Lost Maples East and West Trail Loop

Lost Maples State Natural Area (near Vanderpool)

Lost Maples State Natural Area, in the canyons of the Sabinal River northwest of San Antonio, is known for its isolated stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples, which Backpacker says turn in November. Behind the day-use area, the East and West Trails climb onto limestone plateaus and drop into canyons, and the park scatters about 50 primitive campsites in lettered areas along them.

Backpacker’s 2013 “Rip & Go” loop links the two trails into a 10.4-mile weekend.

The hike

Backpacker’s route starts from the west parking area on the East Trail, then turns left onto the West Trail at 0.3 mile and crosses Can Creek on stepping stones. It follows Dry Can Creek past limestone bluffs and climbs about 150 feet to a plateau with wide views. Around mile 2.6 it passes the turnoff for Area E and descends about 400 feet into Mystic Canyon, then turns onto the West Loop Trail to camp at Area G. Backpacker suggests dropping your pack and hiking the West Loop, about 1.9 miles, past a spring.

Day two returns 0.2 mile to the West Trail and follows Can Creek 1.2 miles to the Ponds, two small lagoons. Backpacker’s route then passed Area C, which TPWD now says is permanently closed to camping, and climbed the East Trail about 350 feet up a steep, rocky ridge, with a 0.4-mile spur to an overlook. Near mile 9 the trail descends to where two creeks join to form the Sabinal River and follows it through maple stands on stepping stones back to the day-use area.

Backpacker’s shorter 2015 trip, a 6.5-mile loop by Judy Paul, camps at Area B, on a hillock above the East Trail. It passes the Grotto, where maidenhair ferns cover limestone walls, about a mile east of Area B, and Monkey Rock half a mile beyond.

Anders Monsen, who day-hiked the full East, West, and West Loop circuit in April 2025, described the East Trail as starting easy “then hits a steep uphill ascent,” and warned of temperatures above 100°F in summer. Backpacker (2013) recommends winter and spring, noting that October and November are crowded.

For another Hill Country overnight, see Hill Country State Natural Area.

Tips

Reserve a day pass in fall. The park closes when parking lots fill.
Fill up at Can Creek before climbing to Area B; Backpacker says it’s dry up there.
Cook on a stove. Fires are prohibited at primitive sites.
Stay on trail. TPWD bans off-trail hiking and rock climbing, and maple roots are shallow.
Expect wet feet at crossings that lost their stones in the 2025 flood.
Watch for snakes, as The Outbound warns.

Camping

TPWD lists about 50 primitive sites in eight lettered areas, up to six people per site, with sites not assigned. Area A is low on the East Trail near the Sabinal River with a composting toilet; B is higher, 100 yards off the East Trail; D is low on the West Trail; E and F are higher, 100 yards off the West Trail, with a short walk to a composting toilet; G (low) and H (higher) are on the West Trail Loop. Area C is permanently closed. Fires are prohibited; containerized fuel stoves are allowed for cooking. Pets must be leashed. Pack out all trash.

Inside Intel: The Outbound’s contributor recommends Area E for “a lovely open grass field which provides a nice spot for star gazing.” Backpacker (2015) says Area B’s steep climb keeps most hikers at the pond area instead, so expect solitude and an overlook there, but carry water up.

Trail facts

Distance: 10.4-mile loop (Backpacker, 2013); 6.5-mile Area B loop (Backpacker, 2015)
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate; steep, rocky climbs
Campsites: Primitive areas A, B, D, E, F, G, H (C closed)
Water: Creeks, a spring, and ponds (Backpacker); none at Area B; treat all water
Fires: Prohibited; stoves only
Dogs: Leashed
Trailhead: Day-use area, Lost Maples State Natural Area, off Ranch Road 187
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Up the East Trail's rocky ridge at Lost Maples:

Backpacker's route climbs the East Trail about 350 feet up a steep, rocky ridge, and some creek crossings lost their stepping stones in the 2025 flood. Our pole tips cover steep pitches and using poles in fords.

See the pole tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.