Elakala Waterfall
ELAKALA WATERFALL
Blackwater State Park / Davis, W.Va.
Image by Darron Franta @ www.frantaphotography.com
Within West Virginia’s Blackwater State Park there are numerous, beautiful waterfalls to visit, explore and photograph.
Elakala Falls, named for a love-sick Indian princess who, according to legend, threw herself over the falls, is the second most popular set of falls in the park and is a series of four distinct waterfalls along Shays Run as it descends into Blackwater Canyon.
Photos and location summary by Darron Franta
Trail Difficulty - EASY
To reach the first set of falls - Elakala #1, I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). Reaching the other falls is increasing more difficult.
Once you park your car, you will have a very easy five-minute walk along a well-marked wooded trail to the bridge that spans the first fall. Cross the bridge and the remainder of the walk will continue twenty to thirty yards further with an access point down to the waterfall. The climb down to the creek bed can be a little dicey, so take it slow and easy as the way is steep. You’ll likely want to hang on to the trees and exposed roots as you descend the well-worn path. Once you’ve reached the bottom, the rocks can be quite slippery, especially when there are wet leaves present.
The first fall you come to is called, Elakala #1. It is 35 feet high and, as mentioned, is easily accessible from park trails and is usually what people are referring to when they speak of Elakala Falls. The remaining three waterfalls of the series are immediately downstream and are progressively more difficult to access. The entire gorge is nearly 200 feet deep at this section accounting for the difficulty of the descent to the lower waterfalls.
This second waterfall, called Elakala #2 is 15 ft. tall and is the smallest of the four and can be reached with a little more work, but it will require navigating the slope, and many additional tree roots, rhododendrons and fallen branches. If you try and get to this fall, be mindful of your steps and be careful. It is more difficult to reach than Elakala #1.
The third waterfall of the series is the highest at 40 ft. tall and is extremely difficult to reach, as is the fourth. Reaching Elakala #3 and #4 requires navigating extremely dangerous, steep, rocky, and overgrown terrain and should NOT be attempted by out of shape, inexperienced or solo hikers.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
2,900 Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Download KMZ Trail File
CLICK HERE to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Blackwater Falls Lodge (parking area)
From Davis, W.Va. - From where the bridge crosses the Blackwater River in Davis, W. Va., travel 3.2 miles north on Route 32. You will then turn left onto Blackwater Falls Rd. and continue for 1.2 miles. At the intersection, turn left and continue 1.7 miles to the Blackwater Falls Lodge parking area on your right. Park in this lot and the path to the falls will be at the far end (south end) on the edge of the woods. The trail is marked.
Photography Tips
What you will find at the base of Elakala #1 and #2 will depend on the water level. Typically, there is plenty of space to set up a tripod and get a nice view of the falls. However, after a large rain, there may be fewer options to set up due to the size of the runoff. In general, there are multiple locations in the front of the falls to shoot; right, center, left, low, and even straight-forward.
I would explore each to find the compositions that will work for you. The area around the falls is not necessarily small and I think you will want to use an extremely wide-angle lens to capture the entirety of the falls from the creek. Depending upon how close you get, spray from the falls can create problems with water on your lens. So, be prepared to shield your camera/lens and bring towels or micro-cloths to dry your lens between exposures. Also, always remember that as you move around to tread carefully and be mindful of the slippery rocks.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 17 mm
Exposure – 2 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Oct 1st
Time – 8:15 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You will want to shoot the falls when they are in shade to prevent any unwanted highlights or certain areas from being “blown out.” As such, on bright sunny days, you will want to shoot early in the morning or, more preferably, later in the afternoon.
Best Time of Year
Great photographs can be taken any time of the year. In the late spring and early summer (April, May, and June), the foliage should be robustly green, and the water flow should be heavy following any snowmelt or spring rains. In autumn, the falls may not be running quite as heavy but, if you time it correctly, the foliage will be beautiful. Usually, the area will peak at some point during the first two weeks of October.
This image was taken on October 1st
Lens(es) Needed
This location is shot best with an ultra-wide or short/medium telephoto.
This image was taken with a 17mm lens
Birds-Eye View
Permits
At this time, there are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of this shot is almost due south, facing the first set of falls.
Equipment Needed
No need for any special photography equipment (other than a sturdy tripod and a polarizer).
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
In recent years the Canaan Valley (and Blackwater State Park) has become a popular and well-known photography location. In the fall, the entire Canaan Valley area can be a photographer’s paradise with many locations vying for attention. However, the traffic will depend upon the time of year and the day of the week. I would say that on a weekday (other than during peak foliage season) you will likely have the falls to yourself.
During a weekend, you will probably experience a few other photographers. During the peak season, you will have other photographers popping in and out, and if it’s a weekend, it will likely be quite busy. I’ve visited these falls with a small workshop and by myself three or four times. On each of those latter occasions, I was either the sole photographer or there when a few others passed through.
Weather
The weather in Canaan Valley will vary greatly depending on the season. As you will see, there are several ski resorts in the area so in the winter, there is much snow in the area. Summer will bring warm temps and mild nights while the fall and spring will bring cool days and cold/freezing mornings and evenings. As always, check the forecast.
Cell Service
I use Verizon and had no problem with connections while in Blackwater State Park.
Lodging & Camping
The closest camping and lodging options are the Blackwater Falls Campground and the Blackwater Falls Lodge.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Blackwater Falls Campground (2 miles)
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Blackwater Falls Lodge
(304) 259-5216
Nearby Restaurants
Davis and nearby sister-city, Thomas, are quite small but have a few good offerings for restaurants. I have always enjoyed a meal at Sirianni’s which specializes in hearty Italian fare and unique pizzas. Nearby, Big Belly Deli is a great spot to grab some sandwiches. The Purple Fiddle in Thomas is a wonderful location and they often feature live music on the weekends. Other places you may wish to visit include The Trailhead Coffee Shop and Stumptown Ales.
Click on the restaurant below for Yelp review
474 William Avenue, Davis, W.Va.
(304) 259-5454
390 William Avenue, Davis, W.Va.
(304) 259-5570
96 Hwy 32, Thomas, W.Va
(304) 463-4040
Area Guides and Workshops
As mentioned, the entire Canaan Valley region that surrounds Davis, W.Va., and Blackwater State Park has become very popular in recent years, especially in the fall. There are a number of professional photographers that lead tours in the area in the fall and during the spring run-off. An online search using the terms “West Virginia Highlands,” “Canaan Valley,” or “Blackwater State Park” along with “Photography Workshop” should yield you results to choose from.