Blackwater Falls State Park · WV
Elakala Trail
Short forested trail from near the lodge crossing a footbridge over Shays Run at Elakala Falls, the first of a series of waterfalls dropping about 35 feet into the Blackwater Canyon.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- ✓ 73°F air — Right in hiking's ideal range
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 118 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
39.1083, -79.5011 — WV.
Park
Part of Blackwater Falls State Park (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Elakala Trail?
Elakala Trail is a 0.9-mile route with 118 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. 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 Elakala Trail?
Elakala Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Elakala Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Elakala Trail is in Blackwater Falls State Park, 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.