Cooler weather means things in the Greater Summersville Area are heating up.
Discover new ways to keep enjoying one of West Virginia’s favorite outdoor destinations long after the summer months have come and gone.
Leaf Peeping and Trail Blazing
This fall, see the Little Bahamas of the East in roaring color. Come mid-October, the autumnal season is settling into the region and bringing with it lower temperatures and wild and wonderful fun.
Any hike, bike, walk, or ride through the area is sure to offer up plenty to see and plenty of places to see it all. Open daily through the end of October—then by reservation through March—the lighthouse at Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse is a great place for 360-degree views of fall foliage from 104 feet above the ground. The Long Point Trail is one of the most popular trails in the area for a reason: the 4-mile out-and-back trail earns you a view that’s sure to take your breath away any time of the year, but especially so when the leaves have taken on warmer hues. Not in the mood for a hike? The Long Point Overlook just off Route 129 is an easily accessible place to see the lake from a slightly different perspective.
Commemorate the season and its beauty with a picture at the area’s Almost Heaven Swing, tucked back off the parking lot at Summersville Lake State Park. Since you’re already there, make the less-than-a-mile hike out to Pirates Cove, a popular climbing location with unbeatable views.
And don’t forget Richwood! This Mon Forest Town provides stunning fall views everywhere you look. Plan to stroll down Main Street and check out the local businesses there before heading straight into the Monongahela National Forest by following Route 39 right through the heart of town. Travel the 43-mile Highland Scenic Highway from Richwood for a road trip through the Allegheny Highlands that is sure to leave you in awe.
On the Gauley
Lake season may be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean your time on the water is done quite yet. In Greater Summersville, the fall means Gauley Season, the most anticipated time of year for whitewater rafters. As Summersville Lake begins its yearly release, the Gauley River’s rapids turn up the heat for a too-short six weeks. Whether you decide to put your skills to the test of the Class V rapids of the Upper Gauley or choose something a little tamer on the Lower Gauley, you are sure to have a blast only the fall can bring.
In honor of this beloved time of year, the annual Gauley Fest at Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park brings together live entertainment, vendors, raffles, a silent auction, and time on the water for four days of fun. Celebrations take place September 18–21, 2025.
Head on over to visitgreatersummersville.com to start planning your fall adventure to the Greater Summersville Area.
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