Updated July 2026
Elakala Falls
The first and most photographed of a series of falls along Shays Run as it plunges into Blackwater Canyon; a wooden footbridge crosses directly above the 35-foot drop.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check West Virginia State Parks (Blackwater Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Elakala Falls drops about 35 feet. That makes it the 506th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 26% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Elakala Trail (Shays Run) reaches it about 0.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 100 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Davis. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with West Virginia State Parks (Blackwater Falls State Park) for closures and current conditions.
Spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More West Virginia waterfalls
- Big Branch Falls · 30 ft
- Big Run Falls · 15 ft
- Blackwater Falls · 57 ft
- Brush Creek Falls · 25 ft
- Cathedral Falls · 60 ft
- Douglas Falls · 35 ft
- Dunloup Creek Falls · 20 ft
- Falls of Hills Creek (Lower Falls) · 63 ft
Sources
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