WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT:
Texas is not famous for fall color like, say, New England or Colorado. When you look on a map of the U.S. showing when and where the fall colors appear, Texas is a blank. There are a couple of places in the state that are known for fall color: primarily Lost Maples State Park (six hours away in the Hill Country) and McKittrick Canyon (at least eight hours away in the Guadalupe Mountains of Far West Texas). However, every year, I am surprised by the pleasing fall colors we actually see in North Texas. We just see the color later than the rest of the country.
The purpose of this field trip is to give HNP members an opportunity to photograph some beautiful autumn color within two hours of the DFW Metroplex. There is always nice fall color at the Japanese Garden in Fort Worth, but all 7.6 million residents of the metro area know about it too. It gets very crowded during fall, and they do not allow tripods. The Great Trinity Forest also gets some color, but we were just there in May, so I wanted to avoid going to the same well too many times in quick succession.
In doing reconnaissance for this field trip, I visited five state parks from the Metroplex nearly to Arkansas, and I got excited when the Superintendent of Lake Bob Sandlin State Park (less than two hours from the Metroplex) said that his park is widely regarded as Texas’ second-best state park for fall color after Lost Maples. It is a beautiful park on the north shore of the lake. Most of the drive is on I-30, so it’s easy driving. Just hang a right at Mount Vernon and drive for about 20 to 30 minutes more.
Admission to the park costs $5.00.per adult (anyone over 12). If you have a current Texas State Parks Pass, everyone in your vehicle gets in for free. The passes cost $70 per year and can be purchased at any state park. I will include a map of the park in the announcement when I send it to the membership.
As I said, most of the drive is on I-30. Allow just under two hours each way. The park office opens at 8:15 a.m. I will be there at 8:00 a.m. Let me know if you are interested in carpooling, and I will attempt to put people who are interested in touch with each other. But this will be difficult for anyone who registers at the last minute. So, register early and tell me in the comments if you want to ride with someone or if you are willing to take someone with you. There are five nice trails in the park. Parts of some might be a little challenging for some, but the one to the trout pond is wide and very level. The trout pond offers opportunities for beautiful reflections (see below) if the water is still. It should make for a nice autumn shot in morning light.
LUNCH:
We will meet for lunch starting at about 11:30 a.m. at Texas Barbecue Corral. I know this is our second barbecue place in a row, but the food is as good as it gets in Mt. Pleasant. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Daingerfield State Park. Since the restaurant is on the I-30 service road in Mt. Vernon, it will reduce our drive home to an hour and a half or less. I promise to find a non-barbecue restaurant for the December field trip.
Starting at about 11:30 a.m.
Texas Barbecue Corral
201 SE Access Road (I-30 Service Road on the south side of the freeway)
Mt. Vernon, TX 75457
(903) 537-4848
LODGING:
For those who might prefer to arrive a day ahead and avoid an early drive on the day of the field trip, it’s about a 20 to 30-minute drive to the state park from Mt. Vernon, Mt. Pleasant or Pittsburg. There is ample lodging, including hotels, motels, and B&Bs, in any of the three communities, but Mt. Pleasant is bigger and probably has more options.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT:
• Tripod (if you plan to shoot landscapes) or Monopod.
• Wide-Angle Lens for Landscapes (A zoom lens adds flexibility.)
• Telephoto Lens (Again, a zoom lens adds flexibility.)
• Macro Lens, Extension Tubes, or Close-Up Diopters for Close-up shots.
• Extra Batteries and Memory Cards
• Water
• Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat with a brim are advisable to reduce risk from mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, and sunburn. Bug spray and sunscreen are also advisable.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Contact me if you have questions:
Tom Martin
HNP Field Trip Coordinator
469-261-3045
hollyfox07@gmail.com