Nestled high in the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls Campground puts you right in the heart of one of West Virginia's most dramatic landscapes. Wake up surrounded by towering hardwoods and evergreens, with the thundering Blackwater Falls just a short walk away and canyon overlooks revealing miles of wilderness. Every site comes with electric hookups, hot showers are steps away in the central bathhouse, and 20 miles of trails await at your doorstep.
65 tent and trailer sites with electric hookups; sites 1–30 noted as open year‑round with reduced services in the off season.
Historical Significance
Blackwater Falls is one of West Virginia's most recognizable natural features; the 'black' (amber) water is colored by tannic acid from surrounding vegetation. The park and canyon are long‑standing focal points for tourism and regional nature appreciation in Tucker County.Weather and SeasonsEach season transforms this mountain campground into a completely different experience. Autumn steals the show with explosions of gold and crimson foliage painting the canyon walls, while summer opens up the full trail network and invites you to paddle Pendleton Lake under sunny skies. Spring unleashes the waterfall at its most powerful—prepare for mist and mud alongside the wildflower blooms—and winter blankets the gorge in snow, creating postcard views perfect for sledding (though campground services scale back between November and March, with sites 1–30 staying open for hardy cold-weather campers).
Natural Features and SceneryThe campground's namesake waterfall is impossible to ignore—57 feet of amber-stained water plunging into the rugged eight-mile Blackwater Canyon below. The river's distinctive tea color comes from tannic acid leached from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles, giving the entire gorge an otherworldly glow. Beyond the falls, you'll find boulder-jumbled streams winding through dense rhododendron tunnels, the serene waters of Pendleton Lake reflecting the surrounding ridges, and jaw-dropping overlooks like Lindy Point and Pendleton Point where the canyon opens up before you in all its rocky, forested glory.
Geological RegionAllegheny Mountains (Tucker County); Blackwater Canyon gorge
Scenic ViewsClose access to the main Blackwater Falls overlooks and boardwalks, with panoramic canyon views from Lindy Point and additional rim viewpoints (Pendleton Point and other overlooks) that are especially notable at sunrise and sunset.
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