Monongahela National Forest · WV
Blackwater Canyon Trail
A rail-grade trail descending Blackwater Canyon from Thomas to Hendricks, dropping roughly 1,300 ft along the Blackwater River past cascades and old logging and mining relics. Rocky, rugged footing in places.
Live · updated
Today
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Today's best: mountain biking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
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Trail running
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Mountain biking
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Score breakdown
- · 81°F air — Within comfort range, outside ideal
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — Paved/boardwalk surface — rainfall does not affect traction.
- − 90 min of daylight — You need at least 159 min with margin. Bring a headlamp or start tomorrow.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 10.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1714 ft
- Surface
- paved
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.0879, -79.5935 — WV.
Park
Part of Monongahela National Forest.
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Blackwater Canyon Trail?
Blackwater Canyon Trail is a 10.3-mile route with 1714 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Blackwater Canyon Trail?
Blackwater Canyon Trail is paved (asphalt or concrete) — all-weather surface, accessible to wheelchairs and strollers in most places. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Blackwater Canyon Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Blackwater Canyon Trail is in Monongahela National Forest, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.