Waterfalls and Springs in West Virginia

West Virginia's mountainous terrain and heavy rainfall produce a genuinely large number of waterfalls, concentrated especially in the eastern highlands and New River Gorge region, along with historic mineral springs tied to some of the state's oldest resort towns.

Blackwater Falls

The signature waterfall of Blackwater Falls State Park drops the tannin-stained, amber-colored Blackwater River roughly 60 feet into a deep gorge, its distinctive color a direct result of the surrounding red spruce and hemlock forest.

Cathedral Falls

Along the Midland Trail near Gauley Bridge, Cathedral Falls drops dramatically over layered rock in a setting easily visible from the road, making it one of the most accessible major waterfalls in the state.

Sandstone Falls

The largest waterfall by width on the New River, Sandstone Falls spans the river's full breadth and is reachable by an accessible boardwalk, giving visitors an easy look at one of the most powerful falls in the New River Gorge region.

Berkeley Springs

Known as America's first spa town, Berkeley Springs has drawn visitors to its mineral springs since the colonial era, when George Washington himself was known to visit the warm springs — a very different kind of water feature than the state's mountain waterfalls.

Elakala Falls

A short trail from the Blackwater Falls State Park lodge leads to Elakala Falls, a series of smaller drops on Shays Run that make an easy add-on for visitors who have already come to see the park's larger namesake waterfall.

Why West Virginia's Water Features Matter

Between amber-stained mountain waterfalls, a river-wide cascade, and colonial-era mineral springs, West Virginia's water landscape reflects both its rugged Appalachian terrain and a surprisingly old resort-tourism history.