Where to look for West Virginia's heavenly fall foliage
Thanks to elevation stretching high into the Appalachian Mountains and down to the Potomac River valley, West Virginia has one of the longest fall foliage seasons anywhere in the U.S. Rather than a few short weeks, the season here stretches from late September to early November, as the colors progressively cascade down the mountainsides and rolling hills of West Virginia's State Parks and Forests.
With nearly 200,000 acres of protected land, including 36 state parks, eight state forests and three rail trails, there’s a cornucopia of ways to enjoy this annual natural display and have outdoor adventures. You just have to know where to look. (The stunning photos below will give you a taste of what you'll find on your visit.)
Based on the West Virginia 2026 Fall Foliage Forecast, here is our guide on what part of the state park system is best for catching vibrant hues during the fall. As Mother Nature doesn’t have the same publishing deadlines, be sure to check @wvstateparks on all socials for weekly fall foliage reports.
Late September to early October:
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Location: One of West Virginia’s largest state parks, Canaan Valley Resort State Park covers more than 6,000 acres of a high plateau in the Allegheny Mountains. Located in the north-central part of the state close to Davis, the park’s elevation begins at 3,200 feet and rises up to 4,308 feet.
Activities: This park is a major ski destination, which means that during the fall you can take a scenic chairlift ride to get a bird’s-eye view of the foliage. On the ground, you can play a round or two at the 18-hole championship course, which has eight water hazards and 65 state bunkers. To fully cover yourself in a kaleidoscope of color, hit one of the 18 marked trails for hiking and biking; for an extra bit of fun, pick up a scavenger checklist at the Front Desk and start searching for animal tracks and native plants.
Lodging: Options for an overnight run the gamut here. You can treat yourself at the resort’s 160-room lodge, which features an indoor heated pool and multiple dining spots, including a restaurant centered around a massive fireplace with windows that look out onto the valley. Larger groups can opt to reserve a 2-, 3- or 4-bedroom cabin or 4-bedroom cottage, set amid the woods. Although it’s still not roughing it—there’s a furnished kitchen, flat-screen TV and Wi-Fi. For the full forest experience, wake up to a blanket of color by choosing one of the 59 campsites or 2 primitive tent sites.
Blackwater Falls State Park
Location: Blackwater Falls State Park is close to the towns of Davis and Thomas, covering 2,358 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. It gets its name from the 57-foot waterfall whose amber water is tinted from the tannic acid of fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. Bring your camera as this park is one of the most photographed in the state for its various features.
Activities: While the Blackwater Falls should be on your must-see list while here (along with snapping a pic at the Almost Heaven Swing), there are more than 20 miles to roam. Take the Elakala Trail that starts by the Blackwater Falls Lodge and as you walk along a wooden bridge, look down, for this is the first of a series of four waterfalls found within the park.
Two miles past the lodge, you’ll see the trail head for Lindy Point, arguably the most scenic overlook in the park; it’s situated on the rim of the Blackwater Canyon, a 1,000-foot gorge. Pendelton Point Overlook not only has great views of the canyon below, but is close to Pendelton Lake, where fishers can catch bass, bluegill, catfish and trout (if they have a current West Virginia fishing license, that is).
Lodging: Situated at Blackwater Canyon’s south rim, Blackwater Falls Lodge has 51 rooms with sweeping views of the forest tapestry below. A few rooms are ADA-compliant and also pet-friendly. Of the 39 cabins available year-round (and just down the road from Blackwater Falls), 10 of them are also pet-friendly. There are 65 campsites as well; some facilities on these sites are limited after Oct. 31.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Location: In 1901, the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company founded the town of Cass as a place for their loggers who worked in the nearby mountains. That same year, the railroad construction started, bringing the lumber to the mill. Eventually, the track was extended to the top of Bald Knob, the third highest mountain peak in the state. While the mill and the railroad company have since closed, the town and the railroad equipment were brought into the state parks system and turned into tourist attractions as relics of another time.
Activities: Hop aboard a steam-powered train for a 4.5-hour roundtrip journey to Bald Knob (elevation: 4,842 feet) where spruce trees and alpine plants take root or a 2-hour roundtrip excursion to Whittaker Station. Stroll the company town and visit places like Shays Restaurant and Soda Fountain, an artisan’s co-op and the Company Store; along with a gift shop, the building is home to the Cass Historical Museum, which is free to enter. Watch a short documentary about the town’s past at the Cass Historic Theater. The Greenbrier River is located in front of the Company Store, and anglers come here to catch trout and smallmouth bass.
Lodging: The loggers’ homes are still standing from the 1900s, and you can stay in one of the Company Houses. (Don't worry, these restored vintage homes do have modern comforts.) They accommodate up to 14 people and three of them are wheelchair accessible. The Cass Campground offers 100 campsites, along with bathhouses and laundry facilities.
Mid-October
Coopers Rock State Forest
Location: Drive along the Birdeye Bend, a 173.4-mile scenic driving loop in West Virginia’s Mountaineer Country, and about 13 miles from Morgantown, you’ll reach Coopers Rock State Forest.
Activities: Here, you’ll find canyon overlooks, historical sites and 50 miles of hiking and biking. One popular destination in the forest is the 30-foot-high Henry Clay Furnace, the first steam-powered blast furnace built in the state. In the 1830s, it could produce four tons of pig iron per day, which kept 200 people employed. For more extreme adventure, whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you can test your climbing skills on the park’s sandstone cliffs, or go for the top-rope climbing and bouldering.
