When And Where To Expect West Virginia’s Fall Foliage To Peak This Year

Finally, finally - it's fall in WV. The calendar says so. The pumpkin displays at the grocery store say so. The event calendars at all the local farms say so. The seasonal coffee, dessert, and soup menus at so many area restaurants say so. But there's still one more sign of fall we're waiting on - when is peak fall foliage in West Virginia? Check out the interactive map below to see for yourself:

If you are on pins and needles waiting to see the first sign of fall color in West Virginia, then now's the time to run (not walk!) to the highland regions of West Virginia, namely those counties bordering Virginia and Maryland from Greenbrier County north. According to this data, they are expected to peak the week of October 17. Randolph County will also peak on this week.

By October 24, Webster County should be experiencing its fall foliage peak. For maximum impact, wait until then. That's when most of the state should be lit up like a firework on the Fourth of July.

Never fear, you can still catch a few peak colors around Halloween in southern West Virginia - but by the first of November, the leaves will officially be past their prime across West Virginia.

Where should you go to see the best fall color in the Mountain State? Honestly, almost anywhere.

But if you need a more specific suggestion, try any one of our state parks, including Babcock State Park (pictured). They're always gorgeous, and they're always free.

Another great option is our wilderness areas, including Dolly Sods (although, fair warning, it does get pretty crowded during peak fall season!).

And of course, we can't leave the New River Gorge National Park off this list, either.

What are your favorite spots to visit in WV in the fall? In your experience, when does the color peak?

Head to the Smoky Mountains website to see the interactive fall foliage map for yourself. That way, you can see when peak fall colors in WV will be visible in your area! Go here to learn more about Babcock, Dolly Sods, or the New River Gorge.