Blackwater Falls

One for the list

Is it plungeworthy?

—feet tall

A waterfall on Blackwater River.

Scale12/60

Documentation15/20

Character8/20

The details

Watercourse: Blackwater River
Coordinates: 39.11379, -79.48334

Get directions →

About Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls is a waterfall in West Virginia, on Blackwater River.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Blackwater Falls 3.5/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

West Virginia's postcard: 57 feet of amber, tannin-stained water — brewed by upstream spruce and hemlock bogs — thundering into the Blackwater Canyon. A paved ADA overlook on one side, two hundred steps to the spray on the other.

Getting there

Trailhead: Gentle Trail (paved overlook) and the Boardwalk stairway, Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis
Parking: Free lots by the trailheads
Road: Paved park roads off WV-32
Hike: 0.5 mi round trip, 200 ft of climb (easy overlook; 200+ steps to the lower deck)
Heads up: Twenty more miles of park trails, plus Elakala's famous swirls a short walk from the lodge.

When to go

Spring melt for max volume, October for the canyon in flame, deep winter for the falls half-frozen into amber glass.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: None — free
Dogs: Leashed
Hours: 6am–10pm
Camping: Park campground late April–October; lodge and cabins year-round
Warnings: The stairs ice early and thaw late; stay on the platforms.

Researched from WV State Parks — Blackwater Falls · Wikipedia — Blackwater Falls State Park. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Blackwater Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.