Fall Digital Passport Wvtourism.Com #Almostheaven MOUNTAIN COLOR
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Babcock State Park 2020 Fall Digital Passport WVtourism.com #AlmostHeaven MOUNTAIN COLOR Nature works her astounding magic every autumn in West Virginia. As the third most forested state in America, our country roads are a sight to behold in the fall. Lush forests come alive with vibrant hues of red, amber and gold. It’s these heavenly vistas that set the stage for a season of autumn adventure and cherished family moments. Social Distancing in West Virginia Hear the sounds of leaves crunch under your feet and discover West Virginia was made for social distancing. It’s the only state hidden waterfalls on an autumn hike. Or cast a line amid the completely covered in the Appalachian Mountain range. There is room to roam while exploring some of the state’s most fall color in a remote babbling brook. iconic landmarks, like Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks or the New Try new seasonal flavors at a family-owned restaurant or visit a River Gorge National River. This fall, we invite you travel local farm to pick your own fresh produce. Experience local responsibly while visiting Almost Heaven. A statewide indoor culture in one of our charming small towns, or get a fresh face covering requirement is in effect, and visitors are perspective aboard a scenic train ride. encouraged to maintain a safe social distance when traveling. This autumn, check out from the daily grind and check in to Take a scenic drive through the mountains to experience peak one of our cozy cabins, vacation rentals, mountain lodges or fall color. Visit a local pumpkin patch and pick up fresh quaint bed and breakfasts. produce for dinner. Enjoy a weekend staycation at a state park near you. Peace and quiet, panoramic views and pumpkin spice await, all The health and safety of residents and visitors is our top in the mountains of Almost Heaven. priority. For up-to-date guidelines and statewide regulations, Read on for insider tips on where to find the best leaves, visit WVtourism.com/travelresponsibly. scenic drives, hidden gems and more. Also be sure to visit WVtourism.com/fall for a live leaf map with photos from around the state. 3 Ice Mountain Table of contents 3 ....... INTRODUCTION 7 ....... LEAF GUIDE 11 ...... LEAF ELEVATION MAP 13 ..... FALL FOLIAGE 17 ..... FALL FLAVORS 25 ..... OUTDOOR RECREATION 29 ..... FAMILY FUN 33 ..... LEAF PEEPING FALL ROAD TRIPS 39 ..... FALL CHECKLIST 2 5 LEAF IDENTIFICATION 1" - 1 ½" 3" - 5" WHITE ASH BLACK CHERRY Leaves: compound with 5 to 9 leaflets Leaves: lanceolate or pear-shaped Margins: finely toothed Margins: entire 2" - 6" 8" - 12" Branching: opposite Bark: smooth and reddish brown with narrow horizontal lenticels on younger Bark: ashy gray, furrowed into close diamond- trees; bark has small, black, platy scales with shaped areas separated by narrow interlacing upturned edges on older trees ridges 1" - 2 ½" YELLOW POPLAR BEECH Leaves: 4-lobed Leaves: elliptical shape Margins: smooth 2 ½" - 6" 2 ½" Margins: remotely toothed with sharp, Bark: dark green and smooth with white incurved teeth spots on young trees; older specimens have Bark: thin, smooth and light blue-gray in interlacing bark with rounded ridges and ashy color fissures 4" - 6" diameter 1 ½" - 2" BIRCH Leaves: egg-shaped with a wintergreen smell and fruit at base of twig 3" - 4 ½" Margins: sharply toothed Bark: reddish brown to nearly black on young FIND ALL ELEVEN trees, brownish black on older trees LEAF SPECIES 7 LEAF IDENTIFICATION 4" - 5" RED OAK 2" - 4" WHITE OAK Margins: 7 to 11 toothed, bristle-tipped lobes Margins: rounded with 7 to 9 lobes extending evenly toward the midrib Bark: brown to nearly black and broken up 5" - 9" 5" - 8" into wide, flat-topped ridges (gray in color), Bark: light ashy gray, variable in separated by shallow fissures appearance, broken into small, vertically aligned blocks, scaly on the surface SUGAR MAPLE, STATE TREE WHITE PINE Leaves: circular in outline with 5 Leaves: in bundles of fives, each with palmate lobes whitish lines 3" - 5" Margins: smooth between lobes Bark: dark green and furrowed on young stems, while older trees have deep, closely Bark: gray and deeply furrowed, with long, fissured, rectangular blocks, irregular plates branches in a whorled arrangement 3" - 5" diameter SYCAMORE HICKORY Leaves: 3 to 5 lobes with cupped petioles Leaves: compound with 3 to 9 leaflets, but normally 5 to 7, inversely egg shaped Margins: toothed 8" - 22" Bark: brownish, soon mottled by the Mockernut Bark: firm, shallow furrows exfoliation of the outer bark exposing Shagbark Bark: gray, breaks into long, thin creamy-white inner layers plates Pignut Bark: scaly, ragged surface 4" - 7" diameter 9 LEAF ELEVATION MAP Hancock Weirton 22 Together, West Virginia’s mountainous Brooke topography and lush forests provide Ohio opportunities for world-renowned leaf