The Ultimate Bucket List For Anyone In West Virginia Who Loves Waterfall Hikes
There are well over 200 waterfalls in West Virginia, but for the purposes of a bucket list, these are the best among them. You can hike to them all, and some of the trips even involve seeing multiple falls. When you want to get outside and enjoy some of the most beautiful natural areas in the state, these hikes are a must-do.
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This park is probably the most popular on this list, as well as the most photographed. There are several falls at the park, including the popular Elakala Falls.
But the most prominent part is the Great Falls, accessible by a path that descends 320 feet to an observation deck. There, you will see the the water drop 62 feet from a connoquenessing sandstone ledge at the head of Blackwater Canyon. The flow varies depending on recent rainfall. This photograph is the falls after heavy rain. Blackwater falls is located at 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd. in Davis.
Though not as high as Blackwater Falls, Sandstone Falls is much wider. At 1500 feet wide, the water drops anywhere from 10 to 25 feet along the river. At this point, the New River switches from a wide tributary along open plains to a more narrow one that cuts between mountains, such as the point where it passes beneath the New River Gorge Bridge.
This is another beautiful place that deserves a spot on your bucket list. At nearly 100 feet tall, it is the tallest waterfall in the state; however, you can only see the lower 60 feet from the viewing location. The falls pour into a crescent shaped valley, comprised of several stone ledges.
It is easy to access, too. It is just one mile from the town of Gauley Bridge off route 60. You just pull off the road in the small rest area to reach the falls. If you do a little exploring of the area you will be able to find the higher levels of the waterfall out of view from the ground.
The path through the woods leads to a series of three waterfalls at Hills Creek measuring 20, 45 and 65 feet. The trail to the first one is handicap accessible, but the rest are not, requiring the ability to climb stairs and navigate rough terrain.
This 114-acre area is located in Monongahela National Forest and all of the falls are connected. The handicapped accessible boardwalk leads to the 20-foot fall, then the 45 and the 65. The creek descends a total of 220 feet from the the top fall to the lowest.
The falls, located near the confluence of the Bluestone River and Brush Creek, are 25 feet tall along the creek, which is more than 50 feet wide. As with all waterfalls, the flow is ever changing, depending on rainfall. If there has been little to no rain, it is possible to slip behind the falling curtains of water - after heavy rainfall, this is not possible. The picture above represents a typical flow not burdened with heavy rain.
If you live in West Virginia, these are the main falls to visit, but they are not the only ones. The state is filled with beautiful waterfalls from its many rivers. Who knows? Maybe you will be able to visit them all.
Which of these waterfalls have you visited? Which others would you recommend that are not on the list? Feel free to comment below and join the discussion.
Would you like to know a little more about one of the falls in this article? Check out this waterfall staircase hike, which might be the most unique area in West Virginia.
