color. With Texas' drought this year, foliage forecasters are not sure what to expect. Anything that is bad for a tree, like a drought, is bad for its fall foliage forecast. We'll need more cold snaps for pretty color, but this year's drought has had an effect. Austin will be near its peak the week of Nov. According to Smoky Mountains National Park's fall foliage map for 2022, Texas foliage peaks around the middle of the month. Mid-November is peak fall foliage for Texas. Now, no one is claiming these trees will produce the spectacular colors seen in the northeast during fall, but they do have yellows, oranges and reds to offer. Bald cypress trees, pecan trees, crepe myrtle trees and cedar elm trees are likely your best bets for pretty fall colors in Central Texas. You can start your foliage search just by knowing a couple of trees. To get you started on your leaf hunt, you'll need to know what kind of trees to look for, when fall colors are expected to peak and what kind of weather to wait for. What fall foliage? Although Texas isn't known, really at all, for pretty fall colors, we've sought out spots you can visit to feel like you're in a state with real seasons. ![]()
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