United States · Tucker County
Elakala Falls
The Elakala Falls are a series of four waterfalls of Shays Run as it descends into the Blackwater Canyon in West Virginia. They are within Blackwater Falls State Park and are quite popular among photographers, with the ease of access for the first waterfall, and the relatively low traffic of the other waterfalls in the series.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Elakala Falls drops over a series of steps, inside Blackwater Falls. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Tucker County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Elakala Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Tucker County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
Getting there
- Base town Tucker County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Tucker County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Elakala Falls
United States
Height—Width—
Most similar
Churchill River
Canada
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall and in Canada
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
We don't have a reliable crest width for Elakala Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
39.109, -79.499
Quick answers
Where is Elakala Falls?
Elakala Falls is in United States (Tucker County), inside Blackwater Falls. The nearest base is Tucker County, United States. Its coordinates are 39.1090, -79.4990.
When is the best time to visit Elakala Falls?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Elakala Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Elakala Falls?
The usual base is Tucker County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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