One day in the beautiful hills of the Mountain State will be enough to convince you that West Virginia, like in John Denver’s song, is called “almost heaven” for good reason. There’s an almost unlimited list of things to do outside like hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, camping, photography, boating, skiing, and more. Fall is a great time to explore the hundreds of trails that are perfect for first-time hikers and experts. Here are some of our favorite fall activities in the state.
Seneca Rocks is near Elkins, West Virginia is one of the state’s most popular landmarks, and is a great place to start your fall adventure. Open year round, Seneca Rocks is situated in the Monongahela National Forest and is an amazing geological attraction of underground caverns and caves. No visit is complete without a stop at nearby Seneca Caverns where you can mine for gems and take a cave tour to see the stalactites and stalagmites. It’s fun for the whole family.
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If you have been craving a hunting adventure, the folks at Mountain Meadows Hunting Preserve in Greenville will give you the best hunting experience of the season. Situated on a 600-acre high fenced preserve, they offer a vast amount of species ready to hunt. Get ready to harvest some of the largest whitetail deer, buffalo, red stag, hog, antelope, wild boar, rams, and so many others all maintained by the preserve. They pride themselves on being “the Birthplace of Hunting Memories that Last a Lifetime!” Schedule your package and you’ll see why.
Yokum’s Seneca Rocks Stables offers a great chance to see the countryside on horseback with guides who know the area and can point out the special places of interest. It’s a good idea to make a reservation because of the popularity of the stables. You’ll travel down country trails, across bridges, and maybe even ford a stream if the water isn’t too high. Children aged six and up are welcome to accompany parents on the trail, too.
Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is not far from Seneca Rocks and is the highest elevation in the eastern part of the United States. This unique plateau provides a chance to bike, hunt, hike, and sightsee, and you’ll get the chance to see flora and fauna that is similar to what’s found much further north in Canada. The history of Dolly Sods dates back to World War II where the military used the mountains for training. It is impossible to survey every square inch of this vast wilderness, so follow marked trails, and camp at existing campsites to avoid risk of finding a potentially dangerous unexploded shell.
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Not far from Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia. The view from this 57-foot waterfall, that has slightly black-tinted water due to the hemlock and red spruce needles, is one of the most photographed sites in the state. You can bike, hike, fish, go geocaching, or just sit and admire the birds and other wildlife.
The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad is located in the mountainside town of Elkins, West Virginia. Open between April through December, you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time as you sit back and leisurely enjoy the ride on this historic steam-powered train through the valleys and remote areas where other vehicles can’t go. Make sure your camera has enough memory so you can take beautiful photos of the countryside out of the train’s windows. Don’t forget to bring a sweater or light jacket, it gets chilly in the valley.
Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin Resort is within walking distance of hiking trails and the streams in the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. It is a popular place to fish for trout in the cooler months, so bring your poles. At night, you can relax in comfort in one of the log cabins, quaint cottages, beautiful rooms in the log motel, or park your RV. Charming, cozy, and perfect for the quintessential fall weekend, or week.
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The West Virginia Botanic Gardens in Morgantown offer an abundance of beautiful flowers and plants in bloom, but in the fall your eyes will be feasted with colors off the spectrum! Check out the almost 82-acre grounds, full of all things beautiful and growing. A trip in October makes for a relaxing experience; bring a thermos full of hot apple cider and spend your afternoon walking around the many paths full of golden leaves. Walking through the paths can be a great way to welcome the brisk air rolling into the cooler months.
If you want something a bit more secluded, you can find overnight accommodations in the form of cabins at Middle Mountain Cabins not far from the Greenbrier Ranger District in Barlow. These historic cabins situated right in the mountains were built nearly 90 years ago as sleeping quarters for Forest Service workers. This rustic getaway represents what life in the mountains is really like. You will be in awe experiencing the changing of the leaves at this spot.
Located at the highest pinnacle of the state, Spruce Knob has an overnight campground, more than 60 miles of hiking trails, not to mention excellent fishing conditions in streams as well as the lake. This is rustic camping at its finest; and since the weather will be a bit cold, bring warm clothing and extra blankets! This is also one of the most underrated times to go kayaking or canoeing, so bring along your watercraft and experience the golden color of the trees from a different perspective.
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