Blackwater Falls State Park

You can visit Blackwater Falls State Park any time of year to experience the stunning five-story plunge of amber water and bounty of recreation the park has to offer. Winter visitors will catch the falls frozen over in unique configurations, and can ski or sled down the Allegheny Mountains in between trips to the fire ring or warming hut for hot cocoa. Summer campers can boat on Lake Pendleton or swim in the Blackwater Falls Lodge public heated pool, and watch the darkened water cascade over black rock before surging through an eight-mile gorge (all of this is made even more insanely photogenic when bordered by a rainbow of spring wildflowers or fall foliage).

The park’s hemlock and red spruce are what give the water its namesake hue, visible at several smaller falls throughout the grounds, all accessible by several trail options of varying difficulty. The nearby towns of Davis and Thomas are full of charming antique shops and craft stores, and campers who can’t fully disconnect for the stay are welcome to use the wi-fi in the lodge’s cozy lobby.