Blackwater Falls State Park is the centerpiece of West Virginia's 22 State Parks (open from mid-April to mid-October). A strikingly beautiful and enchanting park that contains a dense hardwood and pine forest, half-mile wide 500 foot deep canyon, and the cascading waters of Blackwater Falls. The park was named for its dark amber-colored waters which are the result of tannic acid leaching from fallen hemlock and red spruce upstream. Blackwater Falls State Park has an extensive cross-country skiing or summer bicycling trail system. There are 15 different trails for either activity.