Fall Colors in Southern West Virginia

In chasing fall colors in West Virginia, you generally move from high elevation to low elevation and from north to south. By mid-October the leaves are beginning to change in southern West Virginia. Here are some suggested locales to catch the fall colors.

Babcock State Park 

Babcock State Park in Fayette County is well known for gorgeous autumn displays, but timing is crucial. Usually I find mid-October, around the 15th to the 18th, the most resplendent time. But this year the color change has been delayed a week to 10 days. I’m guessing that peak at Babcock might be this coming weekend Oct 21-23rd. 

Babcock State Park

Since photographers flock to the Glade Creek Grist Mill, finding a view unobstructed by other photographers is a challenge. Not seeing many photographers on the shoulder of the dam across Glade Creek, I have found that spot a good place to take advantage of reflections off the pond below the lodge. 

Babcock State Park

For ideas on other places at Babcock to enjoy and photograph fall colors, please see my blog post of October 11, 2016. 

Grandview National Park 

Because Grandview National Park is a little lower in elevation than Babcock, I expect the color change will follow that at Babcock. A great place to view fall colors is at the main overlook. From the main overlook, the colors in the New River Gorge from top to bottom illustrate how profoundly elevation influences color change. Green can dominate the bottom of the gorge, while at the top, fall colors can already be fading. Being at the main overlook at the top of the gorge, I found the best angle I could to catch some color there. 

Grandview Park

Little Beaver State Park

After stopping at Grandview, it’s just a quick 7 mile trip down the road to Little Beaver State Park. Good autumn color generally abounds there. I like the Lake Front Trail that circles Little Beaver Lake. The trail presents many fine photo opportunities of reflections off the lake. 

Little Beaver State Park

Pipestem State Park

Although I haven’t been to Pipestem in the fall for many years, I suspect it would also be a fine place to pick up autumn colors. The aerial tram can take you to the bottom of the Bluestone gorge if the colors are good at lower elevations. If it’s still green at the bottom, the top of the gorge should be good since the change in elevation on the tram is 1100 feet! Liking reflections, I would also try the Lake Shore Trail around Long Branch Lake. 

Plum Orchard Lake

Plum Orchard Lake

Plum Orchard Lake is a 202-acre impoundment in the almost 3000-acre Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area located 5 miles north of Pax in Fayette County. Though known primarily for its fishing, this is a good fall color locale, too. There’s access by road along the north side of the lake and part of the south side. There are some docks that extend into the lake that make good photographic compositions.

Plum Orchard Lake

Webcams: Babcock Webcam  Pipestem Webcam

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