Are you curious about waterfalls in West Virginia? It’s only natural, seeing as the Mountain State is home to some 275 wondrous waterfalls! If chasing waterfalls throughout the Mountain State is one of your favorite things to do, then Valley Falls is one you simply can’t ignore. The forever waterfall cascades downhill for a half mile before leveling off again at the bottom. The sights and sounds of Valley Falls on the Tygart River bring hundreds to this out-of-the-way natural wonder each day by way of the Valley Falls State Park just outside of Fairmont.

The falls drop ever so slightly in a series of cascades and rapids that make this one of the most spectacular waterfalls to see (and hear!) in person. Upstream, prior to the start of Valley Falls, the Tygart River is usually as smooth as glass.

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Until, the thunderous drop of the first rapid!

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From there, wow… it’s a continuous downhill cascade where the river surprisingly changes from wide to skinny — and then back to wide.

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Several viewpoints provide a front row seat for the waterfall action.

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The state park is filled with trails to discover even more views of Valley Falls’ continuous waterfall activity.

TripAdvisor/dmwnc1959 And that’s not all to see: this whole park rests on what used to be the community of Valley Falls (now a ghost town). Only a portion of a grist mill remains of a small town that had a ferry, a post office, shops, a school and more. Two major floods wiped the community off the map, except for a few ruins of the grist mill.

Want to visit it in person? Finding Valley Falls State Park can be a bit of a challenge; it’s located on a winding little road that turns off Country Club Road (WV 310) in Fairmont. The address is 720 Valley Falls Road, Fairmont, WV, 26554. Learn more on the official website of West Virginia State Parks.

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And that’s not all to see: this whole park rests on what used to be the community of Valley Falls (now a ghost town). Only a portion of a grist mill remains of a small town that had a ferry, a post office, shops, a school and more. Two major floods wiped the community off the map, except for a few ruins of the grist mill.

After a visit to Valley Falls State Park, head into the city of Fairmont for delicious ice cream served in enormous portions at Dairy Cream Corner!

And if visiting Valley Falls State Park piqued your interest, skip the “waterfalls near me in West Virginia” Google search; instead, check out our epic West Virginia waterfall road trip!

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Address: Valley Falls State Park, 720 Valley Falls Rd, Fairmont, WV 26554, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

waterfalls near me in West Virginia December 01, 2021 Sarah How many waterfalls are there in West Virginia? The Mountain State might well be called the Waterfall State, as there are about 275 waterfalls in West Virginia! Learn more about how you can explore some of the best waterfalls in West Virginia. What’s the tallest waterfall in West Virginia? Blackwater Falls is the tallest waterfall in West Virginia. Waterfalls will take your breath away – especially those found in West Virginia! And of the hundreds of glorious cascades in the Mountain State, there’s one that quite literally stands above the rest. The tallest waterfall in West Virginia is Blackwater Falls, and, it’s a sight to behold! Nestled in Blackwater Falls State Park, Blackwater Falls drops a spectacular 57 feet straight into the Blackwater Canyon. Getting there is easy, too. Just follow the .04-mile Blackwater Falls Trail, but be prepared for a lot of activity, especially if you’re visiting when the weather is lovely. The viewing platforms provide the perfect spot to stand and admire this Mountain State treasure. What are some easy-access waterfalls in West Virginia? Don’t feel like lacing up your boots and hunkering down for a strenuous waterfall hike? You don’t have to! Some of the state’s best falls are hiding in plain sight – no hiking necessary! In fact, Cathedral Falls is probably one of the more impressive ones, and you don’t even have to take a hike to find it. To find Cathedral Falls, hop in your car and take Rt. 60 to the town of Gauley Bridge, about 40 miles southwest of Charleston. Once you’re there, follow 60 for another mile until you reach the pull-off for Cane Branch. From there, you will be able to see the falls right there! Easy peasy.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

waterfalls near me in West Virginia

December 01, 2021

Sarah

How many waterfalls are there in West Virginia? The Mountain State might well be called the Waterfall State, as there are about 275 waterfalls in West Virginia! Learn more about how you can explore some of the best waterfalls in West Virginia. What’s the tallest waterfall in West Virginia? Blackwater Falls is the tallest waterfall in West Virginia. Waterfalls will take your breath away – especially those found in West Virginia! And of the hundreds of glorious cascades in the Mountain State, there’s one that quite literally stands above the rest. The tallest waterfall in West Virginia is Blackwater Falls, and, it’s a sight to behold! Nestled in Blackwater Falls State Park, Blackwater Falls drops a spectacular 57 feet straight into the Blackwater Canyon. Getting there is easy, too. Just follow the .04-mile Blackwater Falls Trail, but be prepared for a lot of activity, especially if you’re visiting when the weather is lovely. The viewing platforms provide the perfect spot to stand and admire this Mountain State treasure. What are some easy-access waterfalls in West Virginia? Don’t feel like lacing up your boots and hunkering down for a strenuous waterfall hike? You don’t have to! Some of the state’s best falls are hiding in plain sight – no hiking necessary! In fact, Cathedral Falls is probably one of the more impressive ones, and you don’t even have to take a hike to find it. To find Cathedral Falls, hop in your car and take Rt. 60 to the town of Gauley Bridge, about 40 miles southwest of Charleston. Once you’re there, follow 60 for another mile until you reach the pull-off for Cane Branch. From there, you will be able to see the falls right there! Easy peasy.  

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The Mountain State might well be called the Waterfall State, as there are about 275 waterfalls in West Virginia! Learn more about how you can explore some of the best waterfalls in West Virginia.

What’s the tallest waterfall in West Virginia?

Blackwater Falls is the tallest waterfall in West Virginia. Waterfalls will take your breath away – especially those found in West Virginia! And of the hundreds of glorious cascades in the Mountain State, there’s one that quite literally stands above the rest. The tallest waterfall in West Virginia is Blackwater Falls, and, it’s a sight to behold! Nestled in Blackwater Falls State Park, Blackwater Falls drops a spectacular 57 feet straight into the Blackwater Canyon. Getting there is easy, too. Just follow the .04-mile Blackwater Falls Trail, but be prepared for a lot of activity, especially if you’re visiting when the weather is lovely. The viewing platforms provide the perfect spot to stand and admire this Mountain State treasure.

What are some easy-access waterfalls in West Virginia?

Don’t feel like lacing up your boots and hunkering down for a strenuous waterfall hike? You don’t have to! Some of the state’s best falls are hiding in plain sight – no hiking necessary! In fact, Cathedral Falls is probably one of the more impressive ones, and you don’t even have to take a hike to find it. To find Cathedral Falls, hop in your car and take Rt. 60 to the town of Gauley Bridge, about 40 miles southwest of Charleston. Once you’re there, follow 60 for another mile until you reach the pull-off for Cane Branch. From there, you will be able to see the falls right there! Easy peasy.