Blackwater Falls State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Blackwater Falls State Park is a scenic park located in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia.
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Summary
The park is home to several notable waterfalls, including the namesake Blackwater Falls, which is a 57-foot cascade that tumbles over dark-colored rocks. The park is also home to several hiking trails, including the Blackwater Canyon Trail, which offers stunning views of the gorge and river below.
In addition to hiking, visitors to Blackwater Falls State Park can enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating in the park's many lakes and streams. The park also offers various winter sports activities, such as skiing and snowshoeing.
One interesting fact about the park is that the water in Blackwater Falls is tinted black due to the tannic acid in the hemlock and red spruce needles that fall into the water. Additionally, the park is home to several species of rare and endangered plants, such as the Virginia bunchflower and the large-flowered skullcap.
The best time to visit Blackwater Falls State Park is in the fall, when the leaves on the trees change color and the park is awash in shades of red, orange, and yellow. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy in all seasons.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Blackwater Falls State Park
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Camp Site 6
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Camp Site 7
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Horseshoe Recreation and Campground Area
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Brian's place
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Red Creek Campground
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Canaan Valley State Park
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Wilderness Otter Creek
Wilderness Dolly Sods
Bear Rocks Preserve