A professor of tree biology at Virginia Tech is speculating that this fall might be one of the most colorful in years in Virginia and West Virginia, according to MSN. Here’s what we have to say to that: bring it! A beautiful, colorful fall is exactly what we need here at the end of 2020, a year that, for all its negatives, has been one in which many of us have had more opportunities than ever before to spend in nature.

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers," Anne Shirley famously declared in L.M. Montgomery's classic novel Anne Of Green Gables, and we have to agree with her. And according to the experts, this might be the best October we've had, color-wise, in years.
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So what makes this year's color prospects so good? The prime weather combination for bright fall colors involves a wet summer, a dry early fall, and a series of warm days and cool nights (but no frost). So far, we're on track for all of that this year!
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All that to say, if we continue to have a dry October, we'll likely be in for one of the best autumn shows we've been treated to in years.
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In fact, trees and shrubbery are already beginning to turn in the the West Virginia highlands, including popular areas like Cass, Snowshoe, and Dolly Sods.
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And yes, so far, the colors have been gorgeous!
Expect the fall colors to spread from these areas and peak over the next few weeks, typically from mid to late October in many places in our state.
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Do you have any leaf-peeping road trips planned in the next few weeks to take advantage of this beautiful but brief opportunity? Where are you headed?
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We know it can be hard to pick just one destination in a state so full of beautiful mountain, river, and valley views...
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…but here are some of our best suggestions for where to go to enjoy the fall colors.

To keep track of peak color times in the areas of the state that you plan to visit this fall, check this live leaf map provided by WV Tourism and updated by fellow West Virginians.

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