Waterfall Hikes Near Athens, WV

1,146 residents
New York Time Zone
15 Waterfalls

within 50 miles

Looking for the best waterfalls to hike near Athens? There are 15 waterfall hiking trails within a 50-mile radius of Athens. These trails range from drive_up to moderate difficulty, providing options for both casual hikers and experienced adventurers looking to explore the region's natural beauty.

Located at 37.4231°N, -81.0151°W

Map of Waterfalls Near Athens

Today's Conditions

Live data from USGS gauges & National Weather Service

Water Flow

15 of 15 gauged

15 waterfalls near Athens have live flow data today

Beaverdam Falls Moderate Big Falls Barely Flowing Cascades Barely Flowing Upper Falls Barely Flowing Brooks Falls Barely Flowing Richman Falls Barely Flowing Sandstone Falls Barely Flowing Bull Falls Moderate Harvey Falls Moderate Falls of Dismal Barely Flowing Kanawha Falls Moderate Meadow Creek Falls Moderate Wylie Falls Barely Flowing The Falls Barely Flowing Styles Falls Barely Flowing

Updated 36 minutes ago via USGS

Best Day to Hike

Wednesday

Mostly Sunny · 84°F

Aft 82°F Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Sat 82°F Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Sun 85°F Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mon 81°F Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Tue 80°F Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wed 84°F Mostly Sunny Best
Thu 82°F Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Flowing best right now near Athens

Updated about 1 hour ago

Ranked by live stream-gauge flow versus each waterfall's seasonal normal.

  1. 1 Beaverdam Falls Moderate · 50 cfs 71st percentile
  2. 2 Kanawha Falls Moderate · 12400 cfs 56th percentile
  3. 3 Bull Falls Moderate · 550 cfs 52nd percentile
  4. 4 Harvey Falls Moderate · 550 cfs 52nd percentile
  5. 5 Meadow Creek Falls Moderate · 19 cfs 48th percentile
  6. 6 The Falls Barely Flowing · 1290 cfs 6th percentile

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Athens hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Find waterfalls to hike near Athens

Have your own travel site? Embed these waterfalls for free.

🚗 Easy Waterfall Hikes Near Athens (1 waterfall)

Easy access waterfalls are drive-up or short-walk friendly. Perfect for families, casual visitors, or anyone who loves waterfalls but is "so-so" about hiking.

🐕 Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes Around Athens (9 waterfalls)

Bring your four-legged friend along! These waterfalls welcome dogs on their trails.

Bull Falls

10.3 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Falls of Dismal waterfall

Falls of Dismal

41.3 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Brooks Falls waterfall

Brooks Falls

42.5 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Sandstone Falls waterfall

Sandstone Falls

40 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

All 15 Waterfalls Near Athens

Wylie Falls

7 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Bull Falls

10.3 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft

Harvey Falls

10.8 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Falls of Dismal waterfall

Falls of Dismal

41.3 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Brooks Falls waterfall

Brooks Falls

42.5 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Sandstone Falls waterfall

Sandstone Falls

40 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Upper Falls waterfall

Upper Falls

21.1 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Cascades waterfall

Cascades

21.3 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
4.0 miles 700 ft
Richman Falls waterfall

Richman Falls

39.3 miles away
West Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Big Falls waterfall

Big Falls

40.3 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
The Falls waterfall

The Falls

13.7 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Meadow Creek Falls waterfall

Meadow Creek Falls

40.7 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.0 miles 300 ft
Kanawha Falls waterfall

Kanawha Falls

West Virginia
Drive Up
0.1 miles 50 ft

Beaverdam Falls

29.4 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 350 ft
Styles Falls waterfall

Styles Falls

32.6 miles away
Virginia
Moderate
2.4 miles 300 ft

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterfalls Near Athens

Are there free waterfalls near Athens?

There are 6 free waterfalls near Athens, including Brooks Falls.

Are there easy waterfall hikes near Athens?

There is 1 easy waterfall hike near Athens, including Kanawha Falls.

Are there dog friendly waterfalls in Athens?

There are 9 dog-friendly waterfalls near Athens, including Brooks Falls.

Are there kid-friendly waterfalls near Athens?

There are 12 kid-friendly waterfalls near Athens, including Beaverdam Falls.

Can you swim in any waterfalls near Athens?

There is 1 waterfall that allows swimming near Athens, including Falls of Dismal.

What is the shortest waterfall hike near Athens?

The shortest waterfall hike near Athens is Beaverdam Falls at 0.1 miles round trip.

How tall are the waterfalls near Athens?

The tallest waterfall near Athens is Cascades at 66 feet.

Do any waterfalls near Athens require permits?

Yes, 1 waterfall near Athens requires a permit. Check individual trail pages for current permit details.

Can I camp near the waterfalls around Athens?

Yes, 15 waterfalls near Athens have nearby campgrounds.

What is the closest waterfall to Athens?

The closest waterfall to Athens is Wylie Falls, approximately 7 miles away.

🏙️ Other Cities Near Athens With Waterfalls

Beckley, WV
17,132 residents
Radford, VA
16,379 residents
Blacksburg, VA
71,277 residents
Christiansburg, VA
22,947 residents
Salem, VA
25,372 residents
Hollins, VA
16,386 residents
Roanoke, VA
218,533 residents
Cave Spring, VA
26,013 residents
Mount Airy, NC
10,621 residents
Charleston, WV
129,754 residents
South Charleston, WV
13,527 residents
Forest, VA
11,559 residents

Nearby Hot Springs

Hot springs near Athens, West Virginia

Alum Springs

21.7 mi 72°F

Alum Springs flows at 72°F in Pulaski County, Virginia, emerging 18.4 degrees above the 53.6°F ambient temperature at 1,967 fee...
New River White Sulphur Springs

New River White Sulphur Springs

23.3 mi 85°F

New River White Sulphur Springs produces 85-degree water that flows 30.3 degrees above ambient temperature at 1,780 feet elevat...
Old Sweet Spring

Old Sweet Spring

42.9 mi 73°F

Old Sweet Spring flows at 73°F from a site 59.3 meters from Jefferson Lane in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The spring emer...

Sweet Chalybeate Spring

43.7 mi 75°F

Sweet Chalybeate Spring flows at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, emerging 21.1 degrees above ambient temperature at 2,010 feet elevation...

Looking for a soak after your hike? Explore more hot springs near Athens, West Virginia on SoakingSprings.

Explore West Virginia springs

Where to Stay

Hotels & Lodges Booking.com

Find hotels, lodges, and B&Bs near the trailhead
Cabins & Rentals VRBO

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

← → walk · Esc to stop