A drive around this 900-square-mile paradisiacal expanse will allow folks from all around to see how quickly fall has come to the Allegheny Mountains and, in particular, Pocahontas County, home to Snowshoe Mountain and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

Colors of fall come first to the west side of the Alleghenies because several August mornings temperatures dipped down to the mid and high 40. While around the region people kicked off covers during the hot and humid nights, people here were sleeping under blankets and taking the chill off with fires in their fireplaces. Here they know winter can sneak up on them.

Native American Indian legend has it that celestial hunters slew the Great Bear autumn and the spilled blood turned the leaves red. "Other legends persist as well, but we know today that the changes are the result of chemical processes taking place in the tree as the growing season ends," a spokesperson said.

In addition to green chlorophyll, leaves also contain yellow or orange carotenoids. For most of the year, the little bit of yellow/orange carotenoid color is hidden by the huge amounts of green chlorophyll. But, in the fall, the food factories shut down for the winter. The chlorophyll breaks down and the green fades away, letting the yellow and orange carotenoids blaze forth, giving autumn its eruption of brilliant color.

At the same time, other chemical changes occur, giving rise to more pigments which vary from yellow to red to blue.

"It is to these changes we owe the reds and purples of sumac, the brilliant orange or fiery red and yellow of sugar maples, and the golden bronze of beech," the spokesperson said.

Some excellent driving vantage points to take in the breathtaking color in Pocahontas County include: Highland Scenic Highway, Route 39 from the Virginia line west to Richwood, Route 219 south to Hillsboro Route 29 (Lobelia Road) which crosses Caesars' Mountain and ends on Droop Mountain. Forest Service Road 14 off state Route 28 going east from Bartow offers drivers a kaleidoscope of color.

Bicycling or walking points are best along the Greenbrier River Trail access in Marlinton and go either north toward Cass or south toward Caldwell. Trails along the Scenic Highway also offer riders and hikers a visual color palette.

According to the West Virginia Department of Forestry, a late spring or severe summer drought can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. A warm fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors. A warm, wet spring, favorable summer weather and warm, sunny fall days with cool nights produce the most brilliant autumn colors.

According to Abbey Withrow, president and CEO of the Pocahontas County Tourism office, people begin planning their trip to see the leaves in early to mid August.

"We get dozens of calls from people wanting to know what the best time is to come here and view the beautiful color," Withrow said, adding that the best time is now through Oct. 10. However, she said "rain and cold weather could affect those dates."

For more information about color changes in the high mountains of the Alleghenies call the Pocahontas County CVB at 800-336-7009.