The following is the first state fall foliage report for the season.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fall is officially here, and West Virginia’s state foresters are on the lookout for the most colorful foliage. Each Thursday in October the West Virginia Division of Forestry (DOF) will provide weekly reports that include percentage of peak color, recommended driving routes and special points of interest.
Viewing opportunities for the first weekend of fall 2015 are limited, but a few spots are worth a look, including Dolly Sods and the Davis-Thomas area of Tucker County.
DOF Forester John Anderson reports 35 percent peak color in the Davis-Thomas area just in time for this coming weekend’s Leaf Peepers Festival. When visiting Dolly Sods, Anderson said there is currently more color at the north end than at the south end
Gum trees and Virginia creeper along the Iron Furnace Road on Coopers Rock State Forest are showing early color. Foresters estimate that area is 20 percent peak.
Spots of colorful foliage can be found in the higher elevations of Pendleton, Pocahontas and Randolph counties. Foresters also note spotty color at the headwaters of Dry Fork, Gandy Creek and the Greenbrier River.
Elsewhere in West Virginia, foresters report very little color change. Over the next week, leaves should begin changing quickly in the highest elevations.
Forestry officials encourage leaf peepers who post 2015 West Virginia fall foliage photos to tag them with #fallinwv. Photos may be featured on the DOF’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/wvforestry.
The next fall foliage report will be released next Thursday.