State guide

Waterfalls in West Virginia

16 waterfalls across 10 counties, ranked 32nd nationally. The main waterfall regions are New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields and Allegheny Highlands.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System, with visitor ratings from Google Maps listings.

Best WaterfallsMost Beautiful WaterfallsMust-See Waterfalls

Photo of Sandstone Falls in Raleigh County, West Virginia
Pictured: Sandstone Falls, WV

Towns

Where West Virginia's Waterfalls Are

West Virginia is the only state that lies entirely within the Appalachian region, and almost all of it is steep. Most of the state sits on the Allegheny Plateau, a high tableland of nearly flat sandstone, shale and coal beds that rivers have dissected into a maze of narrow valleys and gorges. Where a stream crosses a resistant sandstone layer, it forms a ledge, and the softer rock below wears back to create a drop. That pattern produces many broad, step-like falls rather than tall, thin plunges. Our directory lists 16 named waterfalls in the state, ranking it 32nd nationally, though the true number of unnamed cascades in its hollows is far larger.

The falls cluster in two areas. In the south, the New River, one of the oldest rivers on the continent, has carved a deep gorge through the plateau, and its tributaries drop into it over sandstone ledges in Raleigh, Fayette and Summers counties. In the east, the Allegheny Highlands rise to the state's highest ground, catching heavy rain and snow that feed falls in Tucker, Randolph, Pocahontas and Webster counties, where red spruce, hemlock and rhododendron shade the streams. The rivers here often carry tea-colored water stained by tannins from the forests and bogs upstream. A lone listing in Hampshire County represents the Ridge and Valley country of the Eastern Panhandle.

West Virginia Waterfall Regions

New River Gorge and Southern Coalfields

8 waterfalls · Raleigh County, Summers County, Fayette County, and Kanawha County

The New River and its neighbors carve the deepest gorges in the state. Sandstone Falls spans the full width of the New River near Hinton, a wide, powerful series of ledges viewed from boardwalks and an island trail within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Downstream, Kanawha Falls drops across the Kanawha River at Glen Ferris in Fayette County, and Brooks Falls adds another river-wide ledge on the New. Summers County, around Hinton, holds several more listings, including Bull Falls and Harvey Falls, and Kanawha County's Upper Falls lies on the Coal River near Tornado. Big rivers, wide ledges and strong currents define this region.

Start with: Sandstone Falls, Kanawha Falls, Bull Falls, Harvey Falls, Upper Falls

Allegheny Highlands

7 waterfalls · Tucker County, Randolph County, Pocahontas County, Webster County, and Pendleton County

The high, forested mountains of eastern West Virginia hold the state's most celebrated falls. Blackwater Falls, in Tucker County, pours amber-tinted water into a rugged canyon and is viewed from a boardwalk and stairway in the state park that bears its name. High Falls in Randolph County spans the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River in remote national forest country. In Pocahontas County, the Falls of Hills Creek is a series of three falls in a narrow gorge reached by a trail and boardwalk. Webster County, around Webster Springs, adds Whitaker Falls and Tecumseh Falls, and Pendleton County contributes one listing in the mountains near Franklin.

Start with: Blackwater Falls, High Falls, Falls of Hills Creek, Whitaker Falls, Tecumseh Falls

All 16 Waterfalls in West Virginia

Ordered by Google rating and review volume, then by documented USGS history.

  1. Sandstone Falls

    Hinton, WV · Raleigh County
    4.8 (392 reviews)

    Lush forest trails offer sweeping views of this powerful waterfall spanning the New River.

    Rating
    4.8 (392 Google reviews)
    Address
    Raleigh County, WV 25918 (GPS 37.7585, -80.9054)
    Nearest town
    Hinton, WV (5.9 mi)
    USGS topo
    Meadow Creek quad
    View details Directions

  2. Blackwater Falls

    Parsons, WV · Tucker County
    4.8 (171 reviews)

    A long boardwalk with stairs leads to views of this 57-foot waterfall in a scenic recreation area.

    Rating
    4.8 (171 Google reviews)
    Address
    Tucker County, WV 26260 (GPS 39.1138, -79.4832)
    Nearest town
    Parsons, WV (11 mi)
    USGS topo
    Blackwater Falls quad
    View details Directions

  3. High Falls

    Elkins, WV · Randolph County
    4.8 (46 reviews)

    High Falls is a waterfall in Randolph County, West Virginia, about 11 miles south of Elkins. It appears on the USGS Beverly East topographic map.

    Rating
    4.8 (46 Google reviews)
    Address
    Randolph County, WV 26241 (GPS 38.7725, -79.7773)
    Nearest town
    Elkins, WV (11 mi)
    USGS topo
    Beverly East quad
    View details Directions

  4. Falls of Hills Creek

    Richwood, WV · Pocahontas County
    4.9 (35 reviews)

    Falls of Hills Creek is a waterfall in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, about 11 miles east of Richwood. It appears on the USGS Lobelia topographic map.

    Rating
    4.9 (35 Google reviews)
    Address
    Pocahontas County, WV 24946 (GPS 38.1737, -80.3351)
    Nearest town
    Richwood, WV (11 mi)
    USGS topo
    Lobelia quad
    View details Directions

  5. Whitaker Falls

    Webster Springs, WV · Webster County
    4.7 (26 reviews)

    Whitaker Falls is a waterfall in Webster County, West Virginia, about 13 miles east of Webster Springs. It appears on the USGS Samp topographic map.

    Rating
    4.7 (26 Google reviews)
    Address
    Webster County, WV 26282 (GPS 38.5251, -80.1840)
    Nearest town
    Webster Springs, WV (13 mi)
    USGS topo
    Samp quad
    View details Directions

  6. Niagara Falls

    Berkeley Springs, WV · Hampshire County
    3.7 (70 reviews)

    Niagara Falls is a waterfall in Hampshire County, West Virginia, about 15 miles southwest of Berkeley Springs. It appears on the USGS Paw Paw topographic map.

    Rating
    3.7 (70 Google reviews)
    Address
    Hampshire County, WV 25434 (GPS 39.5156, -78.4672)
    Nearest town
    Berkeley Springs, WV (15 mi)
    USGS topo
    Paw Paw quad
    View details Directions

  7. Kanawha Falls

    Ansted, WV · Fayette County
    4.4 (29 reviews)

    Kanawha Falls is a waterfall in Fayette County, West Virginia, about 6.2 miles west of Ansted. It appears on the USGS Gauley Bridge topographic map.

    Rating
    4.4 (29 Google reviews)
    Address
    Glen Ferris, WV 25115
    Nearest town
    Ansted, WV (6.2 mi)
    USGS topo
    Gauley Bridge quad
    View details Directions

  8. Bull Falls

    Hinton, WV · Summers County
    4.0 (16 reviews)

    Bull Falls is a waterfall in Summers County, West Virginia, about 9.2 miles south of Hinton. It appears on the USGS Pipestem topographic map.

    Rating
    4.0 (16 Google reviews)
    Address
    Summers County, WV 25979 (GPS 37.5426, -80.9106)
    Nearest town
    Hinton, WV (9.2 mi)
    USGS topo
    Pipestem quad
    View details Directions

  9. Harvey Falls

    Athens, WV · Summers County
    4.6 (7 reviews)

    Harvey Falls is a waterfall in Summers County, West Virginia, about 11 miles northeast of Athens. It appears on the USGS Forest Hill topographic map.

    Rating
    4.6 (7 Google reviews)
    Address
    Summers County, WV 24935 (GPS 37.5035, -80.8520)
    Nearest town
    Athens, WV (11 mi)
    USGS topo
    Forest Hill quad
    View details Directions

  10. Brooks Falls

    Hinton, WV · Raleigh County
    4.8 (5 reviews)

    Brooks Falls is a waterfall in Raleigh County, West Virginia, about 3.1 miles north of Hinton. It appears on the USGS Hinton topographic map.

    Rating
    4.8 (5 Google reviews)
    Address
    Raleigh County, WV 25951 (GPS 37.7193, -80.8920)
    Nearest town
    Hinton, WV (3.1 mi)
    USGS topo
    Hinton quad
    View details Directions

  11. Falls of Seneca

    Franklin, WV · Pendleton County
    4.8 (5 reviews)

    Falls of Seneca is a waterfall in Pendleton County, West Virginia, about 15 miles northwest of Franklin. It appears on the USGS Onego topographic map.

    Rating
    4.8 (5 Google reviews)
    Address
    Pendleton County, WV 26814 (GPS 38.8184, -79.4906)
    Nearest town
    Franklin, WV (15 mi)
    USGS topo
    Onego quad
    View details Directions

  12. Tecumseh Falls

    Webster Springs, WV · Webster County
    3.4 (10 reviews)

    Tecumseh Falls is a waterfall in Webster County, West Virginia, about 14 miles north of Webster Springs. It appears on the USGS Goshen topographic map.

