Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

A Very WIDE Waterfall


When we went to West Virginia in April (see other posts from that trip by clicking
HERE) we saw an incredibly WIDE waterfall. It is so wide that we had to take three different pictures in order to capture it all. The waterfall is named SANDSTONE FALLS and is near the quaint little town of Hinton, WV.

Sandstone Falls is on the New River ---and this area is now known as the New River Gorge National River. People come here to hike, camp, fish and go whitewater rafting. We were there on a rainy day in April --but even with the rains, we enjoyed seeing this unique and fabulous place. They have built a large boardwalk --so that we could walk out quite far in order to see the entire waterfall and more of the wild and raging river. The New River is about 1500 feet across---and the waterfall encompassed the entire width. It's not a tall waterfall (only about 25 feet in height) --but just seeing the entire river was worth the entire trip to that mountainous area.

Here are some pictures we took of that waterfall and area. Above is me standing near the beginning of the waterfall --as we started walking out on the boardwalk. Below are more.



Part I of SANDSTONE FALLS



Part II of SANDSTONE FALLS; This is near the middle of the river... We enjoyed walking out on the boardwalk to see this river and the falls.



George is on the boardwalk. Hope you all get to visit this neat area if you are ever in West Virginia. It's awesome!!!



We are standing at the end of the boardwalk in order to see Part III of SANDSTONE FALLS. This is the prettiest end of the falls ---and I love seeing the mountains surrounding this beautiful river.



Using the zoom lens, here is a close-up of part of Part III of SANDSTONE FALLS. Isn't it gorgeous?




On the other side of New River, there are high bluffs. We had read that there was a look-out from up on the top where you can see the entire waterfall from above. WELL---we drove back to Hinton, crossed the river and took the road up that mountain. We did find the lookout ---but were disappointed in the overall look of the river and falls. Be that as it may, here is the best view we could find of SANDSTONE FALLS ---all 1500 feet across. My advice is to take the boardwalk and enjoy the waterfall in its 3 parts.

Besides seeing Sandstone Falls and the New River Gorge area, I was impressed with the small town of Hinton, WV. Hinton was a booming railroad town many years ago. Once the railroads began to disappear, Hinton almost disappeared also.. BUT--the people have kept the town alive --due to tourism, and history. When you visit Sandstone Falls, be sure and check out Hinton also!!!

Hugs,

46 comments:

Kirigalpoththa said...

That is one of the widest waterfalls I have seen. Truly amazing waterfall.
Lovely photos!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Isn't this incredible ! As far as the eaye can see....waterfalls.
I bet you and George were in awe of it's size, and what a history behind that wall of water.
Beautiful !

pam said...

That is some gorgeous country!

Jayne said...

A beautiful place Betsy. :c)

Hope your knee feels better soon and that you avoid surgery.

amelia said...

That is a truly amazing waterfall!! I would love to visit some of the places you see but I'm pretty sure that I won't be seeing WV in this lifetime or not as long as we have dogs!!
Unless we win a lottery of course and we all know how likely that is!!!

T said...

WOW!!!!

Susie said...

That is a beauty indeed Betsy!

Did you have your MRI yet?

Dar said...

Oh, those falls would have felt so good to sit under during all the heat and humidity we had a few days back.
Those are some awesome pics too.

How is your knee doing? Is it torn?
I was thinking of you last night. I tore something from my ankle up, just yesterday...sends zingers up my leg and man, are they painful...

Take care and have a great day
The sun is shining bright here and I have garden to finish.
Bye for now

Rose said...

I would love to see that area! It looks wonderful in your photos.

Karin said...

Very picturesque area! These falls are just short 1000 ft. of being as wide as Niagara Falls! Have you ever been up north to see that one??

How is your knee? Must be hard to sleep at night. Sure wish you well!

Diane said...

Very pretty waterfall, Betsy. Nice post. Diane

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is so beautiful!!!! Love the boardwalk shot too.
Hope you are feeling ok...
Hugs, Suz

Joy said...

