Almost Heaven

Wet Virginia, 

Located in the beautiful Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, the Falls at Hills Creek is a set of 3 falls. After walking down about a quarter mile paved path, I reach the Upper Falls, 25 feet of water flowing over to the rocks below. 

Take the boardwalk and stairs to the Middle Falls to witness water falling 45 feet over moss covered rocks into the stream below. A beautiful sight in and of itself, the Middle Falls left me anticipating the view of the lower falls further down stream. 

The Lower Falls at the Falls of Hills Creek is the second highest water fall in West Virginia. To get there from the Middle Falls, I follow another set of stairs, boardwalks and more stairs to reach the viewing platform for the majestic 63 foot Lower Falls.

While taking in the beautiful vista of cascading waterfalls in what is described as the cleanest river in West Virginia, it is not until I start back up the stairs that I fully realize the length at which I have to hike to get back to my car. There are 386 stairs (about 23 stories in an office building)  to climb from the final viewing stand until I got to the quarter-mile path to walk back to my car. The view was well worth it.