The 31-mile-long Blackwater River is known for its color and splendid canyon. It begins in the Canaan Valley (Tucker County) at a high elevation.

It’s called "Blackwater" because of its dark amber color, which comes from tannic acid (like in tea) that drains from the hemlock and spruce trees lining its banks.

South of the town of Davis, the river plunges 57 feet over Blackwater Falls and then rushes through the beautiful, deep Blackwater Canyon.

Recently, the river was named one of the most endangered in the nation because of potential environmental damage from construction of Corridor H.