Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night. Two loops - one with electric sites and one without. Very reasonable rates - $25 for electric ($22.50 with senior discount) plus you don’t need a state parks sticker as you do for other states. Rates are also the same for residents and non-residents. Not all sites are level and some are very close together (which would be good for people camping together). Inside sites have no privacy between them; some of the outside sites have some trees offering privacy. Flush toilets and showers plus coin laundry. Bathrooms were clean but although the showers appeared to have new shower heads, they were a bit sketchy looking (shower shoes would be a definite). Very limited cell service but WiFi is available in the lodge and cabins. Great hiking trails.

Great state park in WV

This is great camping at a low cost!  They have tent sites available and camping with electric!  Plenty of trees and great amount of shade!!!  You will enjoy the wildlife in this park!  There are a bunch of trails to explore!  There are a few over looks that provides a beautiful view!!!!  And of course there are gorgeous waterfalls!!!  Take a hike you can get pretty close to a few of them!  Happy Camping!!!

Stay the night, enjoy the water falls!

The hike to the Fall was short and well maintained. Had a little gift shop and plenty of place to pic nick if wanted. Nice for camping and a family trip

Hiking

Great place for a day trip. The falls are beautiful, the trails are nice. Good place to have a picnic and spend the day. 

Very scenic

Sites are nice and clean - great, easily accessible, beautiful waterfalls!

Beautiful Falls!

Our site was near the edge of the campground, which is basically a large grassy area with a bathroom in the middle of the loop. It didn't provide much shade (though some sites are more shaded) but it was good for watching a storm roll in and stargazing at night. The bathrooms aren't anything to write home about, but they were kept clean by the park employees. There's plenty to do in the park including walking down the steps to view its namesake waterfall, and hikes to beautiful views of the gorge. Make time to drive to nearby Thomas and visit the Purple Fiddle for a drink or ice cream while listening to live music. A slightly longer drive will take you to Seneca Rocks, a steep hike to exposed rocks with beautiful views. The park is also a good base for high pointers seeking to bag Mt. Davis, PA; Backbone Mt., MD; and Spruce Knob, WV- the highest points in the three states.

Wild and Wonderful

This campground is perhaps a little more unstructured than some others that I have been to. Some of the sites seem to kind of run together, which could be nice if you are in a group with multiple sites. We reserved two sites but used them as one. There were lots of nice hiking paths in the area and the waterfall is gorgeous with great access via wide, wooden stairs. Bathhouse was clean if not incredibly modern.

They were very strict about dogs making ANY noise. Ranger pulled up in a truck and sat there just kinda standing at the edge of our site and staring at our group for several minutes, which of course caused a dog that was in our group to bark. We were warned to keep the dog quiet. (Admittedly, the dog (not mine) was barking a bit, although not that excessively and it was not late at night.

Nice campground and gorgeous waterfall

Campsites are pretty close together, there's a middle ground between sites where it may feel like people encroaching on your site. It's isolated from the city, though, so stargazing is a huge plus. Either bring firewood or buy it, they don't allow collecting, not that there's much to collect anyway.

They advertise reservable sites, but it's first come first serve. They also only allow 1 tent per site, more than 1 person is charged additionally.

Cramped, but isolated

This campground is the highest in West Virginia, it has a total of 65 campsites 30 of which are electric and 35 are non-electric. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit, most of the campsites are open and have little privacy from neighbors. No tent pads, but no more than two tents permitted (but may be charged for the second tent). It has a bath house with hot showers, flush toilets, and coin laundry. There is a dumping station. Reservations can be made by phone or at campground registration but is otherwise first come-first serve. Pets are permitted. The sites are $25 a night.

The park has tons of hiking trails to choose from and two viewable waterfalls. There is a lake that is open to swimming, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts are in the vicinity as well. Fishing is a large draw as well to this area, both catch and release and catch and keep permitted on the Blackwater River.

Fun in Every Season

I found the electric sites that are odd numbered to be the better sites on the outside of the loop. The even numbered sites were the inside sites of the loop and are backed by a field with the bath house in the center of it. Not much shade for those sites. The others are on the edge of the forest with nice shade. Dog friendly. Bath house is very old and dingy and does not appear very clean. I was on site 20 and it was way too close to my next door neighbor. The park itself is very nice. Lodge has a good restaurant..

