Waterfalls around Charleston at a glance
There are 46 named waterfalls within 100 miles of downtown Charleston. The nearest is Grotto, about 4.0 mi NE in a straight line. Most of the falls around the city lie to the east: 20 of the 46. The radius reaches into 4 states, led by West Virginia (22), Ohio (12) and Virginia (10).
Distances here are straight lines from the city centre. Roads bend around ridges and rivers, so a fall 20 miles out can take an hour to reach. Search your own street or tap Find falls near me above to measure from where you are.
How far you have to drive
| Within | Named waterfalls |
|---|---|
| 10 miles of Charleston | 1 |
| 25 miles of Charleston | 3 |
| 50 miles of Charleston | 7 |
| 100 miles of Charleston | 46 |
Well-known falls within reach of Charleston
Cathedral Falls (28 miESE), Sandstone Falls (57 miSE), Ash Cave (88 miNW), Cedar Falls (88 miNNW), The Cascades (90 miESE) and Falling Spring Falls (97 miESE) are among the best-known waterfalls within 100 miles. Each is described on its state page: waterfalls in West Virginia, waterfalls in Ohio, waterfalls in Virginia.
The 15 nearest waterfalls to Charleston
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotto | 4.0 mi NE | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Upper Falls | 11 mi W | not recorded | Kanawha County, West Virginia |
| Lower Falls | 12 mi W | not recorded | Kanawha County, West Virginia |
| Kanawha Falls | 27 mi ESE | not recorded | Fayette County, West Virginia |
| Cathedral Falls | 28 mi ESE | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Peters Creek Falls | 33 mi ESE | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Laurel Creek Falls | 34 mi ESE | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Richman Falls | 56 mi SE | not recorded | Summers County, West Virginia |
| Sandstone Falls | 57 mi SE | not recorded | Raleigh County, West Virginia |
| Brooks Falls | 59 mi SE | not recorded | Raleigh County, West Virginia |
| Rudolph Falls | 60 mi E | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Burnsville Waterfall | 64 mi ENE | not recorded | West Virginia |
| Caney Falls | 67 mi W | not recorded | Lawrence County, Kentucky |
| Bull Falls | 68 mi SE | not recorded | Summers County, West Virginia |
| Upper Falls of Hills Creek | 71 mi E | 25 ft | West Virginia |
Tallest recorded waterfalls near Charleston
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap. 6 of the 46 falls have one; the rest are often small ledges and cascades. Why published heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Falling Spring Falls | 262 ft | 97 mi ESE |
| Lower Falls of Hills Creek | 63 ft | 71 mi E |
| Middle Falls of Hills Creek | 45 ft | 71 mi E |
| Upper Falls of Hills Creek | 25 ft | 71 mi E |
| Cedar Falls | 16 ft | 100 mi WNW |
| Falls of Dismal | 10 ft | 90 mi SSE |
Counties with the most falls near Charleston
Giles County, VA (4), Summers County, WV (3), Webster County, WV (3), Kanawha County, WV (2) and Raleigh County, WV (2). County is from the USGS record, so falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap are not counted here.
Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether a trail reaches them or the land is open. Check the land manager for closures, fees and parking, and stay on the trail near the water. See waterfall safety, waterfall hikes near me and the best time to see waterfalls.
Waterfalls near other cities: Roanoke, Columbus, Boone, Lexington, Cincinnati.