Fall in North Dallas is brief, but for a few weeks each year, the tree-lined streets and trails around Park Cities, Uptown and Lakewood put on a show worth scheduling a walk around. Here’s where to go, and when to catch it.

SMU’s campus is a great starting point, with its nature park offering a quieter, shaded alternative to the open quad areas nearby. A 30 to 45 minute loop through campus and the adjoining nature park works well in the late afternoon, when the lower sun angle makes the changing leaves look their best. Afterward, White Rock Coffee and Kilo Coffee both sit within easy walking distance, along with two nearby Starbucks locations, making it simple to turn the walk into a full outing.

The Katy Trail offers one of the most reliably tree-lined walks in the city, running through a dense canopy for much of its length. A walk from the Highland Park area south toward Knox Street and West Village captures some of the best color along the route, and Berkley’s Market, located just off the trail at Knox Street, is a convenient stop for a coffee or a snack before heading back.

White Rock Lake Trail delivers the most dramatic payoff for anyone willing to time it right. The lake’s open water creates striking reflections of the changing trees, especially at sunrise or sunset when the light hits the canopy at a lower angle. Well Grounded Coffee and East Dallas Middle Ground are both located just off the trail, making either an easy bookend to a morning or evening walk.

The best time of day for any of these routes comes down to light. Early morning walks offer cooler temperatures and a softer, golden light that makes colors pop without the glare of midday sun, while evening walks bring a similar effect as the sun sets, along with a better chance of catching the trails at their quietest.

Fall color in North Dallas doesn’t last long, usually just a few weeks in late October and into November, which makes the coming weeks the time to actually get outside and experience it, rather than waiting for a weekend that might arrive after the leaves have already turned.