So... I'm just curious when the projected fall peak is in Canaan Valley? I'm looking at taking a biking trip over there the weekend of Oct 1 and am wondering if there will be any leaves left

It seems like the leaves over here in the Shenandoah Valley are turning and dropping really quick this year...

I'll let the locals correct, because I am not one, but in going to college over there, peak seemed to happen between Forest Festival and Parents Weekend, which usually was the second week of October. I was over at the Sods on the weekend of 10/10 last year, and while there was color, it was no where near peak, BUT this was on the east side of the front. FYI, I always thought some of the best color was along 32 from Canaan Heights down to Davis, Canyon Rim-Olsen Tower was great as well. Because the valley proper is pretty open it was not always the best peeping. But fall color seems to be coming early here as well. I am up by Harpers Ferry. So it may be different this year.

Things here in the south eastern part of the state are turning and then quickly dropping. You're going to have to time it good because they aren't going to be hanging long before they start falling off. Darn this lack of rain!!

"The fall hammer drops swiftly in this neck of the woods and in this California dry weather leaves are falling sooner than ever"
QUOTE from over at the Whitegrass site....

Nice. Seems like 3 months since the last update. I was getting tired of waiting and almost gave up on them until December.

..visitcanaan website is a great way to see what is going on day to day in the valley for fall colors...leaf peepers is this weekend and should be a great weekend of events in davis...colors are a little slow this year but seems like colors should be gettin' good towards this weekend...

Hey Abe, good timing, I think you will be hitting the peak. But due to the extreme lack of rain in the late summer, the colors won't be so vibrant. Maybe the recent rain will help? The trails will be sweet for sure though and good time for a bike trip too. If you are into long, somewhat difficult, and adventurous rides, show up saturday morning at blackwater bikes in davis 10ish for the annual Tour de Lilly. (definitely not for the novice mountain biker tho!)

Sweet... thanks for the info everyone. I ended up doing the Huckleberry trail off of Spruce Knob and the North Fork Mountain trail so I didn't get over to Canaan this weekend. I was a little surprised at the lack of color, even up on Spruce Knob. It looked to me like it might not quite be peak yet, or the colors will just be that dull this year.

Saw a little frost Saturday morning down by the Seneca Creek trail... time to start thinking about snow!

Not peak yet... The dry has caused a lot of leaves to drop pre-color and there are a few splotches of vivid here and there from the maples. Expect the next week or two to still have color. I was surprised when I drove up this past weekend how bland it was. Streams are still low... too low. They gotta get a whole lot more rain before snowmaking time.