DUNLOUP CREEK FALLS

Near Thurmond, West Virginia

Image by Rick Berk @ www.rickberk.com

 
 

Dunloup Creek Falls, located near Thurmond, West Virginia, is part of one of the United States' newest national parks, New River Gorge National Park. Dunloup Creek empties into the New River just below Thurmond. The 20-foot tall waterfall is a beautiful roadside attraction, requiring minimal hiking to reach, despite being located a bit out of the way.

The falls are a bit isolated, located 8 miles from US-19 on Thurmond Road. The best vantage point is from the creek bed itself, a short scramble down the rocky banks. The near-ghost town of Thurmond is located just over 4 miles down the road, and is worth a visit as well.

Photos and location summary by Rick Berk

Trail Difficulty - EASY

I'd rate the trail 1.5 out of 5 (5 being hardest). You can park along Thurmond Road (CR-25) when you reach the falls and they are on the right side of the road. There is a short rocky scramble down to the creek bed, making it a bit more difficult than just a walk-up. If you choose to walk into the creek, be aware that the sandstone creek bed is VERY slippery and one misstep can lead to a fall more likely to hurt your ego than your body, but is still worth being careful. I highly recommend micro spikes for your shoes for extra traction on the creek bed. Depending on flow, the creek may be relatively shallow, allowing you to get very up close and personal with the falls.

What Lens(es) Do You Need

Wide angle and standard length lenses such as 16-35mm and 24-70mm lenses are perfect for this spot. If you want to photograph detail shots of the falls, a longer lens will do just fine.

The above image was taken at 16mm.

Photography Tips

Walking into the creek was a bit of an adventure. The water was only about an inch deep, but a layer of slime covered the sandstone bottom of the creek, making it worse than walking on ice. Micro spikes on my boots were a tremendous help and are highly recommended. I used a 4-stop neutral density filter on this photo to get a slower shutter speed, as I prefer the silky looking water.

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Our location summaries are written by experienced photographers - with practical information for planning your adventure - and with tips to getting the best shot

GPS Coordinates & Elevation

xx°27'5.80"N xxx°50'16.64"W

1,355 Ft. Elevation

Directions

CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Dunloup Creek Falls

From Charleston, WV - drive on I-64 east/I-77 south for 40 miles and take exit 60 for WV-612 toward Mossy/Oak Hill. Drive 14.5 miles and turn right onto Scarbro Rd. Drive toward Glen Jean and then turn left onto Thurmond Road. Drive for ...

Equipment Needed

Micro spikes for walking in the creek bed. Neutral density filter to manipulate exposure if you wish to use longer shutter speeds.

Weather

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