The Wonder of White Oak Falls

“As I approached White Oak Falls on my second visit, a shaft of light was shifting across the face of the falls. I had to work fast to get this shot. I scampered up the rocks and into the basin below White Oak Falls, hurriedly set up my tripod in the stream bed, and, while trying to keep my wits, started shooting as quickly as possible. You just never know what you're going to find when you take a walk in the woods with your camera. The world changes day-by-day, minute-by-minute. How exciting!” from West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger. Click HERE. 

White Oak Falls

The Great Mystic

White Oak Falls is the great mystic of southern West Virginia waterfalls. A beam of light seemingly sent from the heavens illuminates the falls adding a magical quality that few other waterfalls possess. What’s more it happens regularly—usually mid to late afternoon. Photographs of this blade of light crossing the face of White Oak Falls create a uniquely moody waterfall image.

White Oak Falls

Easy to Get There

White Oak Falls is both easy and difficult to get to. It’s easy in that it’s about a 1.75 mile hike from Brush Creek falls (described in an earlier post BRUSH CREEK FALLS). The trail is very gently graded and follows Brush Creek to its confluence with the Bluestone River. It then parallels the Bluestone River to its confluence with White Oak Creek. 

White Oak Falls

Difficult to Climb

It’s difficult in that the trail ends at the shores of the Bluestone where White Oak Creek meets the river. The lower falls of White Oak Creek begin right at the Bluestone, where White Oak Creek makes a couple of short drops and runs before flowing into the river. The upper falls, barely visible from the bottom, are sheltered by a large rock amphitheater protected on both sides by steep slopes.

White Oak Falls

Worth the Effort

Looking up at the falls, the right-hand side seems to be the easier path to the amphitheater. But there is a tight spot where you must hug a small round cliff to get upstream. It’s easier, but riskier. The left-hand side requires more climbing, mostly on very steep soil slopes, but I believe with a good pair of hiking boots, it’s the safer way. At any rate, it’s a difficult ascent but for the hale and hearty it’s worth the effort. 

White Oak Falls

For more about White Oak Falls see my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia: A Hiker’s Guide to Beauty off the Beaten Path.” Click here for a VIDEO and for more info or to purchase click HERE.