Enjoy a Short Hike to Balanced Rock in Blackwater Falls State Park

Most people head to Blackwater Falls State Park, in Thomas, WV, for its eponymous falls, but the park offers a variety of other interesting hikes worth exploring. With 20 miles of trails, there’s plenty of interesting day hikes to explore!

We decided to try the Balanced Rock Trail, a there-and-back which is about 2.5 miles, with less than 300 feet elevation change. This hike is a peaceful and beautiful walk through the woods to an rock formation, aptly named Balanced Rock, and Elakala Falls. To make a loop, you can combine three park trails: Balanced Rock, Water Tank and the Elakala Falls. However, the Water Tank Trail is more or less straight and not in the woods, so not as scenic as the trails winding through the forest. With all the rhododendrons, this would be particularly spectacular in late June, when the blooms peak.

Have you explored West Virginia’s other amazing state parks? Check out Watoga State Park, Bear Town State Park and Holly River State Park!

The Hike

We picked up the trail off of Blackwater Lodge Road, just across from a maintenance shed, so we did the trail a little backward. Having just rained the evening before, the woods were still dripping and humid and very, very luxuriously green. The trail is well marked with orange blazes and signs at intersecting trails. We opted to remain on the Balanced Rock Trail on our return after seeing the falls.

We began to understand all the signs indicating not to feed the wildlife, as a deer curiously looked at us, just feet away. I wondered if she was waiting for a handout. Although wary, she didn’t didn’t appear to be scared of us, and let us get quite close before backing off the trail a few feet. We saw two others — or possibly the same one. Both equally willing to allow us move on the trail toward them before stepping back.

Candidly, Balanced Rock is a meh. Two big boulders, one of which is sitting on top of the other. The prettiness of the woods well compensated for the meh-ness of the balancing rocks. But Elakala Falls is a beautiful waterfalls and the lovely woods make this hike well worth your time.

Don’t Forget Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls State Park, obviously, is named for the falls of the Blackwater River, whose amber-colored waters plunge five stories before twisting and tumbling through an eight-mile long gorge.

The falls are one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia. You’ll get a little work out if you visit the falls. To see the falls overlook, you travel down 219 stairs — that’s about 20 flights. But otherwise, the walk is short, and along the way you get several dramatic views of the falls from different vantages.

The water falls varies dramatically depending on the seasons and recent rain falls. I have seen the falls in the drought of summer, when a wispy little ribbon spills over the rim. And I’ve seen the falls in early April, with snow still on the steps and snow melt flooding the gorge (although the lower set of stairs were closed — covered in snow and a flooded gorge made them too dangerous for sightseers). This time, there were slim ribbons tumbling over the edge.

Know Before You Go

Blackwater Falls State Park offers cabins to rent, camping and a lodge that includes a restaurant. Check the website below for cabin / room rental and opening times for the restaurant. The two nearby towns of Thomas and Davis also offer accommodations and restaurants.

Getting there: 1584 Blackwater Lodge Road, Davis, WV
Hours: Dawn to dusk.
Website: Blackwater Falls State Park https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/