Sandstone Falls - New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River. Its two main falls span the river from bank to island to bank with a drop of ten to twenty-five feet. The crest of the river left falls is over 400 feet while the crest of the river left falls is about 800 feet. The falls are located a few miles north of Hinton, West Virginia in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. 

To reach the waterfall from the Sandstone Visitor Center at exit 139 on Interstate-64, head south on Meadow Creek Road 0.3 miles until it becomes WV-20. Continue south on WV-20 for 10.3 miles following the designated one-way Summers Street in Hinton before turning left onto 2nd Ave, driving two blocks, and turning right onto Temple Street. Once back on Temple Street, drive 0.3 miles south crossing the New River just south of the town. Once across the river, turn right onto Madams Creek Road/New River Road, also known as County Route 26. Continue north on New River Road for 8.3 miles to a parking area on the right for the Sandstone Falls day-use area. Gravel pull-in parking is provided for possibly three dozen vehicles. We visited in October 2021 and hiked the quarter-mile boardwalk, but did not hike the Island Loop Trail. 

Boardwalk trailhead

Information boards

Bridge over a man-made channel that once diverted water to a water-powered gristmill

The upstream end of the diversion

The river-left series of waterfalls

Another view

Continuing on the boardwalk

Waterfall visible through the fall foliage

Island Loop Trail trailhead

Bridge over a natural channel

A portion of the river-left falls and a natural channel

Calm water below the bridge

Access to the "beach"

Another opportunity to explore

View of part of the river-right falls from the boardwalk

Rapids just downstream from the river-right falls

Another view of the river-right falls

A closer view

A closer view of a different section of the falls

Another view of the rapids

A closer view

There is no entrance fee at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve website is https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm.