Have you ever wondered how many waterfalls there are in West Virginia? Some estimate around 250; if we were to guess, we’d say at least that many! And while some are well-known and often-visited, others are remote and rarely seen. Dunloup Falls, located between Glen Jean and Thurmond in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National River, lands somewhere between these two extremes: it’s popular with the locals, but many others drive right on past it, none-the-wiser.

Dunloup Creek is just one of many trickling streams that run merrily through West Virginia's mountainous region. It's a beautiful creek, but not particularly notable... until you stumble across the 20-foot cascade known as Dunloup Falls.
Dana Rukse/Google Maps
Believe it or not, these falls are hidden away mere feet from the shoulder of a road, but they are still quite easy to miss.
Luke Martin/Google Maps
In fact, most people drive right on by the cascade without realizing they've just passed something special.
Luke Martin/Google Maps

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Oh, but special is definitely a good word to describe Dunloup Creek Falls. Whether barely trickling in a dry season, raging and foaming in a wet season, or frozen solid in a cold winter season, this picturesque waterfall is a hidden gem worth seeking out.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
To reach Dunloup Falls (sometimes referred to as Dunlop Falls or Dunloup Creek Falls), head out of Glen Jean, West Virginia on County Road 25, otherwise known as Thurmond Road, toward Thurmond, West Virginia.
Matt/Google Maps
The gravel pull-off for the falls is not marked with a sign (it does have a permanent trash can), but it will be on your right approximately four slow miles from Glen Jean.
Charity Landers-White
You can see the falls from the pull-off, but the best view comes when you scramble down to the creek side for a closer look. And on the other side of Dunloup Creek from Country Road 25, you'll see evidence of the area's coal history in the form of a railroad track heading on toward Thurmond.
Caleb Roberts/Google Maps

Did you know about Dunloup Creek Falls? Have you made time to pull over for a closer look?

If you’re in the area, it’s probably fairly likely that you’re on your way to Thurmond; read more about that nearly abandoned mining town here.

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