Most of our state is bursting into fall foliage color right now, and you can go just about anywhere in West Virginia to see beautiful trees. But there's one place in the state where the color is not just in the trees... the ground also turns into a brilliant carpet of red. You can see this take place for just a few weeks in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area of West Virginia. The high elevation and unusual climate creates an atmosphere that stands apart from the rest of the scenery in the state.

The Dolly Sods Wilderness area has beautiful scenery any time of the year.

This is the view from Breathed Mountain.

In the autumn, however, the display of colors is something extra special.

Blueberries, huckleberries, and other low-lying plants change their leaves to a brilliant red color, carpeting the ground with color.

You'll see the brilliant colors in the heath barrens.

This northern area of the wilderness has a climate and plant life similar to the Alaskan tundra.

The glowing red colors especially stand out against the wind-carved rocks.

You can walk the trails through this red carpet as far as the eye can see.

There's an impressive show in the lower bogs, as well.

The bog area has a climate and plant life similar to that of Eastern Canada.

In the bogs you'll find fluffy cottongrass mixed in with the red leaves.

The southern area of Dolly Sods is characterized by red spruce forests.

Here you'll also see some color variety in the trees.

The peak colors last for just a few weeks before snowfall comes.

It tends to snow early in the year here because of the high elevations, so the time to see this impressive display is now!

Directions to Dolly Sods:

From Petersburg follow WV 28/55 south to Jordan Run Road. Turn right and go 1 mile to Forest Road 19. Turn left and follow FR 19 six miles to the Dolly Sods Scenic Area. The wilderness is directly ahead of you at the intersection with FR 75. Turn right for Wildlife and Fisher Spring trailheads; turn left for Rohrbaugh and Red Creek trailheads.

From Canaan Valley: follow WV 32 south to the Laneville Road (WV 45). Turn left and go approximately 6 miles to the Red Creek Bridge, where the road changes from pavement to gravel and is now Forest Road 19. Red Creek trailhead is on the left behind the Laneville wildlife management cabin. Continue on FR 19 to get to Rohrbaugh trailhead and FR 75.

The roads into the Dolly Sods area are rough, so drive slowly. Use caution when hiking or camping in this area. The area was once used to test explosives. If you find an object that could be an explosive, don't touch it. Make sure to extinguish all fires, and use fires only in designated areas. Several campfires burned out of control here a few weeks ago.

For another great look at West Virginia fall foliage, check out this scenic road trip.