Blackwater Falls State Park

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 West-virginia — Iconic 57-foot waterfall where amber-colored water plunges over sandstone — the water is stained dark by tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles! The Blackwater Canyon is called the “Grand Canyon of the East” and the surrounding Canaan Valley receives 180+ inches of snow annually!

Visitor Information

About Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County features a dramatic 57-foot waterfall where the Blackwater River plunges over a sandstone ledge into a mile-long canyon. The water’s dark amber color — caused by tannic acid from fallen red spruce and hemlock needles — gives the river and falls their name. The park sits at 3,100 feet elevation on the Allegheny Plateau, creating a climate zone more like New England than the mid-Atlantic.

Things to Do

Viewing the 57-foot falls from the boardwalk, hiking the canyon rim, cross-country skiing (100+ inches of snow annually), staying at the lodge (54 rooms), fishing, mountain biking, and exploring the “Canada of West Virginia.”

Plan Your Visit

The lodge (54 rooms) and cabins (26) fill quickly — reserve months ahead for fall foliage season (mid-October). The 57-foot falls are accessible via a 214-step boardwalk from the main parking lot. Elakala Falls (4 cascading waterfalls) requires a moderate hike. Blackwater Canyon has some of the best cross-country skiing in the Mid-Atlantic (100+ inches of snow). Canaan Valley Resort and Timberline Mountain ski areas are 15 minutes south.

Insider Tips

Unreconstructed rebel: Robert Toombs was Georgia’s most defiant Confederate — he served as Confederate Secretary of State but refused to seek a pardon after the war, declaring “I am not loyal to the existing government.” Pro tip: Toombs fled to Europe to avoid arrest after the war, returning to Georgia where he lived defiantly until 1885. Washington, GA: The town of Washington claims to be the last meeting place of the Confederate Cabinet (1865).

Best Time to Visit

Spring/fall: Best touring weather. Year-round: House tours and exhibits. Summer: Full programming. Winter: Quiet visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Confederate leaders after the war?

Most Confederate leaders eventually received pardons and rejoined American society — Jefferson Davis was imprisoned for two years, then released. Robert E. Lee became a college president. But Robert Toombs was one of the few who never sought pardon or reconciliation — he remained defiant until death. His house in Washington, Georgia tells the story of a man who never accepted the war’s outcome.