Sandstone Falls

A fully-accessible path to view Sandstone Falls, the largest waterfall on the New River.

Hiking Easy

Distance: 732 m
Ascent: 4 m
Descent: 4 m
Duration: 0-1 hrs

Low Point: 389 m
High Point: 392 m
Gradient: 0˚

Sandstone Falls is one of the must-visit destinations in New River Gorge, and this fully-accessible hike is one everyone in the family will enjoy. A boardwalk leads across two small islands to an observation area offering a "fantastic views of the falls" spanning nearly 1/4-mile from shore to shore, with up to a 25' drop in places. A beach and numerous swimming holes make this a popular spot for a warm summer day, and opportunities for fishing are abundant.

Description

According to the park, "the boardwalk passes through the Appalachian riverside flatrock community, which contains a rare assemblage of plants found in only a few places along several high-energy Appalachian rivers." Many of these plants, they continue, "grow nowhere else in New River Gorge. Bass, muskie, walleye, catfish, and plenty of other fish species are also abundant through the main rivers and their tributaries.

If you're visiting the northern portion of New River Gorge near Fayetteville, give yourself plenty of time to make the 90-minute drive to the trailhead. After you pass through Hinton, there are 9-miles of narrow road before you get there. The parking lot is unpaved, restrooms are available, and the park urges visitors to "drive slowly and use extra caution" as River Road is a single-lane in places.

To enjoy a different perspective of the waterfall, there is an excellent overlook on SR-20, south of Sandstone. The road is referenced as Temple St. or Meadow Creek Rd., and the overlook is just minutes from exit 139 on Interstate 64.

NPS