CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The signs of fall are abound all across the Mountain State.
The West Virginia Department of Tourism will once again provide updates throughout the fall for ideal locations as the leaves change. Tourism Public Relations Coordinator Lindsey Funk said during an appearance on MetroNews “Midday” that West Virginia is unparalleled with its autumn beauty.
“Fall is, by far, one of the busiest seasons in West Virginia,” Funk said. “Of course, our beautiful colors attract so many people. Even though it’s our busiest season, it’s still a very uncrowded destination compared to other states. It’s really enjoyable for people to come see the fall color but without fighting the crowd.”
Tourism officials released their first weekly update of the fall this week. The peak spots to visit at the moment are Canaan Valley Resort State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County; Dolly Sods Wilderness in Grant, Randolph, and Tucker counties; Snowshoe Mountain in Pocahontas County; and Spruce Knob in Pendleton County.
📣 Fall color is finally starting to arrive in West Virginia! 🍁🍂 Check out our recommendations for where to visit 👇
🚠 Canaan Valley Resort State Park
🍁 Blackwater Falls State Park
🥾 Dolly Sods Wilderness
🚵♀️ Snowshoe Mountain
📸 Spruce Knob📸 @wvmonmedia
🍁 9/29/26 pic.twitter.com/xNmelaSOS0— West Virginia Tourism (@WVtourism) October 1, 2026
Funk said people can follow along with the updates all throughout the season.
“Showing all the regions of the state, maybe this area is ahead of color, or this area has peaked,” Funk described. “We’re excited to give travelers a peek and decide what things really look like here.”
There are itineraries for a wide variety of tourism interests at wvtourism.com, Funk said.
“Whether it’s in-state people that are wanting to explore new regions and chase the peak color, or out-of-state travelers, we have itineraries themed around outdoor adventure, or slower-paced hikes,” Funk said. “Something really unique about our state is, because of the different elevation, we experience one of the longest fall seasons.”
Funk said the season extends from September in the higher educations all through the southern regions into November.
Tourists can also participate in a new version of “swing bingo” as they check out the different destinations around West Virginia. Funk said it’s similar to the spring and summer versions of the bingo, but with new seasonal categories and new prizes. Funk said you can check off different ‘Almost Heaven’ swing set destinations as you go.
“It’s literally a digital bingo board, it’s completely free,” Funk said. “People can sign up on our website and they can check in as they visit our Almost Heaven swing photo ops around the state. When they get a traditional bingo, they get a prize, and when they get a full board blackout, they get a prize as well.”
A single-bingo prize is an Almost Heaven swing sticker, she said, while a full board blackout brings a handmade, fall-themed wooden picture frame. Funk added that it’s a different one than the summer edition.
Overall, Funk said, it’s a great time for tourism in the Mountain State.
“The more visitors we have, they stay longer here, they spend more here, they support our local businesses and with all of these promotions, it just gives more reason for people to come here and do just that,” Funk said. “We’re really thankful for the impact that tourism has on our local economy here.”