| Valley Falls State Park | |
| Iucn Category: | III |
| Iucn Ref: | [1] |
| Map: | USA West Virginia |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | West Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates: | 39.3939°N -80.0822°W |
| Area Acre: | 1145 |
| Elevation: | 1558feet |
| Established: | 1964[2] |
| Named For: | Valley Falls on the Tygart River |
| Governing Body: | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
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.[3]
Although the falls are an inviting spot, swimming is not allowed. [4]
Local tradition had it that early settler Jonathan Nixon, Sr (1753–1799) was the first white man to look upon the falls.[5] 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.[4]