Blackwater falls & the canaan loop trail
In the heart of West Virginia lies the treasure to be seen that is Black Water Falls. Accessible via the Appalachian Highway on normal paved roads, or through the more treacherous Canaan Loop Trail. Myself and a few friends decided to take the more rugged off-road route via the Canaan Loop Trail. The trail includes beautiful like Table Rock, Lindy Point, and Elekala Falls before finally reaching Blackwater Falls itself. Armed with GoPros, Drones, and of course my trusty Canon camera we were able to document much of the venture from various viewpoints, and managed to capture a lot of beautiful sights, along with even more memories. Table Rock is approximately a 2.3 mile, lightly trafficked and slightly strenuous hike that opens up to breathtaking views atop a massive natural rock formation. The Table Rock trail head also marks the beginning of the unmanaged section of the Canaan Loop Trail. Completing this trailhead will be undoable without an off-road ready vehicle, keen eyed spotters, and the ability to choose proper approach angles and exits, but it is worth the effort for the fun that can be had. The trail itself hold amazing views, creek crossings, mud holes, and rock ascents/descents. I was personally in my 2017 Toyota Tacoma, Sophie and her crew in a Subaru Outback, and Dj in his Ford F150. Around halfway through the drive we pulled over, set up the portable stoves and were able to sneak in a meal of Sausages, and Steaks (although I managed to forget the buns). After a couple hours on the Canaan Loop Trail and many trail portions that had the group scratching our heads, we managed to pull into the parking area of Lindy Point. Lindy Point is a short hike on a well maintained trail, that is moderately traversed (however it was very busy at our time of arrival), and offers amazing views from a manmade deck area. We were lucky enough to be there in peak season for fall foliage and I was able to get the shot which I call “Red Rolling Hills.” After returning back to our vehicles, we then made our way to the primary goal that was BlackWater Falls, more specifically, the handicap ramp of the state park. This is where I’ve taken one of my favorite images to date, with beautiful foliage, and cascading water, as well as a few sightseers on the low deck to give scale to just how grand the falls are. BlackWater Falls is always a worthwhile trip, this being my 5th venture there, having a different experience every time. Drone footage courtesy of Sophie LeGore @LeGoreDrones on Instagram!
BlackWater Falls as viewed from the handicap accessible ramp
