Fall Foliage Road Trip: W.Va. 10 & Washington Heritage Trail

This week, the areas you’ll find the most stunning fall foliage are in the Hatfield-McCoy Mountains along W.Va 10 and in the Eastern Panhandle on the Washington Heritage Trail. Get out and explore for an Almost Heaven experience like no other.

Hatfield-McCoy Mountains

The Hatfield-McCoy Mountains are home to exhilarating adventure, historic heritage and family-friendly activities. If you’ve never been, now is a great time to plan an impromptu trip while the leaves are putting on a show.

Start your trip with a hike at Cabwaylingo State Forest in Dunlow. With nine miles of trails, the forest has more scenic beauty than you’ll know what to do with. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery at one of Cabwaylingo’s shelters or picnic areas.

Travel just under an hour on country roads to the town of Logan. Taste the “Drink of the Devil” made from the original recipe of Devil Anse Hatfield at Hatfield and McCoy Moonshine Distillery. This old-time white corn whiskey is handmade in small batches at the micro distillery in Gilbert, just a short drive from Logan.

Then rest your head at Chief Logan State Park. Find all the comforts of home at the main lodge or in one of their newly built vacation cabins. 

A drive along W.Va. 10 from Logan to Man for excellent fall color. From there, continue on to Matewan. Home to one of the most famous family feuds in American history– the Hatfield and McCoy’s. Spend the morning getting lost history at the Matewan Depot Replica Museum and The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum.

Then enjoy a filling lunch at Wingo’s Grill or Mi Pueblito before hitting the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Systems for an evening ride. The Devil Anse trailhead is located in Matewan and encompasses hundreds of miles of rugged wilderness.

Eastern Panhandle

West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle revives visitors with a relaxed atmosphere full of history, scenery and small-town charm. Escape from the big city to soak in healing waters, shop at eclectic storefronts and walk through national historic parks.

Journey across the 136-mile Washington Heritage Trail, a trail that George Washington himself traveled many times. You’ll begin at the beautiful Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, which comes to life in the fall according to WorldAtlas. One of the best places for leaf peeping here is Jefferson Rock, the landmark offers a sweeping view of the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers against their backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Then make your way to charming Shepherdstown. Commonly known as one of the most haunted towns in America, this is the perfect place to spend your Halloween weekend. If you’re into spooky things, don’t miss the Shepherdstown Mysteries Walk.  

If perusing art galleries is more your style, pop into one of the many found in town. With unique pieces for sale, you’ll be able to take a bit of the town home with you.

A surprising number of dining choices for every palate and budget can be found here. Bistro 112 brings a little bit of Paris to the eastern panhandle town. Before tucking in for the night in one of the many inns, grab some dinner and drinks in the historic setting of Mecklenburg Inn (known as “The Meck” to locals).

Speaking of cozy lodging, the Bavarian Inn , an upscale hotel with extraordinary amenities and the Thomas Shepherd Inn, a historic Federal style building are great options in the area.

To wrap up your fall road trip, head to Martinsburg. While you’re there, you have to experience these exciting points of interest:

• The B&O Roundhouse is a striking historic monument. At one time, the domed locomotive facility accommodated 16 steam engines— that’s 20,000 feet of floor space. 
• Rejuvenate yourself at the Touch of Grace Spa and Salt Cave where you can have a total immersion experience in a salt cave or have a more traditional wellness relaxation treatment like a massage.
• Stop by Black Draft Distillery for a tour and tasting of their moonshine and bourbon, which they make using unique and all-natural ingredients sourced less than ten miles away.
• If you’re a chocolate lover then you must visit Defluris Fine Chocolates, which is family owned and operated by veteran chocolatiers. 

Travelers visiting West Virginia to see fall color are encouraged to check the status of individual businesses before taking a trip. A statewide indoor face covering requirement remains in effect, and visitors are encouraged to maintain a safe social distance when traveling the state.

This post was last updated on December 27, 2023