State Park · West Virginia
A West Virginia highlands classic near Davis: the amber-tinted 57-foot Blackwater Falls reached by a boardwalk of more than 200 steps, the Lindy Point overlook, a lodge, cabins, and a campground.
Field briefing
Blackwater Falls State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
It is a resort-style park with a lodge, cabins, and a campground, so you can make it a full weekend. Fall color is the peak draw, and winter adds skiing and a sled run.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool and wet, with the falls at their most powerful after snowmelt and spring rain.
Pack Rain shell, warm layers, and traction for wet boardwalk steps.
Mild at elevation, pleasant for hiking, paddling Pendleton Lake, and the falls.
Pack Layers for cool mornings, sun protection, and water for canyon-rim trails.
The signature season, with brilliant color over Blackwater Canyon and crisp air.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for shorter days, and grippy footwear for the boardwalk steps.
Cold and snowy, a destination for cross-country skiing, sledding, and frozen-falls views.
Pack Serious insulation, traction, and ski or sled gear for the winter trails and run.
Blackwater Falls
The 57-foot main falls, tinted amber by tannic acid from hemlock and spruce needles. Reach it by a boardwalk of more than 200 wooden steps to a lower deck, or the ADA-accessible Gentle Trail to an overlook.
Lindy Point Overlook
A short spruce-forest trail to a wooden platform on the canyon rim, one of West Virginia's most iconic and photographed viewpoints, especially at sunset.
Elakala Falls and Pendleton Point
Elakala Falls is a multi-tiered cascade on Shays Run a short walk from the lodge, and Pendleton Point Overlook gives sweeping views of the canyon's deepest stretch.
Check road and trail status before committing to the high-country version of the plan. For one day in Blackwater Falls State Park, make Blackwater Falls the non-negotiable, add Lindy Point Overlook only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Elakala Falls and Pendleton Point as the flexible finish.
Turn Blackwater Falls's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Blackwater Falls State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Blackwater Falls State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Blackwater Falls asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
This is a full resort park. You can stay at the lodge with its restaurant, in one of roughly 39 cabins, at glamping sites, or in the 65-site tent and trailer campground, all reservable online. The lodge and cabins are the comfort options for fall and winter; the campground is the budget base in the warm months. Nearby Davis and Thomas add inns, rentals, and dining when the park is full.
Camping reservations
Entry is free, but the lodge, cabins, glamping, and campground are the reservations that matter, and fall-color weekends in Blackwater Canyon fill fast.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
West Virginia State Parks handles lodge rooms, cabins, and campsites through its official lodging and camping reservation pages.
Where to book or verify
Official West Virginia State Parks lodging page for the lodge, cabins, glamping, and campsites.
Official park page for the falls, overlooks, trails, and winter recreation.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Treat the vehicle plan as part of the itinerary.
Road distance, road surface, fuel, and daylight can matter as much as the final trail or viewpoint.
Getting there
Car strategy
Blackwater Falls is just outside Davis in Tucker County, in the West Virginia highlands about three hours from both Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. A car is essential, and the final approach climbs into the high plateau near Canaan Valley.
Car strategy
Mountain weather changes fast and winter roads can be snowy, so check conditions and allow extra time, especially for the boardwalk steps when they are icy.
Pair this with lodging: the closest bed is not always the simplest one if road time, road quality, or fuel stops dominate.
The water gets its amber, root-beer tint from tannic acid released by fallen hemlock and red spruce needles upstream. The 57-foot main falls is the park's namesake, reached by a boardwalk of more than 200 wooden steps or the accessible Gentle Trail to an overlook.
No. West Virginia state parks, including Blackwater Falls, do not charge a day-use entrance fee. You pay only for the lodge, cabins, glamping, and campsites.
Lindy Point is the most iconic, a short spruce-forest walk to a wooden platform on the canyon rim, especially at sunset. Pendleton Point Overlook offers the widest view of the canyon's deepest stretch, and Elakala Falls is a short walk from the lodge.
Yes. The park is a popular winter destination with cross-country ski trails, a sled run, and dramatic frozen-falls views. The lodge and cabins stay open year-round, but check facility status and road conditions before a cold-weather trip.