Photo: managing agencyPhoto: managing agencyWest Virginia's largest waterfall by width (1,500 feet) with a 25-foot maximum drop, wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly in New River Gorge.
No entrance fee (NPS)
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Based on this listing's approximate location — see the note on coordinates below.
Sandstone Falls is West Virginia’s largest waterfall by width, spanning 1,500 feet across the New River with a maximum drop of 25 feet. Located in New River Gorge National Park near Hinton, it is accessible via a short boardwalk suitable for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, as well as a 0.5-mile Island Loop Trail for those seeking additional walking distance.
Dogs are allowed on-leash, and there is no entrance fee. The National Park Service posts a safety notice warning that life jackets are required near the water due to swift conditions, which reflects the falls’ powerful flow rather than a swimming prohibition.
The combination of wheelchair access, scenic boardwalk viewing, and optional loop trail makes this waterfall accessible to visitors of varying mobility and fitness levels. Year-round flow ensures reliable viewing at any season.
Year-round; the falls flow consistently throughout the seasons.
Wheelchair accessible via boardwalk; additional Island Loop Trail is 0.5 miles.
No entrance fee (NPS)
Via a 0.5-mile round-trip trail rated easy by the managing agency.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
We track 8 waterfalls in New River Gorge.
There are 3 other waterfalls we track in Summers County. All New River Gorge waterfalls →
nps.gov
NPS park page (nps.gov/neri), checked Sept 2026; no closure noted. NPS states the falls span 1,500 ft and drop '10 to 25 feet' (25 ft used here as the documented maximum); short accessible boardwalk plus a half-mile Island Loop Trail. NPS safety notice warns of swift water and requires life jackets near water — a safety warning, not a stated swimming ban, so swimming_allowed is left null.
Checked September 2026.