West Virginia is a wild state, and it’s quite possible – likely, even – that there are waterfalls that are so remote and so hidden that no one has ever seen them. But if that’s the case, we don’t know about it, so instead we’ll share one that’s way off the beaten path. Red Run Falls is a beautiful West Virginia waterfall hidden in the woods that only a relatively few people have ever had the chance to see in person, and it’s right next door to another beautiful cascade that’s unnamed: two for the price of one.
The Red Run is a small mountain stream that trickles through West Virginia's Allegheny Mountains, crossing some of the rugged terrain between Canaan Valley Backcountry and the Otter Creek Wilderness Area before joining the Cheat River Dry Fork just south of the Dry Fork Trailhead.
Red Run is beautiful river hidden away in a beautiful, wild part of the state. Not many trails cut through this forest. That's why so few have ever been to visit Red Run Falls, an off-trail waterfall that's tricky to find but absolutely worth it once you do.
Start by parking along State Route 72 just southeast of the Dry Fork Trailhead in the Otter Creek Wilderness, at the gate for Forest Service Road 244 (but please don't block the gate!). Follow Forest Service Road 244 on foot for a little under 1.5 miles (at 1.25 miles, start watching for hemlocks growing on the right - that means you're close!).
Until now, you've been following the forest road uphill. Now it's time to head downhill, off the road, through the forest. Head straight down 300 yards to the creek bed. Your ears will help you - just follow the roar of the water.
When you reach the creek bed, watch for a large cliff with a small cave cut into it. In wet weather, a tall waterfall will be plummeting down the face of this cliff into Red Run.
And just upstream, the larger Red Run Falls will be running in both wet and dry weather. Between the two falls are a handful of quiet pools good for cooling off the feet before hiking back up the hill to the forest road.
Youtube user Basil Eggplant has recorded the hike - and the two waterfalls - for you, so you can still enjoy this beautiful West Virginia mountain scene even if you can never visit it yourself.
Find Red Run Falls on Google Maps to double check your directions. Looking for an easy-to-reach waterfall instead? Here are two that you can drive right to, or almost.
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