Glade Creek Grist Mill
New River Gorge, West Virginia · 2,277 ft
Typical peak
Oct 13 – Oct 21
moderate confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best under flat overcast
A working reconstruction of a 19th-century mill sits directly over the ledges of Glade Creek, with maples closing the hollow on three sides. Flat overcast light holds detail in the white water and the weathered board siding at the same exposure.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Enter Babcock State Park off WV 41 near Clifftop and park in the mill lot 50 yards from the building.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- hickory
- tulip poplar
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 17Typical color progression for Glade Creek Grist Mill. No change from Sep 9 to Sep 26. First color from Sep 26 to Oct 5. Approaching peak from Oct 5 to Oct 13. Peak from Oct 13 to Oct 21. Past peak from Oct 21 to Oct 31. Bare from Oct 31 to Nov 14.
Glade Creek Grist Mill is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
63°F / 41°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Glade Creek Grist Mill on October 17, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:07 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 101° | 7:34 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 36 min of low, warm light | 8:09 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:09 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 36 min before sunset | 6:08 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 259° | 6:44 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:10 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 10m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.