Blackwater Falls State Park

Absolutely love it here and can’t wait to go back! Have been twice, in fall and late spring, and stayed in the lodge both times. Go in early October if you can. The fall foliage is truly spectacular and the falls will be flowing heavily.
The lodge has a rustic feel with «enough» to do. The fitness center and pool are small but adequate and the game room kept my son entertained after dark. The restaurant has very good food with huge portions at a reasonable price. We’re very fond of the breakfast buffet on weekends. The gift shop has a nice selection at very reasonable prices. Staff were outstanding and offered us extra discounts on meals and lodging rates because we had a senior along in our group.
The only thing I didn’t love about our lodge stay is that the bathrooms in the guest rooms are rather small and steam up quickly but they have an older style heater/​fan which will clear the steam if you remember to turn it on. The furnishings are not the newest, but the room furniture appears to be well made out of real wood and really adds to the ambiance and charm of the place. With so much to do, we didn’t spend much time in the rooms. They did have flat screen tvs and cable for those of you who can’t disconnect. (I had no trouble with cell reception at any point on AT&T network.)
There is so much gorgeous scenery to view during the day and the towns of Thomas and Davis nearby offer some neat shops and artisan galleries, as well as some alternative dining options. We spent a few hours shopping along the main drag in Thomas and were quite happy with the treasures we found! The store fronts are very charming and the hospitality is second to none.
Definitely check out the main falls while you’re there. The wooden steps and viewing platform can get slippery when wet so wear appropriate shoes. There are plenty of trails to hike which are easy enough for even beginning hikers. Don’t miss Pendleton Point Overlook or Lindy Point as both provide a breathtaking view of the Blackwater Canyon. (Pendleton Point is just a stroll across the parking lot to access. Lindy Point does require a little hiking but is worth the trek!) The overlook from the backside of the lodge is also nice but not quite as impressive as the named overlooks.
The Nature Center is not fabulous but there are some trails behind the lake (accessible from Pendleton Point Overlook parking) which provided more photo ops and some welcome shade during our late spring visit.
Lodge rates are reasonable and they offer frequent off-​season specials. We would go several times per year if not for the five hour drive each way. Can’t wait to go back in the fall!

This was my third visit to Blackwater Falls State Park, and have seen the Blackwater finery in every season except winter. It is a lovely Park!
Being my first Spring visit, I was unprepared for the amount of water that the surrounding mountains shed — the Falls were crashing and the water was, indeed, black (ish).
There was still a lot of ice, combined with a lot of mud and the wooden walkways were extremely slippery, even in hikers.
We checked out many observation points and walked a few of the trails. Pleased to find that some of the trails had fresh gravel spread along the pathways, easing the mud and covering the roots.
Of course, Fall is the most splendid time to visit… but Spring and Summer are welcoming and beautiful, too.

Stayed at one of the deluxe cabins on a Tues and Weds night, they had a half price deal. The cabin had 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a HUGE kitchen with everything you could need, washer and dryer, a cozy living room/​dining room with a stone front gas fireplace, free wi-​fi, front and back decks, grill outside for those who like to cook out. It was immaculately clean like all WV state park lodges/​cabins. We went in late October, so we even had some snowfall, about 3 – 4 inches. The state park campgrounds are so beautiful. The viewing areas for the falls are well maintained. No worrying about if you can get a foothold, there are stairs leading down, and platforming at several levels, to the falls. The lodge is warm and cozy, with several areas to sit and enjoy a book, surf the web on your tablet, or even play a game or put together a puzzle, there is a cabinet of games and puzzles for everyone’s use in the lobby area. There is an indoor heated pool, and a fitness room with exercise equipment, and many outdoor hiking trails. I would stay here again any time, I loved it. There are two nearby towns, Davis, and Thomas, for shopping and dining outings. Thomas is an adorable little mountain town. If you’re looking to slow down your pace and enjoy some quality down time, make Blackwater Falls your destination. 4.5 stars, but upgraded to 5 because it snowed. :-)

I have to say… we went for a long weekend and stayed in one of their pet friendly cabins. We would most certainly go back. We had a WONDERFUL time. The cabin was just the right size and perfect. They keep them well maintained. The staff was terrific! And the trails and falls were just amazing! We had a total blast and our puppy dog was very happy with his little getaway as well.

Definitely worth the stop if you’re in the area. 214 stairs to the bottom where you can view the falls, worth getting out of the car and taking a walk. If you want an awesome mountain view drive over to Linday Point and walk the half mile trail out to the observation deck of the canyon and mountains. The gift shop is pretty good as well and all proceeds go to the park, not some company using our tax dollars to make money. The lodge is decent but like many lodges in WV, needs updated. To me this place is more of a dayhike stop than an overnight destination.

This is a nice park, we enjoyed the small hike to the smaller falls located close to the Lodge, and then the Handicap viewing area of the Falls. We didn’t take the 200+ Stairs down to the Falls. The Gift shop in the Lodge is nice, and the one by the Falls called the Trading Post is even bigger with more selections. We enjoyed our visit…

Scenic state park with views of Blackwater Falls. You can stay in a lodge or cabins. They have a snack shop and two gift stores in the park. Great for foliage in the fall and they have skiing in the winter.