Valley Falls State Park is a 1,145 acre (4.63 km²) day use facility sited along both banks of the Tygart Valley River. The park is located about 7 miles (11 km) south of exit 137 of I-79, near Fairmont, West Virginia.
The park's main feature is a half-mile long set of cascades — the "Valley Falls" — that separate Marion and Taylor County, West Virginia. The park and river provide a popular and risky kayaking run.In Life and Death, a Reminder of Whitewater's Power, Washington Post, July 31, 2005, Page E03, accessed September 6, 2005.
Although the falls are an inviting spot, swimming is not allowed.
Local tradition had it that early settler Jonathan Nixon, Sr (1753–1799) was the first white man to look upon the falls.Brinkman, Charles (1939–42), The History of Taylor County, Chapt. 102; published in installments in the Grafton Sentinel; 2 May issue. (These newspaper columns, published from 18 Apr 1939 to 29 Jun 1942 by the Grafton Sentinel, are compiled by the Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society in three volumes [Vol. 1, 1989; Vol. 2, 1992; Vol. 3, 1992]. The columns are produced as 890 "chapters" in the reprinted work.) In the 19th century a small community thrived along the river at the current state park's location. The ruins of a sawmill and a gristmill are still visible along the river.
Features Mountain Biking Hiking trails Playground Picnic area Volleyball court Fishing Kayaking
See also
List of West Virginia state parks state park
References
External links