Fall color plentiful across West Virginia 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –   State foresters say that just about anywhere you look this weekend in West Virginia you will see great fall foliage.  Two thirds of the state, including the Northern and Eastern Panhandles, has foliage ranging from 75 to 100 percent peak, while foliage in counties in the southwestern region ranges from 40 to 60 percent peak.  

Foresters report 100 percent peak foliage throughout Marion, Mineral and Preston counties as well as in the lower elevations of Pendleton and Tucker counties. 

·         Foliage is at 90 to 95 percent peak in Brooke, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph, Hancock, Marshall and Ohio counties.

·         Counties with foliage ranging from 80 to 85 percent peak include Barbour, Fayette, Hampshire, Hardy, Harrison, Monongalia, Nicholas, Taylor, Webster and Wetzel.

·         Leaves are between 70 and 75 percent peak in Berkeley, Braxton, Clay, Jefferson, Lewis, McDowell, Monroe, Morgan, Raleigh, Summers, Upshur and Wyoming. 

Routes throughout the state will be colorful, and foresters recommend several special drives and points of interest this weekend:

·         In Fayette County, drive U.S. Route 19.  Bridge Day is Saturday, Oct. 18, and the New River Gorge should have 85 percent peak color for that event.

·         This weekend should be an excellent weekend for color along all roads in Pocahontas County, especially those leading to the Cass Scenic Railroad.

·         The mountains of Randolph County should offer excellent views, especially in the Harman/Whitmer area.  This is possibly the last weekend for good color in Randolph County.

·         Color has developed nicely over the past week in Summers County and a drive along State Route 20 from Meadow Bridge to Pipestem is highly recommended.

·         Take either State Route 9 or Back Creek Valley Road to the Apple Harvest this weekend in Martinsburg.  Red maples and black gum are vivid along those routes.

·         Foresters suggest State Route 88 in the Northern Panhandle with stops at Bethany and West Liberty colleges and Oglebay Park.

·         Take U.S. Route 50 at Parkersburg to Mountwood Park for the Fall Foliage Festival and then continue to Cairo for Pioneer Days.

For more information about fall foliage, visit the Division of Forestry’s Web site at www.wvforestry.com.