Trails / West Virginia / Monongahela National Forest

Canaan Mountain and Table Rock Loop

Canaan Mountain Backcountry, Monongahela National Forest (from Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis)

Canaan Mountain is a high plateau next to Blackwater Falls State Park, about 13,500 acres of national forest that the Forest Service calls semi-primitive. It runs from 4,145 feet at Pointy Knob down to about 3,100 feet near Blackwater Falls, and its flat terrain and roughly 50 inches of rain a year leave many trails wet.

This loop crosses the plateau on the Plantation Trail, camps near the Table Rock overlook, and returns along Canaan Loop Road past Lindy Point.

The hike

MyHikes lists the loop at 17.8 miles with about 1,400 feet of gain, split into 9.4 miles on day one and 8.6 on day two. It starts at the Blackwater Falls Lodge parking lot in Davis and follows the Yellow Birch Trail to the Allegheny Trail, crossing Engine Run. At about 1.2 miles you enter the national forest. The Forest Service says the Allegheny Trail’s 5-mile section here links Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley state parks.

Pass a shelter at about 2.4 miles and turn right on the Plantation Trail, which the Forest Service calls the area’s main trail, about 8.4 miles long and prone to damage from poor drainage and heavy use. MyHikes passes the Pointy Knob Trail, the Lindy Run Trail at 4.6 miles, and the Railroad Grade Trail at 6.0, where a second shelter sits about half a mile south. At 7.9 miles, turn left on Canaan Loop Road for 75 yards to the Table Rock trailhead, then climb to a dry campsite about 80 yards from the overlook.

Day two returns to Canaan Loop Road and follows it clockwise. MyHikes says the road is unmaintained past about mile 1.8, passes several campsites, fords Lindy Run at 5.5 miles, and reaches the Lindy Point parking area. A side trail leads to the Lindy Point overlook, which MyHikes says is split by deep clefts. The paved road continues into Blackwater Falls State Park, where the route uses the Shay Trace Trail, with an optional detour to Elakala Falls, back to the lodge.

MyHikes reviewers describe mud, leftover snow in spring, and an overgrown fire road (2017), a sign at the first junction suggesting flooding (2015), and confusing signs at the Lindy Run junction (2014). One 2014 reviewer camped on Canaan Loop Road and was woken by 4WD vehicles passing at night.

The Forest Service says mountain bikers use the area’s trails and the loop road. For wilderness trails nearby, see the Dolly Sods North loop.

Tips

Register at the lodge if you park there overnight, per MyHikes.
Fill water before Table Rock. The closest source is a stream about 250 yards past the Table Rock trailhead on the road.
Arrive early at Table Rock. A reviewer says it fills up near sunset.
Wear waterproof boots or gaiters for the bogs.
Treat all water, boiling or filtering; the Forest Service says chemical treatment isn’t considered effective.

Camping

There’s no permit. The Forest Service asks you not to camp within 200 feet of streams, to keep fires small with dead and down wood, and encourages stoves. It lists three first-come shelters: a six-person Adirondack shelter near the Allegheny-Plantation junction, one on the Railroad Grade Trail south of the Plantation Trail, and one on the west side of the Pointy Knob Trail. Forest-wide, you can stay 14 days in a 28-day period. The Forest Service warns that freezing temperatures and snow can occur year-round, mostly October through April.

Inside Intel: MyHikes reviewer DCLightweight (2016) wrote, “definitely plan to camp at Table Rock or the shelter,” and warned that Table Rock fills near sunset; another 2016 reviewer liked having the overlook to themselves. AaronPacker (2014) called the second shelter, on the Railroad Grade side trail, “really nice.” Reviewers were less keen on the Canaan Loop Road sites, which one called “basically on the road.”

Trail facts

Distance: 17.8 miles (MyHikes)
Route type: Loop (Allegheny Trail, Plantation Trail, Table Rock, Canaan Loop Road, Lindy Point)
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: Table Rock (dry), three shelters, roadside sites on Canaan Loop Road
Water: Engine Run, streams along the road, Lindy Run; none at Table Rock
Permits: None
Trailhead: Blackwater Falls Lodge, Blackwater Falls State Park
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Fording Lindy Run on Canaan Mountain:

MyHikes says day two fords Lindy Run at about 5.5 miles on Canaan Loop Road, and one reviewer took boots off for two crossings. Our five tips cover footwear, timing, and safe crossing technique.

Get the five tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.