Glade Creek Trail (New River Gorge) Hiking Guide
Glade Creek Trail follows an abandoned narrow-gauge railroad up a cascading creek from the New River, past pools, small waterfalls and swimming holes. Most visitors walk a mile to Glade Creek Falls, a wide tiered drop, and turn around. The full trail runs 5.6 miles each way for a long, mostly gentle day. The stats here are for that full out-and-back.
Distance and Route
The park lists Glade Creek Trail at 5.6 miles one way, 11.2 miles round trip, rated moderate, with a very easy grade on the old rail bed. Hiking Project's track climbs about 880 feet heading upstream and loses about 180, so the full round trip comes to roughly 1,060 feet of gain, spread thinly over the miles. Glade Creek Falls is 1 mile from the lower trailhead, and a footbridge crosses the creek at 3 miles. Below the footbridge the trail can be narrow and rocky. Kates Falls is off a 0.2-mile spur at about 4.6 miles.
Getting There
From WV 41 near Prince, turn onto Glade Creek Road just before the New River bridge and cross the railroad tracks. The gravel road ends at the trailhead after about 5.6 to 7 miles; the park's own pages give both figures. There is a vault toilet. The park strongly recommends this lower, campground trailhead. The upper trailhead off WV 9 near I-64 exit 129 is reached by a steep, narrow dirt road that the park says needs high clearance and four-wheel drive.
Washouts and Storm Damage
The park has flagged a washout on the Glade Creek Trail at the Kates Falls Trail junction that can be impassable when the creek is high. A slide has also closed part of the Kates Plateau Trail near where it meets Glade Creek. Glade Creek Road itself is low and vulnerable: flash flooding in August 2026 closed it beyond the Grandview Sandbar campground for a time. It was not on the park's closures list in mid-October, but check the road and trail closures page after heavy rain.
Swimming and Fishing
The pools along the lower creek are popular swimming holes on hot days, and the park notes the lower creek is managed as a West Virginia catch-and-release trout stream, so anglers share the banks. The trail is open to bikes as well as hikers. Rocks around the cascades are slick, and high water after storms makes the creek fast and dangerous.
Dogs and Supplies
Dogs must stay on a leash no longer than six feet here, the same rule the park applies on all its trails. Carry drinking water for both of you. The park warns that streams can carry Giardia and other bacteria, and no trailhead has potable water. For a long day, pack food and a headlamp, since the gorge gets dark early.
Hiking tips for Glade Creek Trail (New River Gorge)
- Use the lower trailhead off Glade Creek Road unless you have a high-clearance 4WD.
- Turn back at the falls or the footbridge if you want a shorter day.
- Check the closures page after storms; the gravel road and Kates Falls junction wash out.
- Treat or carry all drinking water for you and your dog.
- Wear shoes with grip around the wet rock at the cascades.
Nearby trails to explore
- Grandview Rim Trail (New River Gorge)
- Big Branch Trail (New River Gorge)
- Sandstone Falls Boardwalk and Island Loop
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Glade Creek works for every pace: some people stop at the falls, others go the full distance. Use TrailMates to find people hiking the New River Gorge, decide on a turnaround in the event's group chat, and carpool down Glade Creek Road. Get TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.