- Location: Near Ramsey, WV (Fayette County)
- Elevation: 1,083 feet
- Coordinates: 38.214537, -81.029428 / (38°12’52.3″N 81°01’45.9″W)
- Waterway: Laurel Creek
- Height: Around 25 feet
- Nearby Waterfalls: Peters Creek, Ramsey Branch
Laurel Falls is an absolute gem of a staircase waterfall located in a desolate area of northern Fayette County north of the small community of Ramsey. In my opinion, this is one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the state.
Laurel Falls Location
This is a beautiful waterfall and if you’re fairly fit and love the outdoors, I encourage you to check it out. With that being said, this trek is not for the faint of heart. Drive-wise, when I tagged along with my pal, Matt, we hopped off of US-60 in Fayette County near Victor at Route 3 (Saturday Road). Once you head onto Saturday Road, you’ll be on the roadway for about 6.4 miles – this is a smooth paved road, with no issues. After 6.4 miles, you’ll make a sharp left onto Lucas Road. Lucas Road initially is not in bad shape – it’s navigable in a low-clearance vehicle. However, we pulled off at a ran-down wooden shack on a gravel road just off of Lucas Road as Lucas Road begins to leave Laurel Creek. You’ll want to watch for this, as it’s a little tricky – this gravel road will take you down eventually to creek level but you may want to consider walking this segment instead of driving if you don’t have four-wheel drive. If it helps, we parked near coordinates (38.214050, -81.030617).
Now comes the fun part. There is no trail down to Laurel Falls – this is some rugged country. When Matt and I ventured this, we looked for the easiest looking spot to head down the hollow’s side to get creek level from Laurel Creek and then meandered our way back upstream toward the falls once level. In doing this, we walked a tenth to a quarter of a mile down the road before dropping down the hollow. As you can see below, it’s full of rhododendron – you will get dirty on this hike, but it’s fun – and definitely worth it!
The great thing about this waterfall is that even during periods of dry weather, you can easily hear it. So you know it’s there waiting for you! The key is to just be patient and not be afraid to get a little dirty or a little wet. I waded through the creek at times just because I thought it would be easier to wade than trying to hop from rock to rock or balance around exposed tree roots.
