The best waterfalls near Charleston, West Virginia are Sandstone Falls, Falls of Hills Creek, Brooks Falls and 6 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Upper Falls, about 11 miles west of Charleston.
For more waterfalls around Charleston, browse the nearest towns: Saint Albans, Tornado, Ansted, Richwood, Hinton, Webster Springs, Athens, Elkins. You can also see every waterfall on the West Virginia waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 9 publicly accessible West Virginia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Charleston that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Sandstone Falls
57 miles southeast of Charleston. Our top pick near the city 4.8 out of 5 from 392 reviews.
Raleigh County, WV 25918 (GPS 37.7585, -80.9054)
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Sandstone Falls is about 57 miles southeast of Charleston, near Hinton. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 392 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. In short: "Lush forest trails offer sweeping views of this powerful waterfall spanning the New River."
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2. Falls of Hills Creek
71 miles east of Charleston. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 35 reviews.
Pocahontas County, WV 24946 (GPS 38.1737, -80.3351)
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Falls of Hills Creek is about 71 miles east of Charleston, near Richwood. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 35 Google reviews, and 89% of them give it five stars.
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3. Brooks Falls
59 miles southeast of Charleston. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
Raleigh County, WV 25951 (GPS 37.7193, -80.8920)
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Brooks Falls is about 59 miles southeast of Charleston, near Hinton. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 5 Google reviews.
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4. Upper Falls
11 miles west of Charleston. Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
Kanawha County, WV 25202 (GPS 38.3426, -81.8415)
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Upper Falls is about 11 miles west of Charleston, in Tornado. Visitors rate it 3.9 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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5. Kanawha Falls
27 miles southeast of Charleston. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 29 reviews.
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Kanawha Falls is about 27 miles southeast of Charleston, near Ansted. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 29 Google reviews, and 69% of them give it five stars.
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6. Harvey Falls
72 miles southeast of Charleston. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
Summers County, WV 24935 (GPS 37.5035, -80.8520)
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Harvey Falls is about 72 miles southeast of Charleston, near Athens. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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7. Whitaker Falls
79 miles east of Charleston. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 26 reviews.
Webster County, WV 26282 (GPS 38.5251, -80.1840)
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Whitaker Falls is about 79 miles east of Charleston, near Webster Springs. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 26 Google reviews, and 77% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Whitaker Falls Point of Interest.
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8. Bull Falls
68 miles southeast of Charleston. Rated 4.0 out of 5 from 16 reviews.
Summers County, WV 25979 (GPS 37.5426, -80.9106)
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Bull Falls is about 68 miles southeast of Charleston, near Hinton. Visitors rate it 4.0 stars across 16 Google reviews.
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9. Tecumseh Falls
73 miles east of Charleston. Rated 3.4 out of 5 from 10 reviews.
Webster County, WV 26222 (GPS 38.6775, -80.3497)
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Tecumseh Falls is about 73 miles east of Charleston, near Webster Springs. Visitors rate it 3.4 stars across 10 Google reviews.
Waterfall Day Trips From Charleston
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Falls | 11 mi west | Tornado | 3.9 |
| Kanawha Falls | 27 mi southeast | Ansted | 4.4 |
| Sandstone Falls | 57 mi southeast | Hinton | 4.8 |
| Brooks Falls | 59 mi southeast | Hinton | 4.8 |
| Bull Falls | 68 mi southeast | Hinton | 4.0 |
| Falls of Hills Creek | 71 mi east | Richwood | 4.9 |
| Harvey Falls | 72 mi southeast | Athens | 4.6 |
| Tecumseh Falls | 73 mi east | Webster Springs | 3.4 |
| Whitaker Falls | 79 mi east | Webster Springs | 4.7 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Charleston. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Charleston?
Sandstone Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 57 miles southeast of Charleston and rated 4.8 stars from 392 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Charleston?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Upper Falls is the closest, about 11 straight-line miles west of the city, near Tornado.
How many waterfalls are near Charleston?
We track 9 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in West Virginia within 100 miles of Charleston, 2 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the West Virginia waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 9 publicly accessible West Virginia waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Charleston that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Why is the water at Blackwater Falls dark?
The Blackwater River is stained amber by tannins leached from the hemlock and red spruce forests and boggy soils it drains. The color is natural and gives the river and falls their name.
Summary
Sandstone Falls is our top waterfall pick near Charleston, rated 4.8 out of 5 and about 57 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
West Virginia's falls are fullest from late winter through spring, typically March through May, when snowmelt in the highlands and frequent rain swell streams. The Allegheny Highlands receive heavy snowfall, and winter visits to Blackwater Falls can reveal dramatic ice formations, though stairways and trails may be icy and some roads challenging. Summer brings lush green gorges, warm swimming weather and occasional heavy thunderstorms, but smaller falls can weaken by August. Fall color usually arrives in the high country in early October and moves to lower elevations later in the month, drawing crowds to the New River Gorge and Canaan Valley areas. The big river falls, like Sandstone Falls and Kanawha Falls, flow year-round, with appearance varying by river level.
For more West Virginia waterfalls, see the full West Virginia waterfalls page, or read 13 Best Waterfalls in West Virginia, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in West Virginia and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in West Virginia.