Blackwater Falls State Park
West Virginia · State Park · Mid Atlantic Region
Amber colored falls dropping 62 feet into a deep gorge surrounded by hemlock and spruce forest, one of the beautiful waterfalls in the Appalachians.
- Best season
- Fall (peak foliage), Spring
- Permit required
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max group size
- 50 people
- Permit info verified
- April 2026
Permit Information
WV State Parks Wedding Permit required for ceremonies at Blackwater Falls State Park. The current fee is $300 plus applicable taxes and administrative fees. Call the park office at 304 259 5216 to book a date, secure the site, and confirm policies. Popular ceremony sites include the area near Pendleton Point Overlook, the Lodge lawn, and the viewing platform area (though large groups are discouraged at the platform). Advance reservations are strongly encouraged, especially for fall foliage week…
Planning Your Day at Blackwater Falls State Park
One-Spot Day
Blackwater Falls is a compact park where the two ceremony options sit about a mile apart. The falls viewing platform itself, reached by a 214 step boardwalk staircase, or Lindy Point Overlook above the 1,000 foot Blackwater Canyon. Pick the falls for the amber water signature shot, Lindy Point for the canyon view and sunrise mist. The lodge on the property handles venue, lodging, and reception bundles for couples who want all three in one place.
Ceremony + Portraits Split
Splits work cleanly, the two sites are under 10 minutes apart by car. Ceremony at Lindy Point at sunrise when mist fills the canyon, then descend to the falls boardwalk for mid morning portraits before the platform fills with tourists. The $300 WV State Parks Wedding Permit plus applicable fees covers your site, call 304 259 5216 to lock a date and confirm where the permit applies. Fall foliage weekends fill a year ahead, book early.
A Note on Light
Overcast days bring out the amber water color most vividly, cloudy weather is actually the ideal forecast for the falls. Direct sun washes out the tannin tone. Morning light reaches the falls from the east through the hemlock canopy. Lindy Point faces east for sunrise, arrive before dawn for mist in the canyon. Winter ice formations are dramatic but the boardwalk can be icy, check conditions. October is the peak foliage week, shoot the hardwoods against the dark spruce.
Ceremony Spots at Blackwater Falls State Park
- Blackwater Falls Viewing Platform — Amber colored 62 foot waterfall viewed from a boardwalk platform surrounded by spruce and hemlock forest
- Lindy Point Overlook — Dramatic overlook above the Blackwater Canyon with 180 degree views of the gorge and distant ridges