Blackwater Falls State Park: 1 Day Itinerary

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Discover the beauty of Blackwater Falls State Park, a hidden gem in the heart of West Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains! This stunning destination is the perfect place for an outdoor adventure. With picturesque waterfalls, vibrant forests, and endless activities, there’s no shortage of fun here. Whether you’re up for hiking scenic trails, cozying up in comfortable accommodations, or enjoying a delicious meal with a breathtaking view, Blackwater Falls State Park has it all. This itinerary is designed to help you make the most of your day, highlighting the park’s must-see spots and delightful surprises along the way. Let’s dive in and explore this amazing park!

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

If you’re considering staying within the park — and I highly recommend it — there are three lodging options available.

The first option is The Lodge, which offers over 50 hotel-style rooms, each with breathtaking views of the stunning gorge. And the views from the back patio of The Lodge are among the best in the park.

The second option is to stay in one of the 40 fully furnished, cozy cabins located throughout the park. They offer both one- and two-bedroom options, and they even offer 10 pet-friendly cabins.

Our favorite option is the campground, which features 65 electric tent and trailer sites. The campground includes amenities such as a bathhouse, laundromat, and dump station. The sites are spacious with lovely forest views. And you’ll even have an excellent chance of spotting wildlife, particularly deer, in the mornings and evenings.

All three lodging options are available year-round and can be reserved online—Staying at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Dining:

The Smokehouse Restaurant at The Lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hours may vary by season, so please check the website for the current schedule. Just like the rest of the lodge, the restaurant offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, there are two seasonal options: a snack bar at the Trading Post near the Blackwater Falls parking lot and trailhead, and The Warming Hut, located near the sled run.

For more food options outside the park, check out the towns of Davis and Thomas, WV.

Must Know Before You Go:

The park is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
You could easily spend more than one day here. We’ve spent weeks here. The activities offered include more than just hiking. Depending on the season, they have biking, disc golf, boating, fishing, geocaching, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even a sled run.
While sightings are rare, black bears are present inside the park. Please review wildlife safety before heading out.
Please grab a map before heading out on any trail. Each trail in the park will be marked with a different color blaze. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
As always, please follow Leave No Trace principles.

1 Day Itinerary

Stop 1: Falls of Elakala (RED)

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 100+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the lodge parking lot. The trailhead starts at the southwest side of the lot.

Start your day right at the lodge with the beautiful Elakala Falls Trail. Although this trail is designated as easy by both the park and AllTrails, be prepared for some scrambling if you want a good view of either waterfall.

From the trailhead, follow the red blazes as you make your way down through the forest. After crossing the bridge, follow the trail as it curves to the right. Shortly after the bridge, you’ll find a short but steep side trail on your right that leads down to the first waterfall along Shays Run. You will have to maneuver lots of rocks and roots, but once you’re at the bottom, you’ll be able to walk close enough to the falls to feel the spray of the water on your face.

Next, head about halfway back up the spur trail. Continue downstream a bit further to reach the second set of falls. While this set is smaller and a little harder to locate, it’s still a beautiful sight as the water cascades down the rocky steps.

After checking out the second set of falls, head back up to the main path and continue until you come to the road. From there, you could continue on the loop towards Balanced Rock or turn around and head back to the trailhead. If you only have one day at Blackwater Falls State Park, skip Balanced Rock, so you have time for everything else on this itinerary. Adding the Balanced Rock loop will add 1.5 miles onto your hike. Follow the orange blazes.

Stop 2: Blackwater Falls Trail

Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 100+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Trading Post Lot.

If your knees can handle it, I recommend starting the loop at the trailhead on the east side of the parking area. This direction is steeper than the other, but I prefer hiking down it, rather than up.

The first half of the trail is short but steep and consists of lots of loose gravel, so watch your step! Once you reach the boardwalk stairs and the Almost Heaven swing, you will then need to descend over 200 steps to get to two overlooks of the stunning 60-foot falls. Since the falls are tucked into the gorge, the best time to take photos on a sunny day is around noon when the sun is directly overhead. At that time, you may even be rewarded with some spectacular rainbows in the waterfall.

After visiting both observation decks, head back up the stairs and take the path on your left to return to the parking area. The path to the left has a more gradual ascent than the path on your right.

Stop 3: Pendleton Point Overlook

After visiting Blackwater Falls, make your way to the Pendleton Point Overlook. It’s just a short walk from the parking area to the observation platform. From this vantage point, you can enjoy breathtaking mountain views of the surrounding landscape and the river below. This view is awe-inspiring year-round, but extra impressive in the fall when the leaves are changing color.

Stop 4: Albert, Teresa, Douglas, and Kennedy Falls

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 50+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the lot by the gate- just past the iron bridge where the road ends and the Blackwater Canyon Trail begins. There will be a sign stating “no motor vehicles past this point.”

This next adventure will guide you to four stunning waterfalls along the North Fork of the Blackwater River. Start your journey in the town of Thomas via WV-32. Take a left onto Douglas Road, and after one mile, make a slight left onto Rail Falls Road. This road will eventually turn into the Blackwater Canyon Trail at the gate.

The first waterfall you will encounter is Albert Falls, located less than a mile from the Douglas Road split, and located off the road, not the trail. Although it stands only 8 to 10 feet tall, the sight of water cascading over the rocky ledge into a basin of bright blue water is breathtaking. Be careful if you plan on exploring the bottom of the falls. The short trail down is steep and often muddy. The rocks at the bottom are also very slick, so be careful where you step!

Next is Teresa Falls, approximately 0.3 miles farther down Rails Falls Road, just past the historic iron bridge whose size and wooden planks might leave you wondering whether it can support your car. After crossing the bridge, park in the designated lot, and you’ll find Teresa Falls just beyond that area. Although it is the smallest of the four falls, at about 4 to 6 feet tall, the large, smooth orange rock over which the water slides is pretty impressive. When water levels are low, this waterfall is the easiest to explore, giving you access to both the top and bottom with very minimal effort.

Continue on the Blackwater Canyon Trail for about 0.2 miles. From the top, the view of the next waterfall is limited, so you will need to take the steep, rocky path down to the base of Douglas Falls, which stands at a soaring 35 feet. There is a large area to explore here, and if you follow the water downstream, you can see the entirety of the spectacular cascades. Again, just watch your step- the rocks around the falls are slick.

After you finish exploring Douglas Falls, climb back up the rocky cliffside to return to the main path. From there, continue another 0.2 miles. You will be able to see and hear Kennedy Falls from the main path; however, if you are willing to brave the cliffside, which has ropes for support, you can make your way down to the base for an even more impressive view of the roaring 25-foot falls.

Once you’ve taken in the sights at Kennedy Falls, retrace your steps back to the car.

Stop 5: Lindy Point (ORANGE)

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 50+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the small lot at the end of Canaan Loop Road, right next to the trailhead. This lot fills up fast, so if you are heading there for sunset, plan on arriving early.

The last stop of the day is gorgeous all day long, but it truly shines at sunset. And in the fall, the colors are absolutely award-worthy. This is an easy walk through a low canopy of trees that opens up at the end to a small viewing platform and several flat rock outcroppings, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the river below. This is one of my favorite spots in all of West Virginia. If you visit for sunset, be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp to help you find your way back to your vehicle. Additionally, please exercise caution near all cliff ledges, especially around the observation platform.