11 Mar Falls of Hills Creek Waterfall Trail in West Virginia

The second stop on my road trip from Pennsylvania to California with friends after the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh was Falls of Hills Creek in Hillsboro, West Virginia. We love outdoor activities, especially hikes leading to not only one but three waterfalls. The first waterfall is accessible as the trail leading to it is an approximately 2000 foot (~610 meters) long boardwalk. The trails to the second and third waterfalls do include stairs, around 400 of them to be more specific. Moreover, the third waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in the state of West Virginia as it stands over 60 feet (~18 meters) tall.   

Contents:

1) Location of Falls of Hills Creek

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Trail Information

6) Park Regulations

7) Recommended Items to Bring

1) Location of Falls of Hills Creek

Falls of Hills Creek is located in Hillsboro, West Virginia within the Monongahela National Forest. For reference, it is approximately two and a half hours north of Roanoke, Virginia. 

For another nearby attraction in West Virginia, check out the Lost World Caverns where you can marvel at a variety of stalagmites and stalactites.

Parking

There is a designated parking lot for Falls of Hills Creek. Furthermore, it is a small gravel lot with restrooms available.  

Nearby Lodging

For lodging accommodations, check out options available in the towns of Hillsboro or Lewisburg in West Virginia. 

Nearby Airports – Falls of Hills Creek

There are a few regional airports in close proximity to Falls of Hills Creek Park. However, the closest international airport is West Virginia International Yeager Airport. There is no public transportation available from the airport to the park, so you will thus need to either rent a car or use a ride share service such as Uber. 

Stream running past the waterfalls

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee 

I love providing some good news concerning an attraction. First, Falls of Hills Creek park is open all day, every day. You can thus visit at 2:00pm or 2:00am, though it is best to visit in daylight hours to actually be able to see the waterfalls. 

Second, there is no entrance fee for the park. You and all of your friends can thus visit for free, which is perfect if you need to stay on a budget. 

3) The Best Time to Visit Falls of Hills Creek

When we visited in August, we only saw a couple of other people on the trail. That being said, we did visit on a Monday afternoon, which is not peak hiking time.

The Best Season to Visit

Summer is the best season to visit mainly due to accessibility reasons. West Virginia can experience freezing temperatures as well as a fair amount of snow in winter. The trail to the waterfalls can thus be covered in snow or ice, which results in hazardous hiking conditions. 

Estimated Visit Time

In terms of estimated visit time, plan for around 45 minutes to two hours. The Falls of Hills Creek Trail is 1.4 miles (~2.3 kilometers) round trip, which takes an average hiker around 45 minutes to complete. However, you will also need some time to explore and take pictures of the waterfalls. Therefore, it is best to buffer in some additional time beyond the 45 minute hike. 

Another stream running past the waterfalls

4) Quick Facts 

1. The Falls of Hills Creek Trail is located in Hillsboro, West Virginia. 

2. The 1.4 mile round trip trail leads to three different waterfalls.

3. There are a few sets of stairs leading to the second and third waterfalls, totaling an elevation change of almost 300 feet (~91 meters).

4. The third waterfall stands at over 60 feet (~18 meters) tall, which makes it one of the tallest waterfalls in the state of West Virginia. 

5. Camping is prohibited within the park, and neither horses nor motor vehicles are allowed on the hiking trail. 

Walking alongside the stream while hiking to the falls

5) Trail Information – Falls of Hills Creek

You will not only see one waterfall on the Falls of Hills Creek Trail, but an additional two more! It is a 1.4 mile (~2.3 kilometer) out and back trail with approximately 265 feet in elevation gain. An average hiker can complete the trail in around 45 minutes. 

Furthermore, the main elevation change comes from the stairs located between the first and third waterfall. Various websites list different counts for the number of steps, but the total is around 400. When you visit, you can then count them yourself.

Personally, I love waterfalls and have never experienced “waterfall fatigue”. On the other hand, others might feel that if they have seen one waterfall, they have seen them all. However, I highly recommend visiting all three waterfalls here. They are all different in size and shape and thus each offer a unique experience.

If you really want to see a lot of beautiful waterfalls in the United States, then you need to head to Maine. Some of my favorite waterfalls in Maine include Smalls Falls in Rangeley and The Cataracts in North Oxford.

First Waterfall

From the parking lot, follow the signs along the boardwalk for about 0.3 miles (~0.5 kilometers) to then arrive at the first waterfall. Upon arrival, take a moment to marvel at the 25 foot (~7.6 meters) high waterfall.

Additionally, the boardwalk is accessible as it is wheelchair friendly.

Second Waterfall

Unfortunately the path to the second waterfall is not wheelchair accessible due to the fact it includes steps. Follow the signs along the dirt path and then reach a section of wooden stairs. At the bottom of the stairs stands the second waterfall at 45 feet (~13.7 meters) high. 

Do you love water-based adventures and cannot get enough of them? Then head to the small town of Harpers Ferry in northeastern West Virginia. You can walk around the town before then embarking on a whitewater rafting tour down the river.

Second waterfall at Falls of Hills Creek

Third Waterfall – Falls of Hills Creek

Continue along the dirt path to begin the hike to the third waterfall. The dirt path then turns to metal steps. At the bottom of the steps are two overlooks of the waterfall, which is over 60 feet (~18.3 meters) tall. Its height makes it one of the tallest waterfalls in the entire state of West Virginia.

Third waterfall at Falls of Hills Creek

6) Park Regulations 

There are a few regulations within Falls of Hills Creek Park. First, camping is prohibited in the area. Second, horses and motor vehicles are prohibited on the hiking trail. Third, visitors are not allowed to remove rocks or flowers from the area. Fourth, do not hike off the marked path as that causes damage to the area’s vegetation. On the other hand, dogs are permitted as long as they are on a leash.

For more information, visit the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center a few minutes down the road. Additionally, check out their brochure and trail information. 

7) Recommended Items to Bring

Planning a road trip in the near future and need some help? Check out my cross-country road trip packing list and travel essentials for pop up campers.

1. Water bottle: Please please please be sure to bring water with you while hiking along this trail. I do not mean bring water and leave it in your car. Nope. Instead, carry your water around with you. Additionally, water is even more important if you are visiting in the summer, for the heat can make you become dehydrated real quick. For example, I always carry around my Yeti water bottle.

Hygiene

2. Sunscreen: While this might not be as important on a cloudy day, it will be on a day full of beautiful clear skies. Walking around even for just 30 minutes can lead to sunburn if you have fair skin.

3. Bug spray: Let’s be honest – mosquitos, gnats, and any other little type of fly can ruin an experience. You cannot truly enjoy an attraction if you are swatting away bugs from your face the whole time. Therefore, be prepared with bug spray or a mosquito repellent bracelet.

Hiking Items – Falls of Hills Creek

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes will be incredibly helpful as you hike along the trail and to the three different waterfalls. 

5. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not a necessity for this trial, but bring them along if you would like a little extra support. 

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice along the hiking trails. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of shoes.

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Check out our next stop: New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia.

Explore some caverns while in West Virginia: Lost World Caverns Tour.