Charleston - West Virginia's green leaves are starting to change and take on their famous fall colors. Cooler temperatures throughout the state and the recent drought are causing leaves to change quickly in many areas, especially in the Eastern Panhandle.
Leaves in the higher elevations of Tucker County have been reported to be at 70 percent peak already. Recommended drives in Tucker County include U.S. Route 219 and State Route 72. If you are thinking of taking a drive through Tucker County to view the changes in color, now is definitely the time to do so.
Foliage at the tip of the Eastern Panhandle in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties is reported to be at 50 percent peak in select places. Yellow poplar is showing color in all three counties. Farther south within the Eastern Panhandle, roadside shrubs and vines in Hardy County are near peak and County Rt. 7/South Fork Road is a recommended route to view them.
There are plenty of places to get a natural show in the rest of the state as well. Pendleton County's maples are starting to show reds and yellows, and the Virginia creeper and black gum are in deep reds. If you plan on visiting Pendleton County soon, make sure you drive on U.S. Route 33 near Seneca Rocks across North Mountain to get a look at these reported changes.
Both Greenbrier and Fayette counties are having foliage turning at higher elevations and should be at peak just in time for Bridge Day on Oct. 16. Both counties are at 30 percent peak.
Pocahontas County is at 40 percent peak and the higher elevations are progressing nicely with color. The Highland Scenic Highway is a recommended route to check out anytime you plan to drive through Pocahontas County.
Good color also is beginning to show in the higher elevations of Randolph County. Lower elevations are progressing as well at a slower pace. Randolph County is at 40 percent peak, and foresters recommend a visit to Cheat Mountain, which is reported to have some of the best color in the county.
The next fall foliage report will be released on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010.
www.wvforestry.com
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