Best Places in West Virginia to See the Autumn Colors

There aren’t many places in the world where the autumn colors are as beautiful as West Virginia. Here is our list of some of the best places in West Virginia to see the Autumn colors. The state has multiple outdoor venues, quiet mountain ranges, and in the fall, the weather is perfect.

National Radio Quiet Zone

Speaking of quiet, back in 1958 the eastern portion of West Virginia was deemed a quiet zone – quite literally. Known as the National Radio Quiet Zone, cell service and Wi-Fi signals are extremely limited, if not entirely banned in this serene Allegheny Mountain region. With pine-forested mountaintops and winding rivers, it’s the perfect spot for a truly unplugged getaway. However, that wasn’t the FCC’s intention when they created it. Instead, the National Radio Quiet Zone was implemented to protect the Green Bank Observatory from interference by radio frequencies. In Green Bank, a tiny town with less than 200 people, eight large telescopes peer into space, eavesdropping for the tiniest hint of otherworldly life.

Here are some other locations in West Virginia that shouldn’t be missed.

Cooper’s Rock

At Cooper’s Rock, this state forest is most well-known for its incredible views and canyon overlooks. There are more than 50 miles of trails, including spots to rock climb, picnic, or anything else this out-of-the-way spot tells your heart to do. Some of the best views in Cooper’s Rock are by the lake with the surrounding trees reflecting off the water or at one of the overlooks – you can see for miles, and in the fall, it’s like a kaleidoscope of colors.

Blackwater Falls State Park

Also in the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls State Park is a world of natural beauty. There’s a nearly 60-foot waterfall of amber waters, but the multiple viewing platforms offer a panoramic view of the surrounding area – it’s beautiful no matter when you visit. In summer, the varied greens are beautiful; winter offers a lovely blanket of snow; and in the fall, the sea of changing colors is reminiscent of a museum-worthy Monet.

Be sure to consider all of these best places in West Virginia to see the Autumn colors. What spot are you putting on your travel bucket list?