Lodging: There are primitive tent/hammock campsites at the Rhododendron Campground, but you can also choose the McCollum Campground, which has electric hookups and a central bathhouse. A handful of cabins are also available, complete with two bedrooms and a telescope for stargazing. Wi-Fi is available, no matter which way you spend the night.
Hawks Nest State Park
Location: Take the Cranberry Corridor, a 211.1-mile route through the Mountain Lakes region of West Virginia and you’ll reach Hawks Nest State Park. This 270-acre recreational area is known for its scenic overlook, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve below. (The second oldest river in the world, the New River is a rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons.)
Activities: There are plenty of land-based adventures here, like horseback riding, rock climbing, bicycling and hiking through eight miles of trails. If you lean more toward the water, you can ride a jet boat to see the New River Gorge Bridge above or the Hawks Nest Dam. For a bit of heart-racing adventure, go whitewater rafting on the New River, with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class I to Class IV. Hawks Nest Lake and Mill Creek are both popular fishing spots.
Lodging: Hawks Nest Lodge has 31 rooms with panoramic views of the New River Gorge; some rooms have private balconies.
Babcock State Park
Location: Spreading across 4,127 acres, Babcock State Park is located 20 miles southeast of the New River Gorge Bridge.
Activities: If this image above looks familiar, there’s a reason. Glade Creek Grist Mill Falls is one of the most photographed images in the state. This working mill grinds corn into cornmeal from its perch along a boulder-strewn mountain stream at the park. Visitors can tour the mill during operating hours and buy a bag of cornmeal from the park gift shop. With more than 20 miles of trails, biking and hiking are popular here, as is geocaching. Anglers can look for largemouth bass, bluegill, trout and channel catfish in Boley Lake and Glade Creek.
Lodging: There are 28 cabins available, all with Wi-Fi, modern appliances and stocked with necessary items like dishes and linens. Some are located along Glade Creek, close to the grist mill, while the rest are located deeper in the thick forest. A few are designated as pet-friendly as well. The park’s 52-unit campground (28 with electrical hookups and 24 without) is only open until the fourth Monday in October, so you’ll still have time to catch the leaves and sleep under the stars.
Late October to early November
Lost River State Park
Location: Covering nearly 4,000 acres of woods (3,934 to be exact), Lost River State Park is close to Mathias, in the rolling hills of Hardy County.
Activities: The 23+ miles of trails here wind through forests and ridges to various places of interest. Take the White Oak Trail and head to the Cranny Crow overlook on top of Big Ridge Mountain, where you can get an expansive view of five West Virginia counties. History buffs might like to see the Lee Cabin, the early 19th-century summer home of Revolutionary War commander Henry “Lighthorse Harry” Lee; (yes, he was Robert’s father). Expert guides are available to accompany you on horseback if you don’t want to ride alone (available on October weekends). Mountain biking and geocaching are also popular here.
Lodging: The park’s 26 cabins provide a secluded retreat in nature (with Wi-Fi). Two of them are wheelchair accessible and a few are pet-friendly.
Kanawha State Forest
Location: Venture just seven miles from the state capital of Charleston, and you’ll find the 9,300 acres of Kanawha State Forest. Bird watchers tend to flock here to see the nesting habitat of 19 species of wood warblers.
Activities: Pick up a trail map at the park office and then start exploring the forest. If you’re on foot, you have 14 trails to choose from, including “The Spotted Salamander” trail that is a paved, level walkway with braille interpretive nature stations for visually impaired and physically challenged guests. Mountain bikers can choose from nine designated biking trails that cover 60 miles of scenery. If you purchase a license, you can also go fishing here; there are two wheelchair-accessible fishing piers for Class Q fishing. You’ll also find picnic areas and several playgrounds dotted around the forest, plus an archery range and shooting range with covered stalls.
Lodging: Outdoor lovers, rejoice, for there are 46 campsites here (open through December, weather-permitting), each with a fireplace and picnic table. (If you don’t want to be totally rustic, 25 of them do have electricity and water hookups for RVs.) There are two bathhouses and a coin-operated laundry on site, but you do have to return to reality (or just go to a different state park) after 14 nights.
Cacapon Resort State Park
Location: Close to Berkeley Springs and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Cacapon Resort State Park covers more than 6,000 acres in the Eastern Panhandle.
Activities: Take in the views while golfing at the tree-lined par-72 Robert Trent Jones-designed course, which features affordable rates and a double green shared by holes Nos. 4 and 8. You can also try 18-hole disc golf at the park too.
There are 23 miles of trails, and if you head for the Cacapon Mountain Overlook, there’s another Almost Heaven Swing photo opp next to the observation deck. The park has single-track and multilevel trails for mountain biking, with a new grant adding nearly 35 miles of professionally built trails over the next few years. Weather-permitting, horseback riding is available with a guide (and a well-mannered horse). While you’ll no doubt spot wildlife while in the park, there’s also the Tom Ambrose Nature Center for year-round activities and programs.
Lodging: If you have a big group, The Old Inn at Cacapon Resort has 12 bedrooms with 8.5 baths; it was actually the first lodge in the entire West Virginia state parks system. Cabins are also available year-round. For the ultimate in relaxation, book one of the 120 rooms at the Cacapon Resort Lodge—and a spa appointment. The full-service spa offers massages, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. It's the perfect way to indulge yourself after your leaf-peeping adventures.