Another autumn season is in the books here at The Golden Anchor Cabins. Fall is the best time to vacation in West Virginia. This is our busiest time of the year. But we did manage to get to a few lookout points and enjoy the vibrant colors. At the end of this post are some of our favorite pictures we took while out and about. While hiking in Canaan Valley State Park toward the end of the season, it occurred to me that many that are not familiar with vacationing in the fall in West Virginia. Tucker County and the Potomac Highlands are stunning in the autumn season. Here’s a quick list of tips to keep in mind if you’re thinking about a fall vacation in West Virginia.
1 Timing is Everything
Planning a fall vacation in West Virginia can be tricky. The last week of September and the first week of October is quite frequently when the leaves peak in Davis & Canaan Valley (north of our cabins). Meanwhile, Dolly Sods nears its peak at around the same time. The view from the Sods looking south into Grant and Pocahontas Counties won’t be changing until mid-October. Seneca Rocks and much of Elkins, south of our cabins, will see its peak in mid to late October.
2 Make Your Reservation Early for a fall vacation in West Virginia
Check out our availability calendar here
This is West Virginia’s most traveled season. The most choice lodging locations will frequently begin seeing reservations for leaf-peeping during the spring months. By summer, all that will be available are mid-week stays. If you want to make sure you get a weekend where the leaves are stunning, my advice is to book it by May.
3 Watch for the Leaf Peeper’s Festival in Davis to be Scheduled
The town of Davis holds an annual festival on its main thoroughfare where locals come out. The festival is filled with live music, street vendors, food trucks and a craft show at the city’s Fire House. The Tucker County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau plans the festival every year. They do their best to time the festival dates with the peak turn. Follow the Tucker County’s Leaf Peepers Festival here.
4 Halloween is a Last Chance Opportunity
By the end of October, much of the higher elevations have lost their leaves. Canaan Valley State Park’s undergrowth is typically still very pretty and the weather is great for hiking through the crunchy leaves. The same rules apply to Blackwater Falls State Park. While the leaves may be gone at the top of the mountain, much of the valley floor’s leaves are still pretty. As an added bonus, both parks have all sorts of Halloween activities including haunted houses.
Please enjoy our pictures. We’re definitely not professional photographers but we enjoy sharing images with our friends. We hope they will inspire you enough to vacation in West Virginia with us and see our area’s natural beauty for yourself. If you’ve enjoyed this article we encourage you to share it on your preferred social media source and don’t forget to leave a comment for us!
