Whether you were born and raised in The Mountain State or settled here at some point in your life, a visit to the following state park is a rite of passage every West Virginia should experience at least once. Blackwater Falls State Park opened in 1937. Its majestic waterfall, known as Blackwater Falls, is instantly recognizable – even if you’ve never seen it in person.

At an impressive 57-feet high, the waterfall towers over the landscape. In periods when it hasn't recently rained in this part of the state, the water trickles over the many ledges.
Flickr/bobistraveling
From high above the Blackwater Canyon at the Lindy Point Overlook, you'll get another breathtaking view of the Blackwater River. However, from this height there's something you can't see...
Photo credit: zrfphoto / Getty Images
In much of the canyon, the water upriver from the falls is slow moving. Here, the water is a an amber brown color due to the tannin created from the decay of the falling needles of the hemlock and spruce forests that line the banks of the river.
Flickr/dpbirds
Visit the state park and view the falls after a downpour or a few days of rain and your view from the observation deck above the falls will be completely different!
Flickr/John Dawson

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Heavy rains upstream stir up the tannic acids in the bottom of the lazy Blackwater River pushing the amber waters downstream and over the falls.
Google Maps/Trevor Buckley
The resulting effect is an impressive five-story waterfall streaked with ribbons of chocolate!
Flickr/Jeff Turner
Brave the elements during a rainfall and the effects are even more spectacular.
Flickr/E.J.
Ready to check it out for yourself? The next time it rains all week, head over to Blackwater Falls State Park.
Google Maps

Blackwater Falls State Park is located at 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd., Davis, WV 26260. Learn more on the official website of West Virginia State Parks.

Make this the year you visit more state parks then ever. Get a peek at nine of the most underappreciated parks in this previous article!

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