Electric and non-electric sites on two loops

Blackwater Falls State Park has been on my list for a while. We finally made the trip last weekend and had a blast! The tent campground non-electric sites were ok. They had a picnic table and a fire ring, the site was pretty level. Our site #37 was near the bathroom which was a plus with kids but did not have a lot of privacy. People were walking right through our site to get to the bathrooms, so weird! It was pretty out in the open with not sparse trees around but I did see some sites that were more secluded. Next time I would choose one of those. The bathrooms were clean, a bit outdated. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The campground was pretty full but didn’t seem crowded or noisy. Overall it was a pleasant experience, we were off doing stuff most of the time so we didn’t spend a lot of time at the campsite. There’s so much to do at this park! Multiple waterfalls, awesome hikes, a lake, a nature center for the kids, a petting zoo... the nearby towns of Davis and Thomas are very cute too with great coffee and food options. (Tip Top Coffee! Hellbender Burritos!) Highly recommend the park! Next time we’re here I’ll try to find a better site.

So much to do and see!

Had a amazing time at this campground. The sites were clean. Had drinkable water in walking distance and also public bathrooms with showers. The trails and views were amazing. Also good fishing near by. I highly recommend staying at this campsite.

One of the best in the state!

There is dispersed camping throughout the state forest. As always, when practicing dispersed camping, ensure that you leave no trace. Stop by the visitor center to get your permit for camping. 

Iconic WV Waterfall

We are a big fan of WV parks! This one did not disappoint. You can do all the park has to offer in a weekend, however consider spending more time if you are headed to other attractions. The only downside the electric sites really need updated. You have to go down the wrong way (they tell you it's ok) to park or dump your tank. The loop spots are smaller than they seem so just double check w the park. Amazing trails, views and stargazing. The bath house was very clean just dated.

Great park for a weekend trip!

Great time once again!!!  The views ❤️

Spent the day in Thomas looking at local art &amp; antiques.  The evening in Davis eating at hellbender burritos.  Hiked some cool trails in the park and to see the falls.  I love this part of our beautiful state!  Blackwater falls SP campground is a central location to some of the best of our state. Seneca rocks, caverns, smokehole caverns and NRock adventures only 45 mins away.  Took a canopy tour with Nrocks before camping.  Awesome!!!!!

Very friendly!  Wooded areas.  Close to town with great art & music 

Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV
https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/

Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty.

Most will travel by Canaan Valley State Park entrance and the back road to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area to arrive at Blackwater Falls State Park...but very worthwhile. 

This campground is very popular and fills up quickly. I’ve only visited during midweek and prime sites are still difficult to find. Reservations can be made online and are recommended during peak season. Cabins are also available for rental.

The campground office is small but sites are paid for there ($23 non electric/$26 electric)... firewood and ice are available there also.

I’ve only camped in the non-electric loops (to the left). and usually along the far wood line. There are 65 sites in all, less than half offer electric.

Obviously, the biggest draw is the cascading 57ft Blackwater Falls, but there are other smaller falls (Elakala Falls) in the State Park. Trails abound with some pretty incredible long valley views. Lindy Point and Pendleton Point Overlook are two big draws. All worthwhile. Note: The walk down to the bottom of the Blackwater Falls include many steps...not handicap accessible to the lower levels.

The Trading Post by the falls is enjoyable and will satisfy your search for trinkets. 

During my stays the campground has been quiet and relaxing. The centrally located restrooms/showerhouse is spartan but clean and well-stocked.

Deer meandered through the unattended Campsites two of my three stays, so it can be very quiet. Trees exist on outside perimeter sites that can be utilized for hammocking...and some inner loop sites. The sites have level grassy areas for tents...parking pads are all fairly sufficient for pop-ups or moderate-sized campers. On my visits, RV/campers were primarily in the loop to the right of the office.

The nearby town has a small grocery store and several fantastic eateries.

Waterfalls, Trails and Long Valley Views!

Very friendly place except for the firewood lol yes it just didn't want to burn other than that it a beautiful place great trails beautiful scenery Gods Country

Can't wait to go again

Almost Heaven

This is one of my absolute favorite places in WV to camp. It is quiet and the campground is not too large, it's not stuffed with RV's and screaming children. The sites are reasonably sized, and well spaced. Each has a fire ring and picnic table. The camp store has firewood and helpful rangers. 

  

The park overall is absolutely gorgeous. There's something to do for people of any activity level. Nearby towns of Davis and Thomas are so lovely and have charm out the wazoo.

  

Keep in mind, anytime after mid September can be quite cold overnight. But the foliage is totally worth it! Make sure you visit Pendleton Point for a great vista, my husband and I were married there.

