Elakala Falls
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Elakala Falls are a series of
four waterfalls of Shays Run as
it descends into the Blackwater Canyon
in West Virginia. They are within Blackwater
Falls State Park and are quite popular among photographers, with
the ease of access for the first waterfall, and the relatively low traffic of
the other waterfalls in the series.
The first of the series of waterfalls is 35
feet (11 m) in height and is easily accessible from park trails. It is the
second most popular waterfall in the park. From the official Elakala trail
there is a bridge over the top of the first waterfall offering easy access and
views.
The
remaining three waterfalls of the series are progressively more difficult to
access, and have no official marked trails to them.
The gorge is nearly 200 feet deep at this
section accounting for the difficulty of the descent to the lower waterfalls of
the series.
The second waterfall is only 15 feet
(4.6 m) tall and is the smallest in the series, yet remains popular by the
well-worn path from the first falls.
The third waterfall of the series is the
highest at 40 feet (12 m) tall but is particularly difficult to reach. It has a path worn to it but is very steep and rocky terrain.
Traveling beyond the second waterfall should be considered for experienced
hikers only due to the danger of descending the canyon without trails.
The fourth and final waterfall of the
series is considered quite dangerous to access, with no trails, and should not
be attempted by inexperienced hikers.
The name of the waterfalls comes from a Native
American legend, although several significantly different versions
exist.
According to one account it involves a princess named Elakala who threw
herself over the edge of the first waterfall when her lover scorned her.
Another account of the legend involves a Massawomee warrior named Elakala who
was girl-shy and fell to his death from the falls while being pursued by two
women of his tribe.
Similar legends exist for many waterfalls
in the eastern United States, and there is, of course, no way to confirm these
stories.
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