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United States

West Virginia

Tucker County

Elakala Falls – Balanced Rock loop from Blackwater Falls State Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

West Virginia

Tucker County

Elakala Falls – Balanced Rock loop from Blackwater Falls State Park

Moderate

4.5

(7080)

10,528

hikers

Elakala Falls – Balanced Rock loop from Blackwater Falls State Park

03:20

12.2km

190m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: March 24, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.41 km

Yellow Birch Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Yellow Birch Trail is one of the least trafficked paths within Blackwater Falls State Park. The trail follows yellow blazes and trail markers the entire time while passing through …

Tip by

3.86 km

Blackwater Falls State Park, nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, covers 2,358 acres and features scenic trails, dense forests, and beautiful waterfalls. The park's highlight is the 57-foot Blackwater Falls, known …

Tip by

4.29 km

Elakala Falls

Highlight • Waterfall

A series of waterfalls within Shays Run. A bridge crosses the top of the first waterfall, making it the most easily viewed. The additional waterfalls are off trail and require visitors to descend along the watercourse.

Tip by

4.51 km

Snow-Covered Staircase

Highlight • Trail

Great place Winter or Summer.

Tip by

6.05 km

Balanced Rock

Highlight • Natural Monument

Balanced Rock is a super unique natural landmark within Blackwater Falls State Park. There is an illusion of one rock balancing on another, but this is actually one solid sandstone …

Tip by

10.7 km

View of Blackwater Falls

Highlight • Viewpoint

If you take the Gentle Trail from the main parking area, it's only a couple hundred meters to the overlook of Blackwater Falls. This is a pretty distant viewpoint, but …

Tip by

12.2 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

8.12 km

2.07 km

1.52 km

517 m

Surfaces

5.55 km

3.77 km

2.57 km

333 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Wednesday 17 June

22°C

10°C

19 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Elakala Falls – Balanced Rock loop from Blackwater Falls State Park

Yellow Birch Trail

Blackwater Falls State Park

Elakala Falls

Snow-Covered Staircase

Balanced Rock

View of Blackwater Falls

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