Five Waterfalls of the New River Gorge

Nestled in the steep slopes of the New River Gorge are hundreds of rugged waterfalls. These waterfalls are fertile ground for nature lovers offering challenging hikes and striking landscapes. Having published a photo book of the waterfalls of the New River Gorge, I’d like to share five of those waterfalls that really stand out. 

Cathedral Falls

Let’s start with picturesque Cathedral Falls, which is located on US Highway 60 one mile east of Gauley Bridge, WV. Since the falls are located at a roadside rest stop, access is easy. You can literally step out of your vehicle and start photographing the falls. Descending 60 feet in a series of three dramatic drops within a large semi-circular rock amphitheater, Cathedral Falls is as photogenic as they come. Easy access generally means plenty of visitors and photographers, so you have to be patient and creative to get a photograph. To eliminate people in the foreground, I generally work my way around the left side of the rock amphitheater for close-ups of the falls. 

Cathedral Falls

Turkey Creek Falls

The next waterfall is only six miles down the road. From the parking lot at Cathedral Falls, turn left onto US Highway 60 and drive to Hawks Nest State Park. From the State Park Lodge take the tram from the cliff top down to Hawks Nest Lake. From the tram station pick up the Fisherman’s Trail, which skirts the northern shore of Hawks Nest Lake. A pleasant 0.8 mile walk along the lake ends at the falls on Turkey Creek. This waterfall is best photographed after some heavy summer rains. At full flow the falls split into three segments at the top, which merge in the middle and split again into three segments at the base. Total drop is about 35 feet. 

Turkey Creek Falls

Fern Creek Falls

The next stop is one of the classiest and most unique waterfalls in the Gorge. Starting at the parking lot at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, turn right out of the lot and drive 1/10 of a mile. Make a very sharp right hand turn, and proceed downhill another 1/10 of a mile to the junction with Fayette Station Road. Turn left and go yet another 1/10 of a mile to a pull out on the right-hand shoulder of the road, which is the trail head parking. It’s only a mile to Fern Creek Falls, but the trail is rocky and uneven. Indeed the path is merely a bushwhacked trace forged by rock climbers seeking access to the base of the cliffs that rim the uppermost portion of the Gorge. Although the trail forks from place to place, if you hug the base of the cliffs, called the Endless Wall, you won’t go wrong. The trail ends at the falls, so you can’t miss them. 

Flanked by the 60 foot high Endless Wall, Fern Creek Falls epitomize a New River Gorge waterfall—rough and rocky. Fern Creek Falls are really two falls in one. During average runoff, the falls are confined to a deep, vertical cleft in the cliff. At high water, the best time to visit the falls, part of the waterfall shoots over the cliff edge and plunges for about 50 feet into a pool below. 

Fern Creek Falls

Wolf Creek Falls

The next waterfall is just across the Gorge. From the Fern Creek trailhead parking, backtrack and drive down Fayette Station Road, which goes under the New River Gorge Bridge, winds down the side of the canyon, and crosses the New River at Fayette Station Bridge. After crossing Fayette Station Bridge, drive one mile to the second hairpin curve in the road. There’s parking in the curve for the Kaymour Trailhead. Wolf Creek parallels the road at this point and is well named. It’s a untamed torrent that charges down the slopes of the New River Gorge like a wild animal. 

Not surprisingly, Wolf Creek Falls are rough and rugged, too. They aren’t visible from the road, so most visitors drive right passed them. The falls are below the road and a little downstream from the trailhead parking. Walk downhill on the outside edge of the switchback in the road until you notice a few indistinct paths dropping down to the creek. These lead to Wolf Creek Falls. Be forewarned; the descent is short, but steep, rocky, and choked with rhododendron. The bushwhack trail opens up halfway down with spectacular views of the falls to your right. Making your way to the base of the falls, you can enjoy the emerald-green plunge pool and vividly colored boulders. 

Wolf Creek Falls

Sandstone Falls

No tour of the New River Gorge waterfalls would be complete without a stop at Sandstone Falls. According to a database of waterfalls world-wide, Sandstone Falls rank 19th by width and 33rd by volume. In Hinton at the end of the bridge crossing the New River, turn right and take the River Road for 9 miles to Sandstone Falls. There are plenty of good viewpoints of the New River along the way, including a roadside picnic area at Brooks Falls, about half way up the road to Sandstone Falls.

Sandstone Falls are easily explored by a ¼ mile, handicapped accessible boardwalk that crosses two bridges and leads to islands and observation decks offering views of the falls. But for the finest views, it’s best to leave the boardwalk for a little off trail scrambling. Just a few feet before the end of the boardwalk, there’s a path leading to the right. It leads to a shallow water crossing and onto an island. At this point, I prefer to bear a little to the left and head toward the river bank. This takes you to two more small water courses that separate islands and puts you on the lead island that sits right in front of Sandstone Falls. The falls can be viewed along the full length of the upstream edge of the island, which is fortunate, because Sandstone Falls are not just one waterfall, but many. The main falls are more than 800 feet wide, average 20 feet high, and are composed of many segments of distinctive character. To me this is one of the most magnificent views in all of West Virginia. 

Sandstone Falls

Many more falls line the New River Gorge, but I hope these five whet your appetite for waterfall hunting in the Gorge.  Sandstone Falls   Marr Branch Falls
New River Gorge Waterfalls Photo Book   Ramsey Branch Falls   
Pipestem Falls   Elakala Falls   Brush Creek Falls