Wild & Wonderful!

We stayed in the non-electric loop in site 53 which shares a pull-through drive with another site (no one was in that site during our visit). The site was fairly close to the bathhouse but not so close that we heard the door shutting all the time. During the phased reopening, some sites were closed so we had lots of privacy even though some neighbors would normally be closer than you might like. 

The bathhouse doors are very short. I’m almost 6’ tall and could easily see over them, but so could my 5’6” son. There weren’t usually other people in there at the same time but it’s something to keep in mind when it comes to privacy. 

The falls and the hike to Lindy Point were gorgeous. 

Beautiful park in WV

My wife, dad, brother and I took the rig down to WV to experience this amazing state forest! The beauty can not truly be displayed through pictures. I highly recommend taking your family or friends to Blackwater falls. The trails are wonderful, the views are breathtaking! I’m absolutely planning on going back next year so we can finish the remaining trails we couldn’t fit in this weekend!

Best vacation 

Great family campground. We were right by the office at lot 64. Not too loud to be right by the entrance. 
50 yards from the bath house. 

Well kept woods right behind. Great hammock spot and easy place to pick kindling - bring firewood, though. You're not allowed to pick it from the woods.

Campground is in the State Park - great fairly easy, very pretty trails through the park. 

Easy access driving to the views or you can hike through the park to see them instead. 

Great central location in WV to Dolly Sods (35 mins), Seneca Rocks (1 hr), and other very scenic areas. 

Less than a few miles from the towns of Thomas and Davis, neat small towns with all the odds and ends you'll need, plus a few neat breweries and a cool downtown scene. 

10/10 will be back. 

Excellent, quiet. Great location

Camped here this weekend. We were in a non-electric tent site. There were four of us with two tents and we reserved two sites because their website says they restrict the sites to one tent unless you’re a family then you can have two. Well they don’t really stick to this because the site next to us had seven tents spread across two sites. Walking around we saw several other sites with three and four tents. Besides that, though this was a great site. Wood and ice available for purchase. The bathhouse is a little old but not terrible. They cleaned it multiple times a day due to COVID. Plenty of great trails close to the campsite and the town of Davis nearby for some local eateries and shopping. We plan on returning!

Great Tent Camping

We enjoyed our stay. Lot of trails within the park. Most sites had no privacy but we didn't see it as an issue for us. We got lucky and had an almost dead level site but there are some tricky sites there so choose your site carefully. The roads within the campground are narrow and the sites, which are asphalt, are pretty narrow as well, maybe 10'. There was a 5th wheel across the road from us in a drive through that gave up, they just couldn't get level. Don't know where they went. Every morning and evening there were a number of deer roaming through the park. The bath houses are old but clean. Since there was no wi-fi and sad cell service we went to the lodge and use their wi-fi to download some youtube videos to watch a night.  Everyone knows about Blackwater Falls but just outside of Thomas there is a Douglas Falls that's becoming more popular as word spreads.

Nice remote quiet park

The park is great!  The campground is only ok.  Many of the pull thru sites are situated in the wrong direction with the electric hookup on the wrong side.  The dump station is in a weird spot and the only water available is the same used for flushing.  Nice camp store and super clean bathhouses but the layout of the campground needs work.  Also, they just ram new electrical so there is a lot of mud and soft spots throughout the campground.

Great park, ok campground 

Blackwater Falls offers 2 loops with sites providing water and electric. There have been some recent upgrades before opening for summer 2021, so all sites are now electric. They were not careful about the placement of hookups, so for some of the pull-through sites, they are on the wrong side of the site. For the 1-28 loop, note that you drive clockwise through the loop, from the high numbered sites to the lower ones. Hookups for the drive through sites are on the side away from the road, which means that the ones on the inside of the loop, the electric hookups are on the right(wrong) side of the camper. Choose a pull-through site on the outside of the loop for hookups on the correct side. 

  

Site in the middle of the loop get more sun. The loop with the higher numbers has more shade. Some sites, like 13/15, 17/18 and 19/21, 20/22are sister sites, often with a pull-through site and a back-in site, so be sure to read the site descriptions closely. There’s a separate loop off the higher loop that has electric but is set up for tenters. The dump station is oddly located…a slightly wider part of the loop, but may prove problematic if someone is dumping and a large rig is trying to get by. Some of the sites are accessible. 

  

More of the sites in the 29+ loop have some degree of slope. Each loop has a central bathhouse with showers and flush toilets. 

