MOUNTAIN COLOR The Mountain State is the perfect place to fall in love with fall. From mid-September to late October, our rolling hills come alive, and foliage bursts into shades of red, yellow and orange. The sights are so stunning, you have to see it to believe. But fall in West Virginia is more than just a celebration of our state’s unmatched foliage. It’s local autumn flavor, farmers’ markets, hayrides, scenic train rides and festivals the whole family will enjoy. It’s also full of adventure—zipline canopy tours, world-class whitewater rafting and BASE jumping from the iconic New River Gorge Bridge. Whether you’re looking to get away, plan an autumn escape for your family or go outside and explore West Virginia’s great outdoors, fall in the Mountain State ofers something for everyone. With insider tips on where to find the best leaves, trips, views and events, our pocket guide to fall in the almost heaven hills is here to help you plan your trip every step of the way. Learn more about fall color and travel in West Virginia at GoToWV.com/fall. GoToWV.com | #AlmostHeaven Babcock State Park Northern Panhandle Mountaineer Eastern Country Panhandle Mid-Ohio Potomac Valley Highlands Mountain Metro Valley Lakes Hatfield-McCoy Mountains New River/ Greenbrier Valley TABLE OF CONTENTS Leaf guide ............................................................... 4 Regional fall color stops...................................... 8 New River/Greenbrier Valley Hatfield-McCoy Mountains Metro Valley Northern Panhandle Mid-Ohio Valley Mountaineer Country Potomac Highlands Eastern Panhandle Events..................................................................... 30 Hunting & fishing................................................. 34 LEAF IDENTIFICATION 5 1" - 1½" 3" - 5" WHITE ASH BLACK CHERRY Leaves: compound with 5–9 leaflets Leaves: lanceolate or pear shaped entire 6" - 2" finely toothed 8" - 12" - 8" Margins: Margins: Branching: opposite Bark: smooth and reddish brown with Bark: ashy gray, furrowed into close narrow horizontal lenticels on younger diamond-shaped areas separated by trees; bark has small, black, platy scales narrow interlacing ridges with upturned edges on older trees 1" - 2½" BEECH 1" - 3" ELM Leaves: elliptical shape Leaves: elliptical in shape 2 4" - 6" - 4" ½ Margins: remotely toothed with sharp, Margins: coarsely doubly serrated or " - 6" incurved teeth toothed Bark: thin, smooth and light blue-gray Bark: corky texture that’s gray to dark in color brown with flat-topped ridges separated by fissures 1 ½" - 2" BIRCH YELLOW POPLAR Leaves: egg-shaped with a wintergreen Leaves: 4-lobed 3" - 4 4 - 3" smell and fruit at base of twig Margins: smooth Margins: sharply toothed Bark: dark green and smooth with white Bark: reddish brown to nearly black on spots on young trees; older specimens ½ young trees, brownish black on older trees " have interlacing bark with rounded ridges and ashy fissures 4" - 6" diameter LEAF IDENTIFICATION 7 2"- 4" 4" - 5" RED OAK WHITE OAK Margins: 7 to 11 toothed, bristle-tipped Margins: rounded with 7-9 lobes extending lobes evenly toward the midrib 5" - 9" 5" - 8" Bark: brown to nearly black and broken Bark: light ashy gray, variable in up into wide, flat-topped ridges (gray in appearance, broken into small, vertically color), separated by shallow fissures aligned blocks, scaly on the surface SUGAR MAPLE, State Tree WHITE PINE Leaves: in bundles of fives, each with Leaves: circular in outline with 5 3" - 5" - 3" whitish lines palmate lobes Bark: dark green and furrowed on young Margins: smooth between lobes stems, while older trees have deep, Bark: gray and deeply furrowed, with long, closely 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, Margins: toothed 22" - 8" but normally 5 to 7, inversely egg shaped Bark: brownish, soon mottled by the Mockernut Bark: firm, shallow furrows exfoliation of the outer bark exposing Shagbark Bark: gray, breaks into long, creamy-white inner layers thin plates Pignut Bark: scaly, ragged surface 4" - 7" diameter 9 Hawks Nest 60 Fall Color Stops State Park 3 FAYETTEVILLE 19 OAK HILL 60 Babcock WHITE SULPHUR NEW RIVER- 2 State Park 64 64 4 SPRINGS BECKLEY 5 LEWISBURG GREENBRIER Greenbrier Twin Falls Resort State Forest State Park 77 Bluestone State Park VALLEY 1 Pipestem Resort State Park 1. Bramwell 52 Explore the homes of millionaire coal barons! The BRAMWELL Victorian town is also famous for its ice cream parlor. 2. Beckley 4. Lewisburg No visit to this lively city should be without Tamarack, In historic Lewisburg, buildings date from the 18th Beckley’s enormous art center. Stop by for juried West century. Quaint storefronts, antique shops, and gas Virginia arts, crafts and food. lamps enhance its character. Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Lost World Caverns Hop aboard a man-trip cart and explore a vintage Wander 120 feet below the ground and marvel mine! A veteran miner will guide you and share at enormous chambers and odd geological stories. Explore a coal camp, mine museum and formations. Explore solo or try the guided youth museum while you’re at it. four-hour Wild Cave Tour. 3. Fayetteville and Oak Hill Carnegie Hall Raft the famous New River Gorge National River, visit Only four Carnegie Halls exist in the world. Built the iconic New River Bridge, or explore scenic hiking in 1902, this grand cultural center in Lewisburg and biking trails. hosts art exhibits, performances, workshops and classes all year. Adventures on the Gorge, ACE Adventure Resort, and River Expeditions 5. White Sulphur Springs Take advantage of all that the New River Gorge has The Greenbrier, the world-famous 5-diamond resort, to ofer. Ziplining, tree canopy tours, whitewater ofers luxury, exquisite cuisine, championship golf, trips, and horseback riding are just some of the spas, recreation and a tour of a formerly top-secret activities available. underground bunker. 11 64 Beech Fork State Park Forks of Coal State 10 Natural Area JULIAN 17 52 3 Cabwaylingo State Forest 16 Chief Logan State Park 85 LOGAN 4 10 Fall Color Stops WILLIAMSON 52 HATFIELD-MCCOY WHARNCLIFFE MOUNTAINS 2 1. Chief Logan State Park 3. Hatfield-McCoy Trail System Featuring a museum, wildlife center and outdoor Find adventure on the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System! amphitheater, this home of “The Aracoma Story” With over 600 miles of trails and ATV-friendly towns, also boasts the Chief Logan Lodge nearby. One of there’s a lot to explore. Whether you’re looking for the beautiful West Virginia state parks, Chief Logan major thrills or family fun, you’ll find it all on the best is a great escape among the mountains. trails in America – open 365 days a year. 2. Twisted Gun Golf Club 4. Nu Era Bakery There’s no better place to practice your golf game! After working up a sweat on nature trails trying to Tee up for 18 holes on this award-winning links-style find the best red maple, you’ll need a sweet treat! course built on a former mine site. Head over to Nu Era Bakery in Logan for an out-of- this-world dessert. 13 5 POINT PLEASANT Tu-Endie-Wei State Park Fall Color Stops 35 METRO VALLEY 119 1. Charleston 3 77 West Virginia’s capital city is known for its 4 MILTON 79 distinguished museums, boutiques, and restaurants. 64 1 With local events all year long, it’s a four-season 60 destination you’ll need several days to explore. HUNTINGTON CHARLESTON 119 The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences Kanawha MALDEN State Forest Sleek and modern, this family favorite boasts a 60 performance hall, art museum, science center, 2 planetarium, and more. 77 Capitol Market Shop indoors or out at this quaint Victorian marketplace. Key attractions include a chocolatier, cofee bar, artisan shops, restaurants, and seasonal farmers’ markets. 2. J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works State Capitol Take a quick detour from leaf peeping and stop by Ever seen a golden roof? The Capitol’s 23.5-karat J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works! This family-run salt dome is hard to miss. At 292 feet high, it’s also company in Malden produces gourmet salt that will taller than the U.S. Capitol. take dinner to the next level. The Culture Center 3. Blenko Glass Factory An easy walk from the Capitol is the state Tag along for a tour of West Virginia’s Blenko Glass museum, archives and theater, all in one! It’s also Factory in Milton! You can see how all the products home to “Mountain Stage,” a well-known and are made by talented craftsmen and even get a beloved live music show on NPR. head start on holiday shopping by picking up some gifts for your friends. 15 4. Huntington Tour the railroad town of Huntington and hop aboard the New River Train to Hinton. Heritage Farm Museum & Village This Smithsonian afliate brings Appalachian history to life. Log buildings, costumed reenactors, old-world crafts and an artisan center are just some of the attractions. Huntington Museum of Art From folk art to firearms and prayer rugs, this 52-acre museum collects lots of everything. It even has a plant conservatory, nature trails and art workshops. Ritter Park Explore the great outdoors—in the city! This award-winning park features a rose garden, playground, dog park, tennis courts and scenic walking path. 5. Point Pleasant Visit the West Virginia State Farm Museum and Tu-Endie-Wei State Park. This town is famous for the legend of the Mothman, a mysterious winged creature that haunted the area. Heritage Farm Museum & Village 17 6 NEWELL Tomlinson Run State Park Fall Color Stops NORTHERN WELLSBURG BETHANY 2 PANHANDLE WHEELING 70 4 1.