WEST VIRGINIA (SWVO) – Fall colors are beginning to emerge across West Virginia’s highest elevations, marking the start of the state’s 2026 fall foliage season.
The West Virginia Department of Tourism released its first fall foliage update of the season last week, following the publication of its statewide fall foliage projection map in August.
According to the department, the first signs of changing leaves are appearing primarily in Tucker and Pocahontas counties, where higher elevations typically experience fall color before other parts of the state.
Areas highlighted for early fall color include Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Snowshoe Mountain Resort and Spruce Knob. The department’s latest map also highlights the Thomas, Davis, Elkins, Snowshoe and Cass areas as locations where the season is beginning to take hold.
The color change is expected to gradually spread across West Virginia throughout October as temperatures cool and lower elevations begin their transition.
According to the Tourism Department’s 2026 projection map, areas around Tucker County and portions of the higher elevations were projected to begin seeing color from the end of September into early October.
Much of the eastern mountains, including portions of Pocahontas and Randolph counties, are expected to see increasing color during early to mid-October.
The projection shows mid-October bringing fall color to a large portion of central West Virginia, including areas around Clarksburg, Buckhannon, Flatwoods, Summersville, Beckley, Lewisburg and Princeton.
Southern and western portions of West Virginia, including areas around Fayetteville, Charleston, Huntington, Logan and Williamson, are generally expected to see their fall colors develop later. The Tourism Department’s projection places many of those areas in the late October to early November period.
The Eastern Panhandle, including the Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry areas, is also projected to see its fall colors later in October.
West Virginia’s significant differences in elevation mean foliage can develop at substantially different times across the state, with the highest mountain areas changing first before color works its way into lower elevations and river valleys.
The Department of Tourism plans to continue releasing weekly fall foliage updates throughout the season to show where colors are developing across the Mountain State.
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