Adventures for Hikers on the Gauley River: A Tunnel, a Trestle, and a Waterfall

Adventures for Gauley River hikers don’t end at Laurel Creek Falls. Much more excitement lies ahead. Continuing 0.2 miles down the road takes you to the shores of the Gauley River and an abandoned railroad grade running along its banks. The Laurel Creek road provides access to the Gauley River for whitewater rafters. There’s ample parking at the base of the road and a large set of stairs for rafters and their rafts to reach the shores of the Gauley. 

Peters Creek Falls

The Tunnel

The Tunnel

The abandoned road bed is a remnant of a twenty-eight mile stretch of railway built by the NF&G (Nicholas, Fayette and Greenbrier Railroad Company) in 1929 to 1931 to connect the towns of Swiss and Nallen. Hiking this old railroad bed is an easy way to explore and appreciate many miles of the Gauley River. Two tunnels were built for this railroad–one about a mile upstream from Carnifex Ferry near the Confluence Resort, and the other is less than half a mile from the parking area at Laurel Creek. To test your metal on this old tunnel, head west on the railroad bed. The tunnel is straight as an arrow and about 0.6 miles long. From either end you can see the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” But it’s not much. Fortunately the tunnel is well-graded, and there aren’t any potholes to fall into.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The Trestle

The Trestle

Within just a few yards of leaving the tunnel, the rail line launches across the Gauley River along an old trestle. Technically the bridge isn’t a trestle since it is supported by a dozen or so concrete pillars some 60 feet tall. So please forgive me for taking poetic license here. Nevertheless, from the heights of the trestle, the views of the Gauley River are unsurpassed. You feel suspended above the Gauley and can savor sweeping panoramas of the river both upstream and downstream as well as Peter’s Creek, which joins the Gauley River at the northwest end of the trestle. 

Rafters on the Gauley River

The Waterfall

Peter’s Creek Falls (GPS: Lat. 38.231163, Long. -81.045267) are reachable from the end of the trestle if you are willing to walk 2/3 of a mile on an active railroad line. Turn right at the end of the trestle. You can’t miss the falls. They are large, a creek-wide drop of some twenty or more feet. Rocks in the creek beyond the plunge pool make access easy for photographing the falls.

Peters Creek Falls

There you have it--a tunnel, a trestle, and a waterfall. As you can see there’s plenty of adventure for hikers on the Gauley River. 

Adventures on the Gauley River That Don’t Require a Raft

If you’re up for walking a perfectly straight line in nearly perfect darkness for 2/3 of a mile, if you’re ready to walk across the Gauley River from 60 feet above its surface, if you’re able to scramble down to a little known waterfall with a good 40 foot-drop, then you’re ready for some adventures on the Gauley that don’t require a raft.

Gauley River at Laurel Creek

Let’s start with Laurel Creek falls. But first, a word of advice. I would not take the family sedan on this safari. Though the base is firm, the gravel road to the Gauley River has some mud holes, rocky high spots, and is very steep at the end. An SUV or four-wheel drive truck is much better suited for this road. To find Laurel Creek Falls, from the intersection of US 19 and US 60, take US 60 4.6 miles west to Saturday Road (GPS: Lat. 38.12846, Long. -81.07408). From Hawks Nest Lodge, go east on US 60 for 3.25 miles. Saturday Road is a paved road that weaves through some lovely pastures and forests. After 6.4 miles, take a sharp turn to the left onto Lucas Road. Continue on this hardtop road for one mile. At a sharp turn to the left at the crest of a hill, continue straight onto a gravel road. 

Laurel Creek Falls

This road, which follows Laurel Creek, leads to the Gauley River and has been recently upgraded to allow whitewater rafting companies easier access to the Gauley. When you come to junctions in this road just choose the one that trends downward and allows you to follow Laurel Creek as it descends to the Gauley. Two miles on this road will take you by a wooden structure on the left below some sandstone cliffs. Stop here. You’re at Laurel Creek Falls (GPS: Lat. 38.2143, Long. -81.0295)!

Laurel Creek Falls

As a waterfall photographer, Laurel Creek Falls ranks in the top 10 for beauty in my estimation. It has all the photogenic elements that I appreciate in waterfalls: A free drop over a sandstone ledge, a bold staircase of cascades, and a quiet pool at the base. In addition, the falls are beautifully framed by a lush stand of trees and rhododendrons around the top and sides, and emerald-green, moss-covered boulders at its base. It’s a gem of a waterfall that pleases the eyes and poses well for photographs. What’s more, after taking a tumble at the falls, the waters of Laurel Creek continue downstream over several small ledges forming a vigorous series of cataracts–again quite picturesque. 

Laurel Creek Falls

I hope this glowing description motivates you to scramble to the base of the falls. Admittedly, it’s not an easy descent. The side slopes downstream of the falls are steep and rocky. I generally walk about 25 yards down the road from the wooden building and carefully descend the slope down to the creek. You might have better luck walking even further down the road where the slope to the stream lessens somewhat. Whatever the case, have fun but be careful, too, or Laurel Creek won’t be the only thing tumbling in its stream!

Laurel Creek Falls

More adventures on the Gauley to follow in the next post.