Among the other wonders of West Virginia nestled in Tucker County, Douglas Falls is a fan favorite located in Thomas, WV. As the North Fork Blackwater River flows directly past the town, a rail trail is visible from the main highway. This rail trail is open to the public and serves as a road in some areas. The trail is gravel and is typically maintained by volunteers.
Just off of the main strip, exit route 48 to take Douglas Road. Once on Douglas Road, drive 1 mile to where the road intersects with the rail trail. Here you may turn left onto the gravel road to head towards the falls. Here, you may make the decision to continue driving to the falls, or to park along the side of the road and walk to the falls.
While driving is permitted on this trail to access Douglas Falls, it is known for potholes and goes untouched in the winter months. My recommendation is plan on walking if you are uncomfortable with your car’s clearance abilities or have concerns for dust. If you will be walking from the paved road, be prepared for a 1.8 mile walk on gravel roads with decent sun exposure to reach the falls. (Yes, this means roughly a 3.5 mile round trip). Please come well prepared with proper footwear and water.
Disclaimer: I am simply providing information about my personal experiences and cannot be held liable for situations you choose to place yourself in. Please research your trip and use your own judgement about your physical and driving abilities.
I, personally, have never had any issues with this road, so I usually drive. If you are driving, continue down the road, stopping to see sights or let traffic pass. The rail trail does follow the river along the way and also passes by historical coke ovens near the road. It is worth it to stop and see them. There are educational posts near the ovens to read.
About 0.8 miles down down the trail on the left side, you will notice Albert Falls. These falls span the width of the river and have a small path leading down to them. Swimming is safe and permitted in this area. Please be careful jumping off of the rocks. Always test the depth of the water before jumping and never dive. Water levels and stagnant debris are ever-changing and unpredictable.
Next, continue down the road about 0.2 miles before crossing a bridge. This bridge may be bumpy, but is safe to cross with a vehicle. Of course, at any time if you become uncomfortable with your vehicles’ capabilities, please pull off and proceed walking.
Just past the bridge, there is a large parking area which leads to the rail trail being gated. This is the end of the drivable portion of the rail trail. From here, only bicycle and foot traffic are permitted.
As soon as you exit the vehicle, you will hear the sounds of Douglas Falls roaring as it cascades further into the Blackwater Canyon. As you approach the gate, and turn left, you will see the falls spanning an unsuspecting 35 feet!
Take the dirt path down the bank to the base of the falls. Typically there is a permarigged handline to help with the descent. However, it is possible to descend without it. As always, use your own judgement about your physical abilities.
Once at the bottom you may take your time to explore the river, and even take a swim! While swimming is safe and permitted, I think it should go without saying that no one should be jumping from these falls. (Can you tell I am a former emergency department nurse? LOL) Regardless, this is a great place to spend the afternoon cooling off and spending time with friends and family!
For those looking for extra exercise, the rail trail runs from Thomas, WV all the way to Parsons, WV. This is a pleasant bike ride as it is mostly a slight downhill gradient. Along this trail are other views as you descend through the Blackwater Canyon. If you are looking for a challenge, Kennedy Falls is also located in this Canyon although it requires, a nearly vertical bank descent and has no established trail. There are other small waterfalls along the trail (weather permitting). If the trees are bare, you stand a good shot at viewing Pace Point and Lindy’s Point from the trail as well.
Overall, this is a great, quick stop in Thomas, West Virginia! Don’t forget to stop in town for some delicious candy apples, local music, and antiques!
GPS: 39.1238° N, 79.5193° W
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/douglas-falls-trail
Ratings:
Kid / Family Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Solo Friendly: Yes
Female Friendly: Yes
SEE WV 
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