MAP: When will West Virginia’s fall color change start in 2025?

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — The West Virginia Department of Tourism has released its 2025 predictions for when the best leaf peeping will be in different regions of the state.

The prediction map for 2025 is very similar to the map from 2024. The Allegheny Highlands will by the first to see the leaf change,

from Preston County down to Greenbrier County. WV Tourism predicts fall color to start at the end of September to beginning of October in that area. This includes the cities of Morgantown, Philippi, Buckhannon, Elkins, Davis, Thomas and Snowshoe.

Next, fall color will begin to the Potomac Highlights in the Eastern Panhandle in early to mid October. Towns like Cass, Seneca Rocks and Keyser will begin seeing the leaves change around that time, WV Tourism predicts.

In mid-October, WV Tourism expects the leaves to start changing color in the central part of the state and the Mid-Ohio Valley, from Point Pleasant, over to Fairmont and down to Lewisburg.

The last areas to see fall color will likely be the south-western part of the state, including the Metro Valley and Southern Coalfields, and the panhandles. Those areas will begin to see fall color in late October to early November.

Last year, major drought in West Virginia caused fall color to be delayed and less vibrant than usual.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the best fall color usually happens after a succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights. A wet spring and summer, like West Virginia has seen in 2025, can also help in producing excellent fall color.