Blackwater Falls Loop

The Blackwater Falls Loop is a 1.5-mile circuit combining boardwalk and rim trails in Blackwater Falls State Park, Tucker County, West Virginia. The loop is accessed from the main park area at 1584 Blackwater Lodge Road in Davis, with free day-use parking. No permit is required. The trail begins with a broad wooden staircase and boardwalk descending approximately 150 feet to the base observation area for Blackwater Falls, where the dark, tannin-stained waters of the Blackwater River plunge roughly 57 feet over a series of sandstone ledges. The amber color of the water results from tannic acid leached from fallen red spruce needles and sphagnum moss in the surrounding highland forest. From the falls platform, the path loops back along the gorge rim through a canopy of red spruce, hemlock, and mixed hardwoods above the river canyon. Additional spur trails lead to Elakala Falls, a series of smaller cascades visible upstream from the rim. The boardwalk and main stairs are surfaced with treated timber; some sections are steep but well-railed and suitable for most visitors. The terrain sits at approximately 3,100 feet above sea level, making the area noticeably cooler than lowland West Virginia in summer. No water sources beyond park lodge facilities are present at the trailhead. The loop is highly photogenic in every season: autumn turns the surrounding maples and aspens vivid orange and red, while winter snowfall creates dramatic ice formations at the frozen falls. The park lodge provides restrooms, a restaurant, and lodging nearby.