Falls of Hills Creek
A series of three falls that cascade 20 feet, 45 feet, and the third falling 65 feet, making this waterfall one of the highest in West Virginia.
The Falls of Hills Creek is the glittering jewel in the crown of the Monongahela National Forest. The 114 acre area sits just south of Highway 39 – 5 miles west of the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center – and is marked with a Monongahela National Forest Recreation sign. Turn down the gravel road and park in the small lot where rest rooms are also available.
The handicap accessible boardwalk is 1,700 feet long and allows all to view the first waterfall. The rhododendrons and laurel flourish under the shade canopy. The first fall drops 25 feet, crashing to the rocks below.
Continue on to the second waterfall via a dirt path and set of wooden steps. At 45 feet tall and much wider than the first fall, you begin to appreciate the natural beauty of Hills Creek as the creek cascades and rolls over moss covered boulders. For wildflower enthusiasts, the forest carpet is alive with over 40 species of blooms, mostly in the spring through early summer.
The dirt walkway, interspersed with rocks and small boulders, continues onward to the third and final waterfall. The trip from the parking lot to the lower falls is over three quarter mile. Towards the end, the dirt path will turn to metal steps down a set of switchbacks to the overlook. The awesome view of the 63 foot fall is worth every step of the way. From the top fall to the lowest fall, the Creek drops 220 feet.
Two viewing decks provide a great position for taking photographs or simply relaxing and enjoying.
The Falls of Hills Creek are a spectacle to see in the winter as well. Bundle up and take the hike carefully, where you will see the frozen falls in all their beauty.