Blackwater Falls Hike
Waterfall | West Virginia
0.4 mi round trip
Blackwater Falls Hike at a Glance
The Blackwater Falls hike via the Blackwater Falls Boardwalk Trail is 0.4 mi round trip.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,070 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Blackwater Falls Boardwalk Trail |
| Distance | 0.4 mi round trip |
Your time: about 10 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed). A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 80 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 0.4 mi distance for this hike is verified (hikingproject.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Blackwater Falls
Blackwater Falls is a waterfall in West Virginia, on land managed by Blackwater Falls State Park (West Virginia State Parks).
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Blackwater Falls Boardwalk Trail: 0.4 miles round trip, from Trading Post parking area. Distance from hikingproject.com.
Before You Go
- The boardwalk descends more than 200 steps to an observation deck beside the falls. (wvstateparks.com)
- The stairs can be icy and slippery in winter. (hikingproject.com)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Blackwater Falls State Park (West Virginia State Parks) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Blackwater Falls?
The Blackwater Falls Boardwalk Trail to Blackwater Falls is 0.4 miles round trip.
Where does the Blackwater Falls hike start?
It starts from Trading Post parking area.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Blackwater Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- hikingproject.com
- Distance
- hikingproject.com
- Falls location
- en.wikipedia.org
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Blackwater Falls.