How To Give a Warm Greeting to the Fall Season in Lynchburg

Leaves crunching underfoot when walking to classes, breaths showing in the early hours of the morning and pumpkin spice on every coffee shop menu mark the beginning of fall. 

Whether you are a college student, working adult or family member, there are many fall-related activities in the Lynchburg area, all available for those who wish to get into the fall spirit. 

From fall festivals to pumpkin patches, here are some great ideas to spice up your season.

1. Yoders’ Farm 

Yoders’ Farm is one of the best places to get into the fall spirit. At Yoders’, there are many different activities, including a corn maze, a large pumpkin patch and pumpkin picking. Admission to the farm is always free, so you only need to pay for the activities that you are interested in doing, such as $8 for entrance into the corn maze (or $7 if you are a college student). The farm also offers a snack shack where customers can buy funnel cake and apple cider and a farm store that carries jams, jellies and seasonal baked goods. Yoders’ Farm is also a prime location for taking the perfect fall Instagram picture. This is a family-run farm, which helps to create a feeling of home for the guests.

“Our goal as a family is to emulate the godly heritage we have received,” the family said. “We want to continue serving as stewards of this piece of Campbell County ground that they were glad to call home.”

Yoders’ Farm is located at 1134 Browns Mill Rd. Rustburg, Virginia. 

2. Cole Mountain

The ambiance of the fall season is created not only by the weather but also by the beautiful leaves, which are best experienced while hiking. There are many hikes in the Lynchburg area, but according to Liberty alumna Mikayla Christiansen, the Cole Mountain hike provides one of the best fall sceneries in the area. This is an easy hike that does not require any type of climbing or treacherous terrain. While the hike is about 6.3 miles round trip, the view will be worth the climb. The hike is also free for those looking to get into the fall spirit while also keeping a budget. 

“Cole Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in the fall,” Christiansen said. “It’s nice to just be surrounded by nature and exercise your body at the same time.”

Cole Mountain is an hour’s drive from campus, and the trail entrance can be found by typing “Cole Mountain Trail” into a preferred maps application. Make sure to dress for chilly temperatures. 

3. Thrifting

With the weather starting to get colder, it is time to bring out the new wardrobe. Thrifting can be a great way to find new fall pieces to add to the closet. From sweaters to turtlenecks, they all can be found at your local thrift shop with a little bit of searching. There are many thrifting options in the Lynchburg area. Some of the best-known places for scoring fall pieces are the Goodwill in Madison Heights, Empire Fleet Vintage and Vagabonds Vintage. 

4. Woodruff’s Pie

Nothing says fall like a comforting dessert. Located in Monroe, Virginia, Woodruff’s Pie is a small, locally-owned pie shop. Types of pies vary by season and the ingredients’ availability and are sold by the slice or by the whole pie. Some of the flavors include apple crumb, buttermilk and pecan. Woodruff’s also has a small food menu as well. 

There are many other places to celebrate fall in the Lynchburg area. Some honorable mentions include apple picking at orchards like Johnson’s, Drumheller’s and Morris, Layman Family Farm, local fall festivals, trunk or treats and the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Farmerie is a feature writer.