This next waterfall in West Virginia could easily be mistaken for a waterfall that’s less than an hour away at Swallow Falls State Park in Maryland. It’s called, Muddy Creek Falls, and, coincidently, it has the same name as Maryland’s highest free-falling waterfall.
This waterfall isn’t the tallest waterfall in West Virginia – or even that tall for that matter – but this location is more than just a waterfall. It’s also home to the old historic Virginia Furnace which puts this destination on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where is Muddy Creek Park in West Virginia
Muddy Creek Park is located approximately 3 miles from Albright, West Virginia, and just 11 miles from Pringle Run Falls in Kingwood, West Virginia. This waterfall is located directly along Highway 26, but if you’re not looking for it, it’s a very easy destination to miss. In fact, it took Michael and me a few trips to Kingwood before we even noticed it was there.
Since there’s only one small sign marking this location, when you’re driving to this destination be on the lookout for a pull-off along the highway that has picnic tables directly across the street. You can also put this address in your GPS, just do it before you get too close because there is no cellphone service at the falls.
📍 N Preston Hwy, Albright, WV 26519
History of the Virginia Iron Furnace
The Virginia Iron Furnace makes this waterfall a stop worth stopping at. If you like history and historic places, this iron furnace has so much history.
It was built in 1854 and it dates back to the Civil War era. Once used as a charcoal iron furnace to smelt iron, the furnace shut down in the 1890s. It wasn’t until 1933 though when the Virginia Iron Furnace was acquired by the Kingwood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution who created a roadside park at the furnace site.
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Today, the furnace still sits abandoned, but you can look all around it and even go inside it. It’s a unique roadside attraction that adds to the beauty of this waterfall.
Visiting Muddy Creek Falls
Muddy Creek Falls in West Virginia is a beautiful waterfall featuring rapids that make the falls. This waterfall only requires a short, downhill hike to access and is fairly easy to visit. On most of the days when we’ve visited the falls, we’ve been the only people there.
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This falls is fairly secluded. You won’t find bathrooms there, or benches but there are plenty of rocks to sit on and enjoy the view of the falls. Just be sure to use caution when visiting and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes.
This waterfall is located fairly close to Morgantown, West Virginia, so if you decide to spend the day chasing waterfalls, there are a few waterfalls nearby that I recommend visiting including:
- Pringle Run in Kingwood, WV (my favorite)
- Valley Falls in Fairmont, WV
- White Park in Morgantown, WV
- Blackwater Falls in Davis, WV
Last Updated on 2 months by Crystal Carder