Blackwater Canyon

Blackwater Canyon is a rugged, forested gorge in eastern West Virginia where the Blackwater River drops sharply between Backbone and Canaan mountains, creating a dramatic landscape of deep chasm, hanging valleys, rich wildlife, and difficult whitewater. It gained wider notice in the mid-19th century, then was transformed in the 1880s when railroad construction opened it to coal, coke, and timber industries and towns grew along the line. Clear-cutting and fire caused severe environmental damage by the early 20th century, prompting later recovery and preservation efforts. State park expansion, trail development, and repeated fights over logging, hydroelectric projects, and access have made the canyon an enduring battleground over conservation.

West Virginia · United States