Fall leaf peepers: Here’s what’s peaking in the mountains right now
Help us track autumn’s progress throughout the entire state!
Share your photos for our #AlmostHeaven fall color map to show other leaf peepers where to spot nature’s most brilliant displays this fall in the Mountain State.
Become a leaf sleuth
Be a digital naturalist! The #AlmostHeaven fall color map makes “leaf peeping” more interactive than ever before.
Here’s how it works:
Take pictures of trees in your area and post them on social media with #AlmostHeaven! Posts must be made public for a chance to be featured.- Photos must be recent. Please submit pictures that you’ve taken within a day or 2.
- After 1 week, all pinned images will be replaced by newer submissions.
The more folks who share photos, the better everybody can see when and where leaves are changing color.
We’ll also post weekly updates and road trip recommendations, as well as selecting photos at random for multiple giveaways each week!
Mountain color
West Virginia’s wild, wonderful side is at its best during autumn. Enormous tracts of rolling wilderness come alive with dazzling fall foliage.
All kinds of trees show their true colors in fall, but have you spotted these Mountain State beauties?
- Brilliant yellows: beech, sweet birch and black locust
- Crimson: scarlet oak and sumac
- Mixed: witch hazel (yellow-orange), white oak (pinkish red) and hornbeam (scarlet-orange)
Fall color zones
West Virginia’s terrain is so varied, it’s possible to indulge in leaf peeping for 2 whole months!
High-altitude forests usually change color during late September. Places like Spruce Knob— the highest peak in the state— are ideal for early leaf hunting. By late October, you can still spot gorgeous hues in the eastern panhandle and southern regions.
The #AlmostHeaven fall color map shows you when— and where— peak foliage times usually arrive. But Mother Nature doesn’t always behave as planned, so be sure to check the pins and the updated Featured Fall Foliage & Travel Itinerary section before you head out!
Where’s your favorite place to see West Virginia’s fall foliage?
This post was last updated on March 16, 2022