Posted Oct. 1, 2016 | Updated Sept. 22, 2020

Virginia has something special up her sleeve come October, it's called fall.

This magic happens every year like clockwork as the temperatures drop low after a hot summer, the sap in the trees begins to cool and the pigment of the leaves start to change. A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not quite freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays. Then by mid to end of October the leaves are leaping off the trees en-masse.

Reading this now might be the first time for many of us to begin thinking about our leaf peeping getaways. Fall at Fairy Stone State Park is a leaf peepers dream come true - centrally located for day trips up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding foothills.  Now is a great time to plan our next escape.

Early morning the lake is magical at Fairy Stone State Park.

Quiet time to reflect.

Cabins through the trees at Fairy Stone State Park.

If you are like me, a fully-fledged leaf peeper and are fortunate enough to plan ahead you can take full advantage of the beautiful fall colors at Virginia State Parks. 

People ask me what is my favorite fall park, and I will always give a couple answers, as I love lakes, I love rivers, I love overlooks and I love Virginia State Parks. But overwhelmingly, in second place to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a fall road trip, would have to be Fairy Stone State Park in Patrick County Virginia. 

WHERE'S THE PARK?

Located just 1-hour drive from Roanoke VA and 1 1/2 hours from Greensboro NC, Fairy Stone State Park is the leaf peepers' ideal destination. You can make easy day trips to Mabry Mill and the Blue Ridge Parkway, nearby Philpott Lake and the surrounding Blue Ridge Foothills. Click here for Google map directions.

If you're a leaf peeper and haven't been to Fairy Stone State Park in the fall, you are missing out. Fall at Fairy Stone State Park is a leaf peepers dream come true. Centrally located for day trips up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding foothills, see more nearby attractions here.

SCENIC DRIVE OR RIDE

Use the custom Google map below to see local sites of interest when you use Fairy Stone as your base camp for the top scenery in the area. This is my personal list of favorites and it is mapped as a drive or ride, click the map for a larger view:

Click map to view to drive/ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and foothills from Fairy Stone.

INSIDER TIP

The leaves really begin to reach peak color at Fairy Stone State Park toward the end of October, and incidentally my photos on this blog were all taken the first week of November. Most leaf peeping is done too soon in my estimation, as we enjoy the harvest festivals with the corn mazes and tractor rides, the pumpkin patches and hot milled cider. But the leaves hold on until we all go home, then burst on the scene with brilliant color.

If you can escape to the great outdoors toward the end of October you will be greatly rewarded. Sure you can go for the day, but you typically can't experience the immense beauty of the autumn dawn unless you stay overnight in the park. There is something extra special waking up in a park cabin in the fall.

Fall lake view from inside the master bedroom of cabin 2.

Quietly night falls as a gentle hush throughout the park.

TAKE A HIKE

Crisp leaves underfoot on the hiking trails.

Hunt for Fairy Stones at the secret hunting ground (ask the park office for directions).

Many of the trails are wide open, and the views grand. Most of the park's Little Mountain Trail System, 10 miles, is multi-use. Multi-use trails are open to hiking, cycling and horseback riding. The remaining trails, parts of the Little Mountain system and all of the Stuart's Knob system, are for pedestrian use only. See the park trail guide here.

BONUS TIP

Every Thursday or Friday any cabins that are not reserved for that coming weekend are 25% off if you call the Customer Service Center directly, and mention "Last Minute Special" 800-933-7275. So if you are unable to plan in advance, call and see if they have anything available spur of the moment. Note: Cabins 1-9 are CCC era log cabins.

Fairy Stone State Park is one of the original six Virginia State Parks that opened in 1936. She's still as popular as ever, so be sure to check this out before the cabins are all filled up. If you can't get one, maybe consider roughing it in a yurt. 

Learn more about Fairy Stone State Park,  reserve a cabin or check availability online or call 800-933-7275 regular business hours.