Sandstone Falls Overlook

Sandstone Falls Overlook is a short gravel out-and-back from the WV-20 roadside lot: about 0.1 mi to the viewpoint and 0.2 mi round trip. You get an aerial look at the falls and the river’s broad rock shelf. It’s a worthwhile short stop if you’re already taking WV-20; for a much closer view among the islands, take the separate Sandstone Falls Boardwalk on the opposite bank.

The path drops briefly from the lot to the overlook and rises back on the return. The 0.1-mile approach loses about 100 feet of elevation, so it’s more than a flat stroll despite the small mileage; the park rates it moderate. Allow around 15 minutes with a short look around. Pets are allowed on park trails on a physical leash no longer than six feet.

The New River spreads about 1,500 feet across here, breaking into channels around islands and dropping 10 to 25 feet over the rock shelf. The view is high and distant, about 600 feet above the river. A little zoom pulls the whitewater together in a phone photo; leave some of the opposite bank in frame to show how broad the river is. Trees can screen parts of the view, especially when leafed out, so this won’t always give you a clear, close-up look at every channel.

Sandstone Falls marks where softer conglomerate lies below harder sandstone. The river wears away the softer layer, leaving the ledge and boulders; the falls continue to move upstream over time.