Forests
come alive with color
Vivid fall foliage found along many routes
OCT. 6, 2004 -- Leaves are turning colors across the Mountain State, and there are many areas of West Virginia that should provide spectacular views of fall foliage this weekend. Division of Forestry personnel have provided the following suggested driving routes and/or areas to visit:
Travel to the Richwood area of Nicholas County to see trees at 70% peak color. A drive along State Route 39 and State Route 55 toward Pocahontas County is highly recommended. While in Pocahontas County, be sure to drive the Highland Scenic Highway, where trees are currently at their peak. Another recommended drive in Pocahontas County is U.S. Route 250 from Durbin to Mill Creek.
U.S. Route 250 continues to be a colorful drive for those going to the Mountain State Forest Festival this weekend in Elkins. Visitors to Randolph County should see plenty of color this weekend in the lower elevations where leaves are currently at 40% peak. An abundance of color also should be found by those traveling east along U.S. Route 33 toward Elkins.
U.S. Route 250 is also a colorful drive in many of the northern counties, including Taylor, Marion, Wetzel and Marshall. Forestry personnel highly recommend driving U.S. Route 250 in those counties to see dogwood, sumac, and sourwood trees in full red color.
State Route 88 through Ohio and Brooke Counties is the recommended drive for those visiting the State’s Northern Panhandle this weekend. Maples are turning yellow and orange, and poplar trees are taking on shades of yellow as well.
Visitors to the Eastern Panhandle area should check out Spruce Knob in Pendleton County where trees are currently 45-50% peak and offer a wide variety of reds and yellows. In Mineral County, the Allegheny Front is at 50% peak. Take County Route 4 at Hartmansville to see the best color.
Counties in the southeastern part of the State currently range from 25% peak to 40% peak color. Sumac, dogwood and sourwood trees have turned brilliant shades of red in Fayette County. In Greenbrier County, one highly recommended drive is along Anjean Road to Beech Knob where 40% of the trees have reached their peak colors. Trees in Raleigh County are currently 40% peak color. A drive along Route 99 from Glen Daniel to the top of Bolt Mountain should provide plenty of fall color.
The next Fall Foliage Report will be available Wednesday, October 13.
For more information about fall foliage, visit the Division of Forestry’s website at www.wvforestry.com.
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West Virginia Division of Tourism • 90 MacCorkle Ave., SW • South Charleston, WV 25303
304-558-2200 or 1-800-CALL-WVA • FAX: 304-558-2459 • www.callwvanews.com