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Where's the best place for fall foliage this weekend?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Regional Forester Tom Cover says foliage close to the New River Gorge Bridge should be near peak for this Saturday’s Bridge Day.

“Overall, this weekend should provide the best viewing opportunities for this area of West Virginia,” said Cover, who oversees West Virginia Division of Forestry operations in 16 counties in the eastern and southern portions of the state. “Foliage in the upper portion of the New River Gorge around Grandview is more advanced than foliage in the lower portions of the Gorge, but those mountain slopes will be showing excellent colors, including a variety of orange, yellow, gold and red.”

Cover reports Hawks Nest State Park also should be near peak this weekend.

While much attention will be focused on the southern part of the state this weekend for Bridge Day, good fall color also can be seen in other areas of West Virginia. A drive north along I-79 from Charleston is recommended. From Charleston to Big Otter, color is reported to be 20 percent to 30 percent peak, but from Big Otter to Weston, foliage is 40 percent to 60 percent peak with isolated pockets of exceptionally bright color.

Taking U.S. Route 33 from Weston to Buckhannon, foliage gradually increases from 40 percent peak to 85 percent peak. Continuing on U.S. Route 33 from Buckhannon to Elkins, color varies from 85 percent peak to 95 percent peak at higher elevations and back to 80 percent to 85 percent peak at Elkins. Very bright colors are reported along this stretch of road with reds, oranges and yellows taking center stage.

Leaving Elkins on U.S. Route 219 and heading to Parsons, color goes from 80 percent peak to 40 percent peak. Traveling from Parsons to Thomas, foliage increases to 80 percent peak as the elevation gets higher. Although the top of the mountain is past peak, there is still quite a bit of color reported.

Additional recommended drives and places of interest for the weekend include:

•Camp Creek State Forest in Mercer County

•Tomlinson Run State Park in Hancock County

•Any drive along the Cheat River

•Peters Mountain in Monroe County

•The Summersville and Craigsville areas of Nicholas County

•Greenbrier River Trail

•I-64 from Sandstone to Beckley

•Lower Elk River in Webster County

•State Route 16 in Calhoun and Pleasants counties

•State Route 18 in Doddridge and Tyler counties

Where's the best place to leaf peep this weekend?

State foresters recommend heading to the high country this weekend to see foliage at its peak. Perennial foliage hotspots, including Dolly Sods, Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley are reportedly either at peak or expected to peak over the next few days. In Pocahontas County, favorite foliage spots like Cheat Mountain, Snowshoe and the headwaters of the Greenbrier River are getting close to peak. The Highland Scenic Highway has good but scattered color.

The Silver Lake area of Preston County is approximately 60 percent peak and another recommended destination this weekend.

Pendleton County’s Spruce Knob is between 50 percent and 75 percent peak. A variety of yellow, orange and red hues are reportedly well worth the trip. The Allegheny Front and North Mountain also are must-see destinations.

Foresters in Morgan County report an abundance of color along the Cacapon River. The recommended drive is State Route 9 from Berkeley Springs toward Paw Paw, with a stop at the Panorama Overlook. The overlook includes views of three states, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as the Potomac and Cacapon Rivers.

WV state seal turns 150

The official state seal is 150 years old today.On September 26, 1863 lawmakers in the newly formed State of West Virginia adopted the State Seal designed…

The official state seal is 150 years old today.

On September 26, 1863 lawmakers in the newly formed State of West Virginia adopted the State Seal designed by Joseph Hubert Diss Debar of Doddridge County.

In the 150 years since, the state seal has never been changed. The front of the Seal, which shows a coal miner and farmer representing industry and agriculture, a rock engraved with the date of statehood, and two rifles crossed beneath the Cap of Liberty, has become a symbol of West Virginia. According to the West Virginia Encyclopedia, the seal was designed and adopted with two sides, but only the front or obverse is in common use.

The reverse side of West Virginia’s official state seal.

The reverse side of the seal is the governor’s seal. It is encircled by a wreath of laurel and oak leaves. A wooded mountain is on the left and a slope with a log farmhouse on the right. On the side of the mountain is a representation of the Tray Run Viaduct, as an engineering feat of the time, and a train about to pass over the viaduct. A factory, fronted by a river with boats, a derrick and a shed, and a meadow with sheep and cattle grazing indicate the leading characteristics and products of the state. Above, the sun emerges from the clouds, and the rays of the sun contain the Latin phrase ‘‘Libertas E Fidelitate,’’ which means ‘‘Freedom and Loyalty.’’

The Secretary of State is the official keeper of the state seal.