Waterfall Hikes in West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia's waterfalls are carved into the state's Appalachian highlands and dissected Allegheny Plateau, where steep hollows, sandstone and shale cliffs, and narrow forested river gorges create numerous short, steep drops and cascades. Hikes are predominantly moderate — often backcountry ridge-and-gorge trails or rocky canyon scrambles — with only a few short family-friendly paths and a single drive-up site. The state's distinctive high relief and deeply incised streams produce concentrated waterfalls within short, rugged reaches unlike flatter regions. See waterfalls near major West Virginia cities .