Hike to Sandstone Falls
Details
Distance
1 miles
Elevation Gain
0 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Matthew Ady
Hike the widest and most complex waterfall in West Virginia—Sandstone Falls. Plunging 10 to 25 feet across the entire 1,500 foot breadth of the New River, these falls are quite a spectacle.
Starting at the trailhead, follow signs for the falls. After a short walk, hikers will reach the walkway bridge where they can snap a couple shots of the minor Sandstone Falls to the right. Many hikers stop here, thinking these falls are the final destination. Do not make this mistake—the best is yet to come!
Follow the trail until it ends at a viewing area of the main stream of the New River. Although there is no formal path to the main falls from here, they are easily accessible by following the rocky shoreline upriver, keeping the main stream to the left. The trip involves only minor rock scrambling, which any person of average physique should have no problem completing.
The shoreline will curve around to the right to form a point facing the main falls. Stay a while, grab some great panoramic snaps of the falls, look for crayfish in the pools among the rocks, and return the way you came.
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Highly suggest checking this area out. I’ve grown up close by and spent lots of time in and around Sandstone Falls. If you like fishing this is the place, if you can get out on the ledge of the first viewing area on the boardwalk the carp there are huge. And by huge I mean 3-6 feet long or maybe bigger!!! Helgramites are the best bait! Hiking and views are awesome too! Check out the Hinton DQ for a Dairy Queen like no other, dinning area sitting atop the river! What a great way to enjoy a meal!
5.0
A must see
I was blown away by the beauty of these falls! The directions in the write-up are spot on for the best views of the falls. Definitely worth a side trip to see.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.
