Top waterfalls
WaterfallBlackwater Falls
WaterfallElakala Falls
WaterfallKanawha Falls
WaterfallBig Branch Falls
WaterfallCathedral Falls
WaterfallSandstone Falls
WaterfallJordan Run Falls
WaterfallButcher Branch Falls
WaterfallBrooks Falls
WaterfallBull Falls
WaterfallFalls of Seneca
WaterfallFalls of Hills Creek
Waterfalls by county
All waterfalls (21)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Falls | Tucker County | 921 m | Parsons | 3 |
| Elakala Falls | Tucker County | — | Parsons | 3 |
| Kanawha Falls | Fayette County | 192 m | Ansted | 2 |
| Big Branch FallsNew River Gorge | Summers County | — | Hinton | 3 |
| Cathedral FallsNew River Gorge | Fayette County | — | Ansted | 2 |
| Sandstone FallsNew River Gorge | Raleigh County | 391 m | Hinton | 3 |
| Jordan Run Falls | Grant County | — | Petersburg | 3 |
| Butcher Branch FallsNew River Gorge | Fayette County | — | Fayetteville | 4 |
| Brooks FallsNew River Gorge | Raleigh County | 403 m | Hinton | 3 |
| Bull Falls | Summers County | 433 m | Hinton | 2 |
| Falls of Seneca | Pendleton County | 755 m | Elkins | 2 |
| Falls of Hills Creek | Pocahontas County | 982 m | Richwood | 2 |
| Harvey Falls | Summers County | 434 m | Hinton | 2 |
| High Falls | Randolph County | 879 m | Elkins | 2 |
| Lower Falls | Kanawha County | 173 m | Saint Albans | 5 |
| Niagara Falls | Hampshire County | 199 m | Fort Ashby | 3 |
| Richman FallsNew River Gorge | Summers County | 387 m | Hinton | 3 |
| Tecumseh Falls | Webster County | 673 m | Webster Springs | 2 |
| Tenskwatawa Falls | Webster County | 705 m | Webster Springs | 2 |
| Upper Falls | Kanawha County | 174 m | Tornado | 5 |
| Whitaker Falls | Webster County | 658 m | Webster Springs | 2 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph waterfalls
Waterfalls photograph best in soft, even light: overcast days, deep shade, or the hour after sunrise before direct sun hits the water. Bright sun on white water blows highlights and adds harsh contrast.
- Use 1/4 to 1 second for a silky look; 1/500 s or faster freezes individual drops.
- A circular polarizer cuts glare on wet rocks and leaves and deepens greens — rotate it while watching the rocks, not the sky.
- Spring snowmelt and the days after heavy rain give the strongest flow; late summer flow can drop to a trickle.
- Look for a foreground: a mossy boulder, a fallen log or the creek's leading lines make a stronger frame than the falls alone.
- Keep a microfiber cloth handy — spray drifts onto the lens, especially at the plunge pool.
Season: Peak flow is usually in late spring; autumn adds color around the falls, and winter can bring ice formations at colder locations.