Are there fees or permits required for Niagara Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Niagara Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Niagara Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Niagara Falls.

Nearby gauge (Cacapon River) · 83 ft³/s · Lower than usual

Niagara Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Niagara Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Niagara Falls.

West Virginia

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Also For 2 other waterfalls also named Niagara Falls, see below

Before you go

No public trail or viewpoint for this falls is documented, and federal protected-area records show no public land at the site. Do not enter private property or railroad right-of-way without permission.

Photo Credits (2)

wallyg CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Old Shoe Woman CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

About Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a small named falls on a short unnamed stream about 200 yards from the Potomac River, roughly a mile south-southwest of the town of Paw Paw on the Hampshire County, West Virginia side of the river. The C&O Canal National Historical Park and its towpath are across the river in Maryland. No trail, viewpoint or public access route to the falls was found.

Trail & Hike Details

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Niagara Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Niagara Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 2 hours ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Cacapon River, 9.6 miles away, not on Niagara Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

83 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Lower than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

73 89 319 805

Based on 102 years of record

1.46 ft

Water depth at gauge

54°F

Cold

Bracing — limit time in water

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is lower than usual for this time of year. Water temperature is a bracing 54 degrees F, limit your time in the water. Expect excellent dissolved oxygen levels. PH is normal at 8.2 and mineral content is typical.

Water Quality

10.4 mg/L

Dissolved Oxygen

Excellent

Supports aquatic life

8.2

Normal

Within healthy range (6.5-8.5)

209 µS/cm

Conductance

Dissolved minerals in the water

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

CACAPON RIVER NEAR GREAT CACAPON, WV

USGS 01611500

9.6 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 675 sq mi

Altitude: 456 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge CACAPON RIVER NEAR GREAT CACAPON, WV (15 km away).

Moderate confidence

Barely Flowing right now

83 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Barely Flowing

90 cfs

3/10

Tomorrow

Low

101 cfs

4/10

Sat

Barely Flowing

93 cfs

5/10

Sun

Barely Flowing

92 cfs

5/10

Mon

Barely Flowing

87 cfs

5/10

Tue

Barely Flowing

82 cfs

5/10

Wed

Barely Flowing

88 cfs

5/10

Best window: Sat — barely flowing flow, partly sunny (trip score 5/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late February to mid May, peaking in March.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

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

Is Niagara Falls Frozen?

Updated about 17 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded

Niagara Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 68°F to 40°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 86 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in West Virginia.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

Through the falls the surface drops roughly 185 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 645 feet.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 120 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 157 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing north, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Niagara Falls near Paw Paw, West Virginia, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Niagara Falls near Paw Paw, West Virginia, showing about 185 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing north

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 645 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 185 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: North; Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading north).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Elevation

653 feet above sea level

Coordinates

39.515649° N, -78.467233° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Where to Stay

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.

Nearby Campground

Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite

1.8 miles away · 10 sites

Walking distance Reservable

Overview The Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is located at Mile 156 on the C&O Canal Towpath on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, across from the town of Paw Paw in West Virginia. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.Facilities There are 10 single campsites, each has a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Each site can accommodate eight people. If there is a larger group, reserve two sites next to each other. Portable toilets are available. Hand pump water is available from April 15-November 1.Natura

Book on Recreation.gov