Cathedral Falls
- Height
- 60 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Cathedral Falls drops about 60 ft on Cane Creek in Fayette County, West Virginia.
01
Closures and warnings
Short dirt trail to the base may be slippery; use caution near the falls. As of September 30, 2026.
02
The falls
| Height | 60 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Cane Creek drops about 60 feet over shale and sandstone near Gauley Bridge; among the highest waterfalls in West Virginia |
03
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | US Route 60 west of Gauley Bridge; signed parking lot 2.7 miles west of Gauley Bridge toward Ansted |
| Parking | Small Cathedral Falls parking lot on US-60 |
| When it fills | Signed pull-off along Highway 60 west of Gauley Bridge |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Wheelchair access | Paved path to bridge overlook; closer dirt path is not accessible |
| Managed by | National Park Service (New River Gorge National Park & Preserve waterfall tour resource; falls outside park boundary) |
| Note | Roadside scenic pull-off with bridge overlook on Highway 60 |
|---|
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Common questions
Common questions
Is Cathedral Falls open?
Short dirt trail to the base may be slippery; use caution near the falls. As of September 30, 2026.
How tall is Cathedral Falls?
Cathedral Falls drops about 60 ft.
How do you get to Cathedral Falls?
The road in is paved. US Route 60 west of Gauley Bridge; signed parking lot 2.7 miles west of Gauley Bridge toward Ansted. Parking: Small Cathedral Falls parking lot on US-60. Signed pull-off along Highway 60 west of Gauley Bridge.
Do you need a reservation for Cathedral Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
When is Cathedral Falls flowing?
Cane Creek drops about 60 feet over shale and sandstone near Gauley Bridge; among the highest waterfalls in West Virginia.
05
Nearby
Sources
1
- https://www.nps.gov/places/cathedral-falls.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName / waterfall.heightFt / waterfall.flowNote / access.roadNote / access.parking / access.parkingPattern / access.wheelchairAccess / hazardNote / amenities.note, access.permitRequired / waterfall.ephemeral, access.roadSurface)
More: West Virginia waterfalls