Sandstone Falls

Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world, so old that it flows northward across the Appalachians rather than draining off them, having cut its course before the mountains rose. Geologists count it among the most ancient rivers on the continent, a fact that gives every ripple at Sandstone Falls a deep sense of time.

This river country was, for thousands of years, part of the ancestral homeland and shared hunting ground of the Shawnee, the Cherokee, the Moneton, and other nations whose descendants continue elsewhere today. They traveled and hunted along the New long before European settlers followed the river into the mountains, and the gorge carries that long human history alongside its geologic age.

At Sandstone Falls the river reaches a broad shelf of resistant sandstone, and rather than plunge through a narrow chute, it spreads out and drops across its entire width in a wide, stepped curtain. The height of the drop is modest compared with the width, which is what gives the falls their unusual, sprawling character.

Over time the river has carved channels around blocks of harder rock, leaving wooded islands standing in midstream and braiding the flow into many separate cascades. After heavy rain the whole river surges and the falls become a thunderous sheet; in drier spells they break into distinct channels and ledges you can study in detail.

The falls are reached by a scenic river road that runs south from Hinton along the New. At the falls, a boardwalk carries visitors out over the islands and channels, with a short, accessible loop that brings you close to the water without a difficult hike, a rarity for a waterfall this dramatic.

For a different perspective, a high overlook upstream gazes down on the falls from far above, giving the big-picture view of the river spreading across its bed. Between the close-up boardwalk and the lofty overlook, visitors get to see the falls from both the water's edge and the sky.

Sandstone Falls sits at the southern end of New River Gorge National Park, well away from the busy areas around the famous bridge and the whitewater put-ins to the north. That makes it a quieter, more contemplative place, where the loudest sound is the river itself and the pace is unhurried.

The nearby town of Hinton, a historic railroad town on the New River, makes a natural base, and the falls fit easily into a wider tour of the national park. For travelers who want a big, beautiful waterfall without a hard climb to reach it, Sandstone Falls is a true gem.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Sandstone Falls, in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia, is the largest waterfall on the New River, a wide, scenic cascade where the entire river drops over a sandstone ledge spanning the gorge. Stretching across the broad river, the falls tumble in a series of drops among islands and rocks, framed by the forested mountains of the gorge. A boardwalk and viewing areas let visitors take in the falls up close, and the site offers a beautiful glimpse of the ancient New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world. With its wide, scenic falls and gorge setting, Sandstone Falls offers a spectacular destination in West Virginia.

You can view the wide, scenic falls from the boardwalk and viewing areas that cross to islands in the river, take in the New River Gorge scenery, watch for birds and wildlife, fish, picnic, and photograph the broad cascade and the ancient river. The wide waterfall spanning the river and the boardwalk views are highlights, offering an accessible and beautiful experience in the New River Gorge National Park. It is a rewarding, scenic stop. With its wide falls, boardwalk, and gorge scenery, Sandstone Falls offers an enjoyable outdoor experience in southern West Virginia.

Stay on the boardwalks and designated viewing areas, keep back from the edges and off the wet rocks near the falls and river, and watch children closely, as the rocks are slippery and the river's currents powerful and dangerous. Never wade or swim near the falls, where the current can be deadly. The boardwalk can be wet. Staying on the boardwalk, keeping back from the water and slippery rocks, and supervising children ensure a safe visit to Sandstone Falls in the New River Gorge of West Virginia.

Late spring through fall is the best time, with late spring bringing higher, more powerful flow, summer offering pleasant weather and lush greenery, and fall bringing spectacular color to the gorge, a beautiful and popular time. The falls are scenic year-round, and the wide cascade is impressive in high water. For the most powerful falls aim for spring, and for stunning color, fall, at Sandstone Falls in the New River Gorge National Park of southern West Virginia.

Sandstone Falls is in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in southern West Virginia near Hinton, within reach of Grandview, Pipestem Resort State Park, the New River Gorge, and the Beckley area with its exhibition coal mine. That makes Sandstone Falls a spectacular stop to combine with Grandview, Pipestem Resort State Park, and the other attractions of the New River Gorge region in southern West Virginia on a visit to the state.