All roads lead to fall in the Ohio Valley — and in Jefferson County, they take you somewhere worth stopping.
Fall in Jefferson County, Ohio, gives you plenty of reasons to get off the couch. The hills go gold and orange, the air turns cool, and the back roads through the Ohio Valley practically beg you to follow them. Good thing there are plenty of great places to end up.
Hit the trail: the best things to do in Jefferson County, Ohio, in fall
Start your weekend at Jefferson Lake State Park in Richmond. Nearly 18 miles of trails wind through oak and hickory hills with zero entrance fee. Choose the easy 2-mile Fernview Trail for a relaxed morning stroll, or push yourself on the rugged 4.5-mile Logan Trail. Either way, fall colors the 17-acre lake, and the silence here feels earned. The park opens at 6 a.m. — get there early, and you may have the trail to yourself.
Fresh from the orchard
From there, head south to Packer’s Orchard on US Route 250 in Adena. With more than 100 years of service to the community, this market is a county institution. Every item you find inside has been handpicked by the team or sourced from nearby local farms — nothing comes from far away and nothing sits long. The market stays open until the last apple is sold, so fall is the time to go. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., running through the end of October.
Sip and stay awhile: things to do in Jefferson County, Ohio, in the fall that slow you down
Just a short drive away on Route 250, Black Sheep Vineyard sits on a former sheep farm with sweeping views of the countryside. The lofted tasting room is cozy, and the wine is made right on site, running from dry to sweet. On Friday and Saturday evenings, local bands play, and a stone-fired pizza truck often pulls up out front. It is the kind of place you stay longer than you planned. Open Friday 1–10 p.m. and Saturday 1–11 p.m.
End the day right
Cap the weekend with dinner at Naples Spaghetti House in Steubenville, a local landmark in business since 1923. Celebrity photos adorn the walls, and they make the pasta sauce from scratch. But leave room for the cheesecake, or at least take a piece home for later. You will be glad you did. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Jefferson County is not hard to find. Just follow the color. And visit Steubenville.com and discover this part of Appalachia along the Ohio River.
