Valley Falls State Park

Valley Falls State Park is a 1,145 acre (4.63 km) 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. 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. 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.