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Submission
FROM CHARLESTON AND CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA: Take I-79 N. to Rt. US 33 E at Weston. Follow 33 E to Harman WV, then take 32 N to Davis, WV. FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA: Take I-66 W to I-81 S near Strasburg VA. Follow I-81 S a short distance to the exit for Rt. 55 W. Stay on 55 W through Petersburg to Harman, WV. At Harman take Rt. 32 N to Davis, WV.
"Leaf Peeping" at Blackwater Falls State Park did not disappoint. Viewed the falls from halfway down the 200+ stairs at the boardwalk, then walked back up the emergency road to avoid some of the steps. Also viewed the falls from the Gentle Trail. Stopped at many of the overlooks for amazing fall foliage views. The bridge over the Blackwater River was also stunning. Nice restrooms in the park, a lodge with the Smokehouse restaurant, rooms, and a gift shop, as well as a trading post near the Blackwater Falls Boardwalk. Highly recommend a visit. There are many other spots we have yet to explore, so we will be back.
Great park to visit for a day. Has a lot of hiking trails with lots of nice overlooks of the river and waterfalls. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.
Our three person crew decided to venture down to the waterfall after a fun day of sledding, and we are so glad we did! The temperature the day we visited was around 15°F with the windchill being around 5°F. There were several inches of snow the night before, which also helped our journey down the stairs to the falls.
Hikers should be able to walk about 200 stairs in order to make it to the observation at the Falls!
The park does not remove snow on the stairs, or the path to the falls. When the temperatures are below freezing, there is a high risk of ice. To avoid falling on the ice, our crew decided on the sit and slide approach when we reached the staircases.
Luckily, several different hiker groups told us that it was easier going up than it was down, and that turned out to be true for our hike too. It was easier going up because our shoes had a toehold on the stairs. There was also a significant amount of snow on our hike, which helped provide grip over the ice.
We did see blood on some of the snow leading down the stairs, so it appears someone had an injury navigating. It definitely was a challenge in our weather conditions, but a partially frozen waterfall was absolutely stunning.
Love this area so much even during the first snowfall of the season! It was very slippery bit beautiful! This was my 2nd time to this place and I definitely recommend going during the off season when there is less people. This was amazing during this time. Quiet, peaceful, and no crowds. Such a beautiful place!
Blackwater Falls State Park was the absolute BEST venue for our Summer 2023 wedding. My family has been coming to Blackwater Falls since I was a little girl. My partner and I got married at Pendleton Point with 150 guests overlooking the breathtaking West Virginia views. Our guests loved the lodge and our immediate family adored the large cabins so close to the venue site. There are so many spots for stunning photos and hiking experiences inside the park. The towns of Thomas and Davis, WV are so fun to explore. We are so so grateful for Blackwater Falls State Park, Lois Reed (the lodge manager), and all the wonderful memories formed here. I highly recommend Blackwater Falls State Park for weddings, events, picnics, and a weekend escape!
