Foliage map › National parks and forests › New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve fall foliage
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve protects about 72,000 acres along the New River in southern West Virginia, where the river runs through a deep, forested canyon. It became a national park in 2020. The color comes first to the rim, typically peaking around October 22, and works down to the river later in the month.
- Typical peak
- Oct 22 – Oct 28
- Location
- West Virginia
- Size
- About 72,000 acres
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around October 24 at Fayetteville. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s status and the five-week outlook.
Status shown for Fayetteville, at 1,800 feet. See below for other parts of the park.
Peak by place and elevation
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each place. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s status.
The season at Fayetteville
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Where to see the color in the New River Gorge
From the Canyon Rim Visitor Center near Fayetteville, a boardwalk looks out to the New River Gorge Bridge, about 876 feet above the river, and the Long Point Trail leads to a head-on view of it. The Endless Wall Trail follows the cliffs along the rim. Farther south, the overlooks at Grandview look down on a long bend of the river, and Sandstone Falls spans the full width of the river.
Scenic drive
Fayette Station Road, an 8-mile one-way road, winds down into the gorge near Fayetteville, passing under the New River Gorge Bridge three times on its switchbacks and crossing the river on a low bridge before climbing back up the other side.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in the New River Gorge?
In a typical year, the rim around Fayetteville and Grandview peaks around October 22 to 24, and the river bottom, around places like Thurmond, a few days to a week later.
Where is the best place to see fall color in the New River Gorge?
The Canyon Rim overlook and Long Point, for views of the bridge, the Endless Wall Trail, Grandview, and Fayette Station Road down to the river.