If you’re in the southern part of the state this week, W.Va. Route 20 from Pipestem Resort State Park to Meadow Bridge is the perfect route for leaf peeping.
Begin your trip at Pipestem Resort State Park. Sitting on the east rim of the Bluestone River Gorge, Pipestem offers something for everyone including exhilarating zipline tours, guided trout fishing trips, mountain bike excursions, rock climbing and more.
After enjoying outdoor activities, go for a sit down meal at the Bluestone Dining Room, located in the resort. You’ll find stunning views of the Bluestone River Gorge as well as a relaxing environment. Then rest your head at one of the state park’s cabins or either of the two lodges.
From there, head over to Bluestone State Park. This wilderness park is full of outdoor activities, including boating and fishing opportunities. At Bluestone State Park enjoy camping by the water or take in stunning views of the lake from your cabin’s porch. The vibrant orange leaves are even more eye catching against the water of West Virginia’s third-largest body of water.
Make your way into the quaint town of Hinton for a bite to eat and a bit of history. This remarkable Victorian-era railroad town has stunning buildings and architecture. Situated along the New River in southern West Virginia, Hinton features dining, shopping, coal heritage tours, and charming B&B’s and hotels.
The Market on Courthouse Square serves up soups, salads, burgers, brick oven pizzas and more. Chestnut Revival has a cafe feel and offers coffe and tea, as well as lighter fare such as sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods. If you’re craving homestyle cooking with a view, Kirk’s is the place to go and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Continue on to Sandstone Falls– a wide, cascading series of river-wide falls that drop around 20 feet. Snap a picture and be on your way, or go for a gentle hike on the nearby trails.
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk – The boardwalk is a ¼ mile, handicap-accessible boardwalk that crosses two bridges that lead to islands as well as observation decks, which offer stunning views of the falls and access to fishing areas.
Island Loop Trail – This easy, ½ mile trail loops around the largest island below the falls. On this trail, hikers can view the natural succession as the old fields, which were once farmed, grazed and timbered, transition back to forest.
Big Branch Trail – This more difficult trail creates a two-mile loop and passes several waterfalls along the way. Also, on this trail, hikers will be treated to incredible views of the gorge.
Continue on to Meadow Bridge and enjoy a scenic drive on our famous country roads.
Travelers visiting West Virginia to see fall color are encouraged to check the status of individual businesses before taking a trip. A statewide indoor face covering requirement remains in effect, and visitors are encouraged to maintain a safe social distance when traveling the state.