  

There’s a small shop and campfire wood for sale at the campground. There’s a snackbar in the park. While I was there spring 2021 the lodge was still closed, but when open there is also a restaurant and pool($). 

  

The park has a lake, trails, and a picturesque waterfall(the most photographed in the state). There’s an easily reached overlook on one side(better light in the morning) and one that requires a descent down stairs that is better in the afternoon. Hike out to Lindy point to watch the sunset(limited parking) or drive the loop road from Rt 32 to the trail to Table Rock for sunrise. I enjoyed sunset, but it rained the morning I wanted to watch the sunrise. Autumn colors have to be spectacular. Nearby Canaan Valley offers another pool option, more hiking &amp; biking opportunities and playground.

Beautiful location, all site with electric

Camped here for proximity to the MD and WV high points, nice campground, clean showers, the electric hookups are not located in what you would call the right place (often opposite the trailer drivers side) but it’s workable with weird parking and extension cords.  The trails lead through incredible flower laden sections to incredible views! Also lake with boat rental.

Hidden Gem

The area is really nice. The site we were at was good and the sites are decently spread out. However, the water fill up is in a weird spot as well as the dump station. As others have said, most electric boxes are on the wrong side of the unit. Some spots are also very unlevel. Bathhouse is decent. 

Nice location

We had a great stay here when visiting in Fall 2021. The campground is well laid out. Sites don’t have much privacy, but are otherwise nice. Bathroom facilities were always clean.

Great Fall Visit

We stayed for 3 nights at the end of Oct. 2021
Upon arrival we realized that we didn't choose a very good spot (32). I asked the girl working the check in if we could switch.  She assigned us spot 49. Much better!!
Our spot was mostly level. 
This is my 2nd time camping here,  the first in a tent and this time in our skoolie. Both times the bathrooms were clean and well stocked. They have clean water fountains throughout. There were great spots that we'll shoot to book next time.  
We were surrounded by a herd of deer that would visit our campsites.
The trails are nice as well.  Of course the waterfall is beautiful.

Beautiful State Park

The campground itself is really nothing to write home about. The sites are not very secluded and there is a bright light that shines from the bathroom all night. The bathroom itself was clean and warm (we were there when there was still snow on the ground). This campground is also open year round but it is hard to gather that from the website. 
The park itself is gorgeous, however, and totally makes staying here worth it. 

Not the greatest campground, but a beautiful park.

I am giving this a 5 star review but read this first before you decide. I love Blackwater Falls and come here every year and would live here if i could! Between the falls, the nature, the family feeling i get from here its just perfect. The campground has nice updated showers in the last year, Thanks to Gov. Jim! And much more around the Park. The campsites… some are level others you better have your leveling blocks and lots of them!!! Ive got two sets each on my front stabilizers and thankfully bought blocks for the tongue jack! My biggest gripe is this but overall i will stay here again just going to scope out sites here now and make a list of what i will accept for future stays. 

Best State Park in WV

The site was perfectly maintained and the bathrooms were clean with great water pressure and temperature. The park was gorgeous with many great trails and overlooks! If you are going through WV you need to stay here!

Falls and views

Great campground with excellent sites very close by. Easy to walk, bike, or drive to find trailheads and see vistas. Also tells leasing from the campgrounds into the woods. Most sites were backed up against forest and it was beautiful in every spot. The sites are also further apart than most, so more privacy. 

Water and electric hookups, clean bathrooms with showers and laundry available. 

Cell service was pretty good for Verizon and AT&amp;T.


Loved!

This park was nicely run . It’s proximity to the  town of Thomas with its arty shopping district made our stay fun even with the rainy stay. 

Waterfall Trail

I stayed here for two nights in October of 2021. Even mid-week the campground was crowded. However, even without reservations, I got a very good campsite. The parking spots are generally level and the sites all have tables and fire rings. I did not use electric or water.

The bathrooms/showers are showing some age but they are well maintained and clean. 

One of the things that gave me a lot of fun was watching the white tail deer
stroll through the campsites at sunset! And, Blackwater Falls are a short drive or a long walk away.

One of my favorite places in West Virginia

We liked this campground we stayed an extra night. We are in a camper van so hiking trails accessible by foot from the campground is a plus for us so we don’t have to pack up each time we venture out. The Black Water Falls were also within walking distance and beautiful to see. 

Extended Stay

Campsites are just the right size. Very level and nicely done. Sites have electric hookup a picnic table and a fire ring. Wood is available for purchase at the office when you come In. Bathhouse is located in the center of the campsites