Summers: Trails, Waterfalls, and History

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River. The falls extend across a 1,500-foot-wide stretch of river, where the river drops 10 to 25 feet. These measurements convey both the width of the waterfall section and its drop.

River Landscape and Trails

The drive to Sandstone Falls follows Route 20 and then River Road. It is the park’s only scenic road along the river. Along the road are overlooks, historic sites, natural areas, hiking trails, and river access points. When planning your day, you can choose to focus on views, nature, and history as well as the waterfall.

The 0.5-mile Island Loop Trail runs across the first island at Sandstone Falls. Its stated length provides a concrete measure if you want to include a loop trail in your plans. The route along River Road and this trail offer different points of reference for choosing driving and walking distances.

Activities and Scenery

The Pipestem Resort State Park aerial tramway takes visitors over the rim and down into Bluestone Gorge, offering expansive views along the way. Another range of activities is available at the Pipestem Adventure Zone, which offers 3D archery, miniature golf, disc golf, and skeet shooting.

Bluestone State Park lies at the confluence of the Bluestone River and the New River, above Bluestone Dam. The dam created a 2,040-acre lake. The confluence, dam, and lake each give the landscape a distinct geographic feature.

The Sandstone Visitor Center offers interactive exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the New River and its watershed. There is also a 12-minute video program. The center also provides orientation to the southern section of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and to southwestern Virginia. If you want to learn about more destinations with natural and cultural history, the center combines exhibits and a short film with this orientation.

The Visitor Center grounds also include a native garden and an area maintained as native grassland.

Railroad and Regional History

The Hinton Railroad Museum displays model trains, tools from the era of John Henry, the Steel Drivin’ Man, uniforms, and historic photographs from the early days of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. A tour of the Hinton Historic District also introduces the town’s connections to the railroad. For this topic, exhibits and photographs are complemented by a tour focused on the town’s history.

The John Henry Historical Park is in Talcott, West Virginia, at the site of the legendary contest between a man and a machine during construction of the Great Bend Tunnel. The park has interpretive signs, walking trails, and a picnic shelter. John Henry Days features live music, fireworks, vendor stalls, and a car show.

A historic log house was built in 1770 as a home for Colonel James Graham and his family. James Graham was the first settler of Lowell. Trump-Lilly Farm preserves the house and farm of the Lilly family, who owned the property into modern times; it offers a glimpse of life during the era of subsistence farming in Appalachia. Richmond-Hamilton Farm is a preserved example of the later development and remnants of earlier subsistence farming.

The road to Trump-Lilly Farm is unpaved, narrow, and steep. In wet conditions or after heavy rain, a vehicle with high ground clearance or four-wheel drive may be necessary. Check current road conditions at the Sandstone Visitor Center before driving.

Trip Planning Orientation

Interstate 64 runs east to west through Summers County, which has north-south connections to Interstate 77. These details provide regional orientation by direction; the drive to Sandstone Falls via Route 20 and River Road is a specific route sequence.

Nearby is the Three Rivers Avian Center, a West Virginia sanctuary for injured and endangered wild birds. Its work includes raptor rehabilitation, ecosystem protection, and environmental education programs. If you are considering a tour, arrange the timing separately.

Discover more destinations: Hinton, Bluestone River, Jumping Branch, Wood, Randolph County, Hampshire County, Harrison, Hardy County.

For the broader travel overview: West Virginia.