Whitaker Falls

One for the list

Is it plungeworthy?

—feet tall

A waterfall on Elk River.

Scale12/60

Documentation15/20

Character8/20

The details

Watercourse: Elk River
Coordinates: 38.52512, -80.18396

Get directions →

About Whitaker Falls

Whitaker Falls is a waterfall in West Virginia, on Elk River.

It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.

Plungeworthy rates Whitaker Falls 3.5/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

Six feet tall, a hundred feet wide, and stranger than both numbers: the Elk River pours over this ledge just after resurfacing from five underground miles of karst plumbing. A drive-up falls with a swimming hole and a geology lesson.

Getting there

Trailhead: Roadside pull-off at the falls, near Monterville, Webster County
Parking: Small pull-off directly at the falls
Road: Paved WV-20 then county road
Hike: 0 mi round trip (easy — drive-up)
Heads up: The 'dry bed' of the Elk upstream is the river running underneath you.

When to go

Summer for the swimming hole; the spring-fed flow stays steadier than its rain-fed neighbors.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: None
Camping: Elk River lodging and camps ten minutes out
Warnings: No lifeguard, unpredictable current near the resurgence — swim smart.

Researched from WV Tourism — Whitaker Falls · Webster County Tourism — county waterfalls. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Whitaker Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Planning a visit? We want your photo.

Whitaker Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.