Breakfast

Discover why the locals LOVE Scottie’s Diner and fuel up for your ride by ordering “The Worker”, pancakes, or an omelet before loading up your gear, packed lunches, snacks and plenty of water before heading out. 

Morning

1. Pack plenty of snacks and grab a sandwich or salad for the afternoon because this will be a full day. Find prepared sandwich and salad options (plus charcuterie) at A’La Board Plates & Platters. Try West Virginia’s favorite food, the pepperoni roll, with carryout from Gino’s or Byrd’s House of Donuts.
2. Travel South on 250/219 to Beverly. Turn left onto Files Creek Rd and follow it to Kings Run Rd to Camp Pioneer. There you can see one of Randolph County’s “most Instagrammable” views at our Almost Heaven Swing. Get your legs warmed up along the short walking trail which circles the lake and offers a preview of the surrounding mountains.
3. Head back to Beverly where you can explore their historic downtown full of antique shops and museums, take a detour to Rich Mountain Battlefield to walk their newly updated interpretive trails, or continue south to Mill Creek.
4. If you still need to stock up on food, stop by Campbell’s Butcher Shop in Dailey for summer sausage perfect for a picnic, or some fresh meat to cook while camping.

Pro-tip: If you visit multiple Almost Heaven Swings throughout the state you can earn prizes by participating in the SWINGO challenge!

Lunch

Make your lunch pit stop at EATS Restaurant in Mill Creek. They’ve got a wide variety of homemade favorites and daily specials of down-home country cookin’.

Afternoon

1. Continue south on 250/219 to Huttonsville. There you can browse hand-blown glass treasures at Amber’s Glass. The road will split, so take a right to stay on 219.
2. No fall adventure would be complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch or corn maze, both of which you can enjoy at Snyder Farms. Head to their barn where you can get your ticket and enjoy some concessions including popcorn. Outside, the kiddos can enjoy a variety of games. Their tractor will take you to the other side of the corn maze and let you off to find your way back. Be sure to grab a pumpkin to take home before you go!
3. Continue on 219 for a few more miles and turn right at Elkwater to follow the road to Kumbrabow State Forest, the highest State Forest in West Virginia.
4. Here you can check in to a campsite or one of their historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The outdoor possibilities are almost endless! Kumbrabow is open for hiking, fishing, hunting, and even has a couple of geocaches. The picturesque Mill Creek Falls is not to be missed!

Pro-tip: You can win prizes by visiting multiple waterfalls on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail, including Mill Creek Falls!

Dinner

Build a campfire and cook up a fresh meal with the goods you picked up in Elkins. Before you leave town you can also stock up on fresh produce at the Elkins Farmers Market (Saturdays only) or find veggies, meats, soups, and bread at the Charm Farm Market.

Breakfast

Who doesn’t love eggs or pancakes cooked up on the camp stove or campfire? Did we mention that our farm markets have fresh eggs too?

Morning

1. There are a variety of trails in Kumbrabow to take to get a look at some prime fall foliage. Sitting at 3,855 feet, the observation platform on Buck Knob gives sweeping views of the forests below. Meatbox Run, Potato Hole, and Raven Rocks trails all offer short but steep climbs to the top in under 2 miles. Or you can try the Rich Mountain Fire Trail for a longer but more gradual ascent. However you get there, the view is worth it!
2. Continue west on Kumbrabow Forest Rd onto Turkey Bone Rd towards Pickens. This backroad will take you through more colorful forests and forests with a few overlooks for even more fall views.

