A series of scenic cascades on a moderate canyon-rim trail in Blackwater Falls State Park, with multiple viewpoints.
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Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Elakala Falls is a series of cascades on Shays Run along the Elakala Trail in Blackwater Falls State Park, Tucker County. The 0.5-mile trail runs point-to-point from Blackwater Lodge to the main park road and crosses a bridge with views of the first major drop in the series. The trail follows the canyon rim and offers multiple viewpoints of the cascading water.
The moderate difficulty and consistent water flow make this an excellent destination year-round. Dogs are welcome on-leash as part of the park’s general pet policy, and there is no entrance fee. The point-to-point layout means the round-trip distance will vary depending on your return route.
This trail complements a visit to nearby Blackwater Falls, allowing you to experience multiple scenic cascades within the same state park. The bridge crossing and multiple drops create varied photography opportunities throughout the hike.
Year-round; the series of falls on Shays Run flows consistently.
Blackwater Falls, located at the same state park, reached via separate trails.
No fee or permit requirement was published on the managing agency's site when we last checked — confirm current conditions before you go, since these change.
The managing agency's page (linked below) has the current trailhead and route details — round-trip distance wasn't published when we checked.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
We track 3 waterfalls in Monongahela Highlands.
There is 1 other waterfall we track in Tucker County. All Monongahela Highlands waterfalls →
wvstateparks.com
WV State Parks official trails page, checked Sept 2026; no closure noted. Elakala Trail (0.5 mi, 'Moderate') runs point-to-point from Blackwater Lodge to the main park road (not a simple out-and-back), crossing a bridge with a view of the first of a series of drops on Shays Run — round-trip distance therefore left null. Official waterfalls page does not give individual drop heights.
Checked September 2026.