Cathedral Falls

Cathedral Falls is an approximately 60-foot cascade dropping over layered rock into a narrow, wooded gorge beside US-60 near Gauley Bridge. It sits outside New River Gorge National Park's boundary, but it is included in the area's waterfall drive. If you're already nearby, it's worth stepping away from the road for a close look.

A small marked parking lot is 2.7 miles west of Kanawha Falls on US-60. A paved path leads to a bridge with a good view of the full cascade. A short dirt approach gets closer to the base, but it is uneven, not accessible, and can be slippery. The bridge is the better choice if you want the falls without walking on slick ground. For a photo, include some of the dark ledges and the pool below; that shows the cascade's stepped shape.

The visible drop crosses shale and sandstone, and water breaks over several shelves instead of falling in one clean plunge. The wooded walls keep the falls feeling close even though this is a roadside stop.

The volume can dwindle after dry spells and build after rain. If the waterfall itself is your reason for detouring, recent rain is a better clue than the season; the same ledges can look quite different from one visit to the next.