Check out these jaw-dropping scenic autumn drives here in Nature’s Mountain Playground – Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Highland Scenic Highway
Of course the Highland Scenic Highway is beautiful regardless of the season, there’s something extra beautiful about taking WV Route 150 in fall. With 22.5 miles of gentle curves, and long straight stretches that seem to run parallel with the sky, you can really get lost in the beauty of autumn on the Highland Scenic Highway.
Along scenic Route 150 are outlooks, complete with restrooms and picnic areas, that provide epic backdrops for selfies and picturesque shots, all the while giving you an unbelievable view of the rolling sea of red, yellow and orange.
If you’re the exploring type, be sure to stop along the many hiking trails along the Highland Scenic Highway (WV Route 150)
- Big Spruce Overlook
- Honeycomb Rocks Trail
- Red Lick Overlook + Black Mountain Fire Interpretive Trail
- High Rocks Trail
Route 219 Seneca Trail
This route runs right through the heart of Pocahontas County, coming in from the south in Lewisburg, West Virginia, Route 219 gently rolls through charming towns and gives beautiful views of autumn in Pocahontas County. There are plenty of great stops along Route 219, from Beartown State Park to Snowshoe Mountain Resort and all the delicious food in the charming towns along the way
Notable Stops Along Scenic US Route 219:
- Beartown State Park
- Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park – check out the overlook tower and the museum!
- Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
- Levels Depot – Hillsboro, West Virginia
- Marlinton Museum + Pocahontas County Historical Society
- Tattered Rose Boutique – Marlinton, West Virginia
- Big Spring Fork – Slatyfork, West Virginia
- Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Appalachian Water Scenic Byway WV Route 39
Appalachian Water Scenic Byway (West Virginia Route 39) enters Pocahontas County from the west, notably Richwood, and continues through Pocahontas County into Virginia. This winding route traces along many of the waterways in Pocahontas County, and winds in and out of quaint small towns The best way to describe a scene along Route 39 in the fall: the streams are flooded with the reflections of gold, red and orange hues, unbelievable beauty waiting around every bend
Notable Stops Along Scenic WV Route 39:
- Falls of Hills Creek
- Cranberry Glades + Cranberry Mountain Nature Center
- Dirtbean Cafe + Bike Shop – Marlinton, West Virginia
- Richardson’s Hardware Store – Marlinton, West Virginia
- Pocahontas County CVB – Marlinton, West Virginia (Stop in & say HELLO! The Pocahontas County CVB is besides CJ Richardson’s Hardware Store)
- 4th Ave Art Gallery + 4th Ave Mason Jar Trading Post
- Devil’s Backbone – Huntersville, West Virginia
Fave Fall Attractions & Activities
- There’s nothing like seeing the Falls of Hills Creek in autumn – trust us, you have to see this for yourself!
- Take in the Cranberry Glades Botanical Boardwalk – the views are E P I C this time of year!
- Beartown State Park is a treasure to experience any time of year, but there is something truly magical about the boardwalk when the park is cloaked in vibrant fall colors.
- Enjoy a scenic drive through Watoga State Park, which transforms with the change of the leaves. Take a paddleboat, kayak, or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous and brave, stand-up paddle boarding out on the beautiful Watoga Lake in Watoga State Park.
- Take a drive along Highland Scenic Highway and hike the High Rocks Trail to get some of the most scenic vistas overlooking the town of Hillsboro, West Virginia.
- Enjoy a bike ride, hike, or horseback ride on the Greenbrier River Trail State Park, the 77-mile award winning rail trail looks just like a capture from the front of a postcard.
- Ride the lift at Snowshoe Mountain Resort to Shavers Lake to see breathtaking views of mountains surrounding the resort. Snowshoe Mountain Resort closes October 13th until end of November for ski season prep.
- Enjoy one of three Mountain Rail Adventures excursions that take you high into the mountains, by way of steam locomotive, to see spectacular views from some of the highest points of elevation in the Mountain State. You’ve never done leaf peeping like this before