Blackwater Canyon waterfalls (West Virginia, Mar/9/'24)
Mar 10, 2024 11:28:47 GMT -8
burntfoot, Coolkat, and 1 more like this
Post by GaliWalker on Mar 10, 2024 11:28:47 GMT -8
Blackwater Canyon waterfalls (West Virginia, Mar/9/'24)
With lots of rain in the forecast for my hike day, I decided to switch to a more photography centric trip and hit a few waterfalls in Blackwater Canyon, in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest.
Big Run Falls
I began with Big Run Falls. I'd never been to this waterfall before, although a few years ago I'd attempted to drive up FR-18 from its northeastern end to the trailhead. I'd quickly found out that the road was only suitable for high clearance, 4x4 vehicles, and not for a normal car. This time around I decided to approach from the northwestern end of FR-18 and park the car wherever FR-18 became undriveable. This ended up being 0.6mi short of Big Run Falls, so not bad at all.
I'd driven up in a steady rain. Now I walked down FR-18, and then the short trail to the falls, with my umbrella deployed. The waterfall, which has a reputation of becoming a trickle late in the summer, was roaring. With all the rain we'd already had, I'd have been surprised if it had done anything less! There were three tiers, although I was only able to explore the middle and upper ones. Conditions were quite slippery, and even getting down to the base of the second tier was a careful endeavor. All worth it though; Bid Run Falls was a stunner.
Middle and upper tiers
Douglas Falls
This is a perennial favorite, so making a quick stop to check it out in peak flow conditions, while I was in the area, was a requisite.
Elakala Falls
Another favorite, particularly when it's flowing well.
Blackwater Falls
The big one. Blackwater Falls was thundering.
All photos were taken from under an umbrella.
With lots of rain in the forecast for my hike day, I decided to switch to a more photography centric trip and hit a few waterfalls in Blackwater Canyon, in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest.
Big Run Falls
I began with Big Run Falls. I'd never been to this waterfall before, although a few years ago I'd attempted to drive up FR-18 from its northeastern end to the trailhead. I'd quickly found out that the road was only suitable for high clearance, 4x4 vehicles, and not for a normal car. This time around I decided to approach from the northwestern end of FR-18 and park the car wherever FR-18 became undriveable. This ended up being 0.6mi short of Big Run Falls, so not bad at all.
I'd driven up in a steady rain. Now I walked down FR-18, and then the short trail to the falls, with my umbrella deployed. The waterfall, which has a reputation of becoming a trickle late in the summer, was roaring. With all the rain we'd already had, I'd have been surprised if it had done anything less! There were three tiers, although I was only able to explore the middle and upper ones. Conditions were quite slippery, and even getting down to the base of the second tier was a careful endeavor. All worth it though; Bid Run Falls was a stunner.
Middle and upper tiers
Douglas Falls
This is a perennial favorite, so making a quick stop to check it out in peak flow conditions, while I was in the area, was a requisite.
Elakala Falls
Another favorite, particularly when it's flowing well.
Blackwater Falls
The big one. Blackwater Falls was thundering.
All photos were taken from under an umbrella.