Lunch + Afternoon

1. Continue past the town of Pickens to the small community of Helvetia. This historic village was settled by Swiss, German, and other European immigrants and is known for its unique festivals, architecture, and food!
2. There’s only one place to eat in Helvetia, but it’s worth the drive! The Hütte Restaurant serves homemade Swiss-Appalachian dishes like bratwurst on fresh bread, sauerkraut, and peach cobbler. If you come on a Sunday you try the sampler plate with a little bit of everything!
3. For even more local flavors, check out the Swiss Roots store. They sell local foods like Swiss-style cheese and maple syrup, along with pottery and other crafts.
4. After fueling up, take a hike on the Helvetia Historic Trail. This 2.5 trail follows the path of the original settlers who founded the community in 1869. This loop will take you past several of Helvetia’s historic buildings and uphill past some local farms.
5. When you’re ready, turn right at the only intersection in town onto Helvetia-Adolph Rd to head back to Mill Creek and then to Elkins to rest and recharge.

Dinner

Perhaps the best view of downtown Elkins is found at the Tygart Hotel, which houses the Oxley House restaurant with an updated seasonal menu every fall featuring Appalachian favorites. Foodies can taste an even more curated seasonal menu with Chef’s Table events at Smoke on the Water and The Forks.

Evening

All aboard the newest entertainment experience in Elkins! The Memories on the Mainline Show at the Railyard Event and Conference Center is a high-energy music and dance extravaganza through the decades, featuring hits from the 1950s through today. Sit back with a beverage, relax, and enjoy the show!

Breakfast

Start your day with a meal at one of our diners that serve breakfast all day, like the Lunchbox, K&K’s Cafe, or CK’s Diner. Enjoy an omelette, breakfast sandwich, or platter with your choice of eggs, meat, potatoes, and bread.

Morning

1. Our mountain air can get chilly in autumn, but you can warm up with a seasonal specialty drink from the Crossing Coffee Bar or the Good News Cafe. Yes, they have pumpkin spice! In addition to coffee, you can get salads or bagel sandwiches to go from TipTop. You can also grab a fresh to-go lunch from one of our local eateries to take with you.
2. Head east out of Elkins on US-33 and follow the signs for Stuart Recreation Area. You can stop at Stuart Park as it’s known by locals for a quick jaunt on the River Loop trail or to fish along the Shavers Fork, but you’ll eventually want to head up the mountain on Forest Road 91 to our top destination for fall vistas.
3. Locals and visitors alike agree that the best mountain scenery can be found at Bickle Knob Observation Tower. This former fire tower offers truly 360-degree views of the landscape and is just a short walk from the parking lot. But it’s near over 40 miles of hiking trails in the rugged Otter Creek Wilderness. Mix and match for an easy day hike or rugged backcountry backpacking along Otter Creek and other forested mountain streams.

Lunch

Enjoy a picnic lunch at the fire tower, or continue on Forest Road 91 for some other great spots to stop and snack, like Bear Heaven campground or the picnic area at Alpena Gap.

Afternoon

1. Continue on the forest road and you’ll come to several trailheads in Otter Creek Wilderness.
2. Try the Hedrick Camp Trail for an easy walk through the woods, the Shavers Mountain Trail for a longer and steeper ascent to the ridgeline, or take the namesake Otter Creek Trail for access to the other dozen trails.
3. Once you’ve hiked to your heart’s content, head east again on 33 to try some of our local libations.
4. Still Hollow Spirits in Job has everything from straight corn liquor to bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, and other special batches made with fresh locally sourced ingredients like maple syrup or herbs gathered right in the holler.
5. Boars Nest Distillery in Harman offers a variety of straight, flavored, and infused moonshines. They are constantly cooking up new flavors, and are sure to have some fall specials like apple pie. Both distilleries are the perfect stop before your hiking, camping, or fishing trip with the Allegheny Trail and Spruce Knob Lake nearby.

Dinner

As you head back to Elkins, you’ll pass the Lodge at Alpena. This stone building was built in 1939, and the restaurant has passed through many generations. Enjoy weekly specials, and even seafood.

Evening

If you still want to wet your whistle, there are several breweries in downtown Elkins. Fox Hops Brewery has a variety of classic microbrews and weekly events, and you can even taste pumpkin-spiced beer at Big Timber Brewing! Beer-lovers can find local, national, and international specialty brews at Brewstel. Don’t miss their rooftop patio for amazing views of downtown Elkins, perfect for easy leaf peeping!