The Blackwater River in Tucker Co., WVA is an amazing stream. It begins at the top of some of the highest peaks in the state, including Weiss Knob and other peaks that rim the Canaan Valley. The Canaan Valley itself is the largest upland valley in the East and is the home of the nation's 500th federal wildlife refuge. The Blackwater is also part of the largest undammed watershed system in the East. The Blackwater River drains the valley and is the backbone of a tremendous upland bog system. The water is tea colored from natural tannins. Near Davis, WV the placid meandering and boggy stream notches gently through one gorge before carving a second deep gorge that begins with 40 ft. Blackwater Falls. From Blackwater Falls, the river falls through a chaotic jumble of boulders and rapids more than a 1000 vertical feet before confluencing with the Dry Vork of the Cheat. There are no maintained trails in the canyon. We've been accessing it on bushwhack routes that follow small and steep tributaries into the canyon. These tributaries are destinations by themselves due to the numerous large waterfalls they form as they spill into the steep canyon. Once along the river, we boulder, crawl, wade and bushwhack our way up or down the stream - a method of travel we've dubbed Creekyoneering. We've explored downstream from Blackwater Falls and upstream from the confluence with Pendleton Run.