Big Branch Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 30 ft high | West Virginia
2 mi loop
548 ft
Easy
Big Branch Falls Hike at a Glance
The Big Branch Falls hike via the Big Branch Trail is 2 mi loop with 548 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 30 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,810 ft |
| Trail | Big Branch Trail |
| Distance | 2 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 548 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 55 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 10 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 530 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 2 mi distance and 548 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Big Branch Falls
Big Branch Falls is a waterfall in West Virginia, about 30 feet high, on land managed by New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Its height is from nps.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Big Branch Trail: 2 miles as a loop with about 548 feet of elevation gain, from Brooks Falls parking lot, River Road. Distance from nps.gov; elevation gain from hikingproject.com. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Hiking is required to reach the falls, and Big Branch Falls is not accessible. (nps.gov)
- River Road is single lane in some sections. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check New River Gorge National Park and Preserve for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Big Branch Falls?
The Big Branch Trail to Big Branch Falls is 2 miles as a loop with about 548 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Big Branch Falls hike start?
It starts from Brooks Falls parking lot, River Road.
How tall is Big Branch Falls?
Big Branch Falls is about 30 feet high.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Big Branch Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls height
- nps.gov
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Big Branch Falls.