Virtual Ride of the Blackwater Canyon Circle Loop

Miles 0 through 15

Blackwater Canyon Circle Loop

Click on photo to enlarge

Mile: 15.5 Gentile Trail Overlook From here you can get a good look at the falls without leaving your bike. There is a "no bikes allowed" sign but I'm sure you can walk you bike out. It's a very short trail.
Overlook platform with an informational sign about the river.
The first picture is of the falls taken on the same days as this ride but the water was running pretty low. Second picture is from a different day when the falls were really going. You can check the river flow before visting by going to this USGS web site.
Mile: 16 RT 2:02 Blackwater Falls State Park Road
There is a scenic overlook right here at mile 16.
Mile: 17 RT 2:07 Blackwater Falls State Park Road
Mile: 17.4 Pendleton Falls Overlook Pendleton falls were also at a low flow this day.
From this same overlook you can see Posse Point. We last saw this from mile 7.1 while coming up the Blackwater Canyon Trail.
Mile: 17.9 Some warning signs about the road from this point on. Not to worry. We're on a bike.
Mile: 18 RT 2:13 Road to Lindy Point
Mile: 18:8 Trailhead for Lindy Point There is a small parking lot at the trailhead for Lindy Point. The trail out is bikeable most of it's length. You'll have to walk it at the end.
Mile: 19 RT 2:19 Trail out to Lindy Point Overlook

Mile: 19.3 Lindy Point Overlook There's a panoramic view here.
Mile: 19.7 We're back on the road. The pavement ends at the edge of the trailhead parking lot and Forest Road 13 begins at this point. It is a gravel road it's entire length and also known as the Canaan Loop Road. I have another bike ride that also uses this road called the Canaan Loop Road Ride.
Mile: 19.9 Lindy Run The first of two stream crossings. These pictures are from two different dates. Water levels vary.
Mile: 20 RT 2:33 Forest Road 13
Mile: 21 RT 2:41 Forest Road 13
Mile: 21.3 Next to the road are several fire rings. This seems to be a favorite camping spot. No doubt because of the great view just the other side of the trees.
Mile: 21.7 The second stream crossing.
Just past the stream crossing is the roughest stretch of the road. It's just exposed bedrock. Could really damage a vehicle.
Be prepared for some muddy sections. The mud puddles, which can get quite large, never seem to comletely dry out. Even if it hasn't rained in a while.
Mile: 22 RT 2:52 Forest Road 13
Mile: 23 RT 3:02 Forest Road 13
Mile: 24 RT 3:08 Forest Road 13 The Forest Road is better maintained from this point on until it's end at Canaan Heights.
Mile: 25 RT 3:15 Forest Road 13 We have now started downhill. It will be almost all downhill for the next five miles until we hit State Route 72.
Mile: 26 RT 3:19 Forest Road 13
Mile: 26.3 Intersection with Forest Road 244 We turn right onto Forest Road 244 and continue downhill. The wooden trail signs haven't been vandalized. They are tore up because bears like chewing on them.
Mile: 26.4 Gate across Forest Road 244 Easy enough to bike around but be careful. The land drops away fairly quickly from the side of the road.
Mile: 27 RT 3:25 Forest Road 244
Wooden Bridge Looks like something has been chewing on the bridge. Something BIG!
Mile: 28 RT 3:31 Forest Road 244
Mile: 29 RT 3:39 Forest Road 244
Mile: 30 RT 3:44 Forest Road 244 We have reached the end of FR 244. Get on to State Route 72 and go right.
Mile: 31 RT 3:52 State Route 72
Mile: 32 RT 3:55 State Route 72
Off to the left is the Dry Fork River. It will join up with the Blackwater River at Hendricks to create the Black Fork River.
Mile: 33 RT 4:02 State Route 72 Just at the Hendricks city limits.
Looking up the Blackwater Canyon from Hendricks
Blackwater River Bridge in Hendricks About to again cross over the Blackwater River. Looking up the river you can see the Western Maryland Railroad Bridge. It was for a short spur line. The West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway which built the original line through the canyon was sold in 1902. It later became part of the Western Maryland Railroad.
Mile: 34 RT 4:07 State Route 72 We are now back where we started the Blackwater Canyon Circle Loop. Just coming from the opposite direction. All done.