13 Best Waterfalls in West Virginia (2026 Updated)
Of the 16 named waterfalls in West Virginia, these 13 earn the strongest visitor ratings, led by Falls of Hills Creek, Sandstone Falls, and Blackwater Falls. The list spans the Allegheny Highlands and New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields.
How We Picked
We ranked the 13 publicly accessible West Virginia waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands. Every waterfall links to a full page with coordinates, maps and nearby falls.
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1. Falls of Hills Creek
Richwood, WV · Pocahontas County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.9-star Google rating and is the 5th most reviewed in the state, with 35 reviews. 89% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. The nearest town is Richwood, about 11 miles to the west.
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2. Sandstone Falls
Hinton, WV · Raleigh County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
It is the most reviewed waterfall in West Virginia, holding 4.8 stars across 392 Google reviews. 87% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "Lush forest trails offer sweeping views of this powerful waterfall spanning the New River." It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. Richman Falls is only 1.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Hinton, about 5.9 miles to the south.
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3. Blackwater Falls
Parsons, WV · Tucker County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 2nd most reviewed in the state, with 171 reviews. 86% of reviewers give it five stars. Google's listing sums it up as: "A long boardwalk with stairs leads to views of this 57-foot waterfall in a scenic recreation area." It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. The nearest town is Parsons, about 11 miles to the west.
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4. High Falls
Elkins, WV · Randolph County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.8-star Google rating and is the 4th most reviewed in the state, with 46 reviews. 91% of reviewers give it five stars. It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. The nearest town is Elkins, about 11 miles to the north.
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5. Whitaker Falls
Webster Springs, WV · Webster County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.7-star Google rating and is the 7th most reviewed in the state, with 26 reviews. 77% of reviewers give it five stars. Older records also call it Whitaker Falls Point of Interest. It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. The nearest town is Webster Springs, about 13 miles to the west.
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6. Brooks Falls
Hinton, WV · Raleigh County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 5 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. Sandstone Falls is only 2.8 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Hinton, about 3.1 miles to the south.
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7. Falls of Seneca
Franklin, WV · Pendleton County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 5 reviews. It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. The nearest town is Franklin, about 15 miles to the southeast.
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8. Harvey Falls
Athens, WV · Summers County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.6-star Google rating and is the 10th most reviewed in the state, with 7 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. The nearest town is Athens, about 11 miles to the southwest.
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9. Kanawha Falls
Ansted, WV · Fayette County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.4-star Google rating and is the 6th most reviewed in the state, with 29 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. The nearest town is Ansted, about 6.2 miles to the east.
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10. Upper Falls
Tornado, WV · Kanawha County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
Visitors rate it 3.9 stars across 7 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. Lower Falls is only 2.4 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. It is right in Tornado.
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11. Bull Falls
Hinton, WV · Summers County · New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields
Why it made the list
It holds a 4.0-star Google rating and is the 8th most reviewed in the state, with 16 reviews. It is one of 8 named falls in the New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields region. The nearest town is Hinton, about 9.2 miles to the north.
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12. Tecumseh Falls
Webster Springs, WV · Webster County · Allegheny Highlands
Why it made the list
It holds a 3.4-star Google rating and is the 9th most reviewed in the state, with 10 reviews. It is one of 7 named falls in the Allegheny Highlands region. Tenskwatawa Falls is only 1.7 miles away, so the two are easy to pair in one outing. The nearest town is Webster Springs, about 14 miles to the south.
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13. Niagara Falls
Berkeley Springs, WV · Hampshire County
Why it made the list
It holds a 3.7-star Google rating and is the 3rd most reviewed in the state, with 70 reviews. The nearest town is Berkeley Springs, about 15 miles to the northeast.
When to Visit West Virginia's Waterfalls
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.
Before You Go
Public land holds most of the state's well-known falls. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve manages Sandstone Falls and other gorge sites, the Monongahela National Forest covers much of the Allegheny Highlands, including the Falls of Hills Creek and High Falls, and state parks protect Blackwater Falls and others. Many smaller falls in the southern counties are on private or industrial land. Expect winding mountain roads, limited cell service and long drives between sites. The biggest hazards are moving water and wet rock: the New and Kanawha rivers have powerful currents and hidden hazards around ledges, and sandstone near falls is slick when wet. Winter travel in the highlands can be difficult in snow. Remote trails require self-reliance and good maps.
Read our waterfall safety rules and packing list before heading out.
Explore More West Virginia Waterfalls
See all 16 waterfalls in the West Virginia waterfall guide, or browse by town: Richwood, Hinton, Parsons, Elkins, Webster Springs, Franklin, Athens, Ansted.
More West Virginia Waterfall Lists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfall in West Virginia?
Falls of Hills Creek tops our 2026 list, with a 4.9-star rating from 35 Google reviews. It is near Richwood in Pocahontas County.
How was this list made?
We ranked the 13 publicly accessible West Virginia waterfalls with at least five Google reviews by a weighted rating that balances score against review volume, so a 4.9 from a dozen reviewers counts for less than a 4.8 from thousands.
How many waterfalls are in West Virginia?
Our directory lists 16 named waterfalls in West Virginia. See them all, sorted by town, in the West Virginia waterfall guide.
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.