Plungeworthy

The 10 Best Waterfalls in West Virginia

West Virginia pours: amber bog-stained plunges, river-wide ledges on the ancient New, backcountry falls five miles past the last gravel road, and a horseshoe you can reach by excursion train. One honest asterisk — the Falls of Hills Creek boardwalk below the upper falls has been closed since March for storm damage, so its tallest tier waits.

Blackwater: the amber postcard of the state — paved overlook on one side, 200 steps into the spray on the other.

Directions, season & rules for Blackwater Falls

Sandstone: the New River's 1,500-foot-wide staircase, boardwalked island to island.

Directions, season & rules for Sandstone Falls

Falls of Hills Creek: three falls in a rhododendron ravine — upper tier open, the 63-foot star awaiting its boardwalk repair.

Directions, season & rules for Falls of Hills Creek

High Falls of the Cheat: a hundred-foot horseshoe reached by mountain hike or excursion train — your pick.

Directions, season & rules for High Falls

Falls of Seneca: five backcountry miles and a few creek fords to the Spruce Knob country's reward.

Directions, season & rules for Falls of Seneca

Kanawha: a river-wide shelf below the New-Gauley confluence, viewed flat-footed from a fishing lot.

Directions, season & rules for Kanawha Falls

Brooks: Sandstone's upstream neighbor — picnic-area platform, Class III play wave.

Directions, season & rules for Brooks Falls

Whitaker: six feet tall, a hundred wide, and fed by a river that just spent five miles underground.

Directions, season & rules for Whitaker Falls

Tecumseh: Holly River's walk-behind veil on the gentle Reverie Trail.

Directions, season & rules for Tecumseh Falls

Tenskwatawa: the Prophet to Tecumseh's chief — the park's hidden half, over Potato Knob.

Directions, season & rules for Tenskwatawa Falls

Rankings reflect our research, not a verdict on your trip — every spot page takes community ratings and conditions reports, and that's where the real answer to "is it worth it?" lives.

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