    Rating
    3.4 (10 Google reviews)
    Address
    Webster County, WV 26222 (GPS 38.6775, -80.3497)
    Nearest town
    Webster Springs, WV (14 mi)
    USGS topo
    Goshen quad
    View details Directions

  13. Upper Falls

    Tornado, WV · Kanawha County
    3.9 (7 reviews)

    Upper Falls is a waterfall in Kanawha County, West Virginia, in Tornado. It appears on the USGS Alum Creek topographic map.

    Rating
    3.9 (7 Google reviews)
    Address
    Kanawha County, WV 25202 (GPS 38.3426, -81.8415)
    Nearest town
    Tornado, WV (0.2 mi)
    USGS topo
    Alum Creek quad
    View details Directions

  14. Lower Falls

    Saint Albans, WV · Kanawha County
    3.5 (4 reviews)

    Lower Falls is a waterfall in Kanawha County, West Virginia, about 1.4 miles southwest of Saint Albans. It appears on the USGS Alum Creek topographic map.

    Rating
    3.5 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Kanawha County, WV 25177 (GPS 38.3748, -81.8590)
    Nearest town
    Saint Albans, WV (1.4 mi)
    USGS topo
    Alum Creek quad
    View details Directions

  15. Richman Falls

    Hinton, WV · Summers County
    3.0 (4 reviews)

    Richman Falls is a waterfall in Summers County, West Virginia, about 7.2 miles north of Hinton. It appears on the USGS Meadow Creek topographic map.

    Rating
    3.0 (4 Google reviews)
    Address
    Summers County, WV 25918 (GPS 37.7779, -80.8990)
    Nearest town
    Hinton, WV (7.2 mi)
    USGS topo
    Meadow Creek quad
    View details Directions

  16. Tenskwatawa Falls

    Webster Springs, WV · Webster County

    Tenskwatawa Falls is a waterfall in Webster County, West Virginia, about 13 miles north of Webster Springs. It appears on the USGS Goshen topographic map.

    Address
    Webster County, WV 26222 (GPS 38.6551, -80.3382)
    Nearest town
    Webster Springs, WV (13 mi)
    USGS topo
    Goshen quad
    View details Directions

Highest Rated in West Virginia

  1. Falls of Hills Creek 4.9 from 35 reviews · Richwood
  2. Sandstone Falls 4.8 from 392 reviews · Hinton
  3. Blackwater Falls 4.8 from 171 reviews · Parsons
  4. High Falls 4.8 from 46 reviews · Elkins
  5. Whitaker Falls 4.7 from 26 reviews · Webster Springs

Waterfalls with at least 25 Google reviews.

West Virginia Waterfalls by the Compass

The farthest-apart named falls in West Virginia are about 199 miles apart.

Names and History

1 waterfall has alternate historical names on record, such as Whitaker Falls (also Whitaker Falls Point of Interest).

Best Time to See Waterfalls in West Virginia

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.

Planning a Waterfall Trip in West Virginia

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.

More: waterfall safety · packing list

Find Waterfalls Near a West Virginia Town

Waterfalls by County

CountyWaterfallsShareMost visited
Summers319%Bull Falls
Webster319%Whitaker Falls
Kanawha213%Upper Falls
Raleigh213%Sandstone Falls
Fayette16%Kanawha Falls
Hampshire16%Niagara Falls
Pendleton16%Falls of Seneca
Pocahontas16%Falls of Hills Creek
Randolph16%High Falls
Tucker16%Blackwater Falls

All West Virginia Waterfalls A to Z

West Virginia Waterfalls: FAQs

How many waterfalls are in West Virginia?

Our directory lists 16 waterfalls in West Virginia, all officially named in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, 32nd among the 50 jurisdictions in our directory and 0.6% of the national total. 50% of them are in just three counties: Summers, Webster, and Kanawha.

What is the most visited waterfall in West Virginia?

By Google review count, Sandstone Falls in Raleigh County leads with 392 reviews and a 4.8 rating. Blackwater Falls is next.

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.

What is Sandstone Falls?

It is a wide series of ledges spanning the New River near Hinton, within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. It is the largest waterfall on the New River.

Which West Virginia town has the most waterfalls nearby?

Athens has 10 named waterfalls within 30 miles, the most of any town in our West Virginia directory.