Wheeling 40 70 470 peeping and fall color. Higher elevations Moundsville PA change color first. Use this map as you Marshall Berkeley 250 Morgan Springs explore destinations and plan your fall Morgantown Berkeley mountain escape. Monongalia 68 OH Wetzel Martinsburg Pleasants Fairmont MD 9 28 522 119 Preston Visit WVtourism.com/fall for a live leaf Tyler Marion Keyser Parkersburg Aurora 50 Mineral 50 Harpers Ferry map that showcases the current Clarksburg Taylor 340 fall colors with photos from 50 Doddridge Harrison Hampshire Je erson Philippi Wood Ritchie Parsons 220 Barbour Grant 81 around the state. Davis 77 Weston 20 48 Tucker Petersburg 48 Wirt Glenville Lewis 33 28 Point Pleasant Buckhannon Elkins Hardy Calhoun Gilmer 33 Jackson Burnsville Seneca Rocks Spencer 33 Randolph Mason Ripley Upshur 220 Roane Braxton Pendleton VA 2 119 Sutton 219 33 79 Barboursville Putnam Hurricane Webster Springs 250 Huntington Clay Snowshoe 60 Charleston 19 Cabell 64 Webster 66 92 Nicholas 219 28 Kanawha Summersville 39 55 Legend: Lincoln Richwood Marlinton Pocahontas 119 Wayne 39 Fayette Late September Boone Greenbrier Fayetteville 60 Logan Early October KY Mingo 64 219 Logan Beckley White Sulphur Mid October Lewisburg Springs Raleigh Mullens 52 Late October Williamson Wyoming Summers 77 Monroe Weekly fall foliage reports are Princeton 460 provided by the West Virginia McDowell Division of Forestry. 52 Mercer Bluefi eld 11 North Bend State Park New River-Greenbrier Valley The New River–Greenbrier Valley region is beautiful, and fall is no exception. The New River Gorge Bridge and Grandview are the perfect backdrops to any photo. Babcock State Park is one of the most iconic fall spots thanks to the Glade Creek Grist Mill. Hatfield-Mccoy Mountains With beautiful craggy mountains, gorgeous leaves are everywhere in the Hatfield-McCoy Mountains. Head toChief Logan State Park or Cabwaylingo State Forest for some leaf peeping. Or have a more unique autumn experience by hitting the Hatfield-McCoy Trails by ATV, UTV or dirt bike. Metro Valley FALL FOLIAGE Take a walk along the Carriage Trail for stunning views of Charleston or stop by Kanawha State Forest, a perfect area BEST LEAF VIEWING AREAS for hikers, bikers and everyone else to get their leaf fix. Visit Huntington’s Ritter Park where you can stroll through the leaves, or stop at Beech Fork State Park in Barboursville. When days grow cooler and leaves begin their transition to hues of red, yellow and orange, it’s time to plan a trip to the Mountain Mountaineer Country State. From guided hiking tours to scenic train rides—there’s no Mountaineer Country is home to one of the state’s most iconic wrong way to take in the dazzling display of fall foliage. Get a leaf peeping spots, Coopers Rock State Forest. Visit the main head start on planning your autumn escape by referencing the overlook or go off the beaten path and hike theRavens Rock fall foliage tracker and leaf elevation map at WVtourism.com/fall. trail for more amazing views. Tygart Lake State Park, Valley Falls State Park and Prickett’s Fort State Park are all great leaf peeping spots as well. 13 Wheeling Blackwater Falls Northern PanHandle potomac highlands Stroll through the historic Centre Market in Wheeling or walk This region is a mecca for spots with incredible fall beauty. It’s along the Wheeling Heritage Trail. Get an aerial view of fall home to Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Blackwater Falls color at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville. State Park and the Monongahela National Forest, which all boast stunning fall foliage. If you’re looking for more jaw- mid-ohio valley dropping views, visit the overlooks at Pase Point, Lindy Point, Table Rock, old Olsen Fire Tower or catch the changing colors The Mid-Ohio Valley is full of amazing spots to experience West of the beautiful blueberry bushes at Bear Rocks Preserve at Virginia’s fall foliage. From Blennerhassett Island Historical Dolly Sods National Wilderness. State Park to North Bend State Park, this region will leave you in awe of its scenic beauty. You can also hike, bike or horseback mountain lakes ride the North Bend Rail Trail, which stretches 72 miles through rural countryside. Explore this region and visit beautiful Stonewall Resort State Park. Stroll the lake’s shoreline or lounge on the lakeside patio eastern Panhandle and take in the beauty of the fall foliage around you. Head to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, located on the rim of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park is the perfect backdrop Gauley River Canyon, for the perfect backdrop to any fall photo. to autumn with its idyllic streets, exhibits, museums and hiking Visit WVtourism.com/fallregions for a look into other leaf trails. You can also explore all 6,000 acres of Cacapon Resort peeping destinations. State Park, which has cozy cabins perfect for taking in the scenery and sipping hot apple cider.