Thank you to you and George for introducing me to the world of waterfalls. What a beautiful peaceful place. Amazing how wide it is. Great pictures.
♥ Joy

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Betsy, I'm glad you told us the waterfall was 25'. It is hard to tell from photos how large something is.

Good to hear this little town has reinvented itself as a tourist stop. So many towns must change or die with the new economy.
Marnie

Sunny said...

What a lovely area. That really is a wide waterfall...great pictures!
☼ Sunny

Catherine said...

I can't believe all the beautiful waterfalls you see Betsy ~ thank you so much for sharing them with us!

I hope your MRI on your knee goes good/went well!!!

xo Catherine

Sey said...

Oh Betsy, those waterfalls are great. What a wonderful gift from God.

I hope the MRI thing would went well. Please give us some updates and again my prayers are with you :)

God bless you!

Sey

Kay said...

What a beautiful place.

imac said...

Very well presented Bewtsy, its such a beauty, and well captured.

Shelley said...

These were so breathtaking!! Great scenery and beautiful falls as always. And I love that first photo of you - gorgeous! That should be framed and put on George's desk - ha!
Love and hugs,
Shelley

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!

Big Dude said...

The New River gorge is definitely impressive. We took a rafting trip near Fayetteville several years ago, and both the river and the gorge were beautiful.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You're right. That last picture isn't nearly as good as the others, especially the next to last one, which is my favorite!!! I am praying for your test today and that you get a good report. You are in my thoughts for this day.

Anonymous said...

WOW that is some waterfall! I don't think I have ever seen one like it. You have the most beautiful pictures. I went back and looked at all your flowers, too. I hope you are getting some relief with your knee and the MRI did not say anything bad.

Anonymous said...

Hinton is where my mom's family are from. The city and county are old stomping grounds for them. I have been there in Summers County where my grandpa used to live and where mom grew up. Saw their house foundation on the top of a mountain there. Saw the church where grandma was buried. Hinton, WV was a famous place as you pointed out.

Patty and I were there a couple of years ago. We left here one morning and drove straight through. And we bought a lot of stuff at the store downtown that sells just about every thing. Saw some of our relatives. Now, the relatives are all second and third cousins.

There is a "Ballengee" Street in town with the theater on it. And there are other "Ballengee" landmarks there. Mom's maiden name was Ballengee.

SquirrelQueen said...

What a beautiful waterfalls, it is amazingly wide. I love the shots from the boardwalk and the close up photo is awesome.

Hope the MRI went well.

Hugs,
Judy

nanny said...

Oh Betsy, those are beautiful pictures and I know it had to be prettier in person....I will put WV on my bucket list!!!!!

Tipper said...

Beautiful pics of a really big waterfall : )

LV said...

Another beautiful area you two have shared together. You find some of the most amazing places to visit. How is your knee? Trust you are improving and not in pain.

Anonymous said...

It is a place I will likely put on my must visit list. This river is just as pretty as almost any we had back in CA!

i hope you are feeling a bit better and are praying for your complete recovery!

Have a wonderful day tomorrow!

Glenda said...

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! Your photos really capture the incredible waterfall!

Hope your knee is less painful today!

Glenda said...

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! Your photos really capture the incredible waterfall!

Hope your knee is less painful today!

Cheryl said...

Gorgeous!! You have the best adventures and find the loveliest places to visit. I've been thinking of you today, wondering how your MRI came out. Take good care and rest!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

WOW!!!!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Betsy: That is really a neat waterfall area, beautiful photos of the stream.

~mel said...

You and George need to publish all those waterfall visits into a coffee table book!!! and your birds and blooms.... gorgeous!!!!!

I hope your knee is better. I've had six knee surgeries and I know it's no picnic when you have to hobble around in pain. You're in my prayers girl and I'm sending healing vibes your way along with a piles of {{HEALING HUGS}}{{HEALING HUGS}}{{HEALING HUGS}}

Janie said...

That's a beautiful waterfall. I really love the close-up shot.

carolina nana said...

That is a beautiful place. Have you ever traveled to Oklahoma? Probably not as I wouldn't think they had waterfalls,ha ha!!
I'm thinking of making a trip later in the summer out there.
Blessings to you Marilyn

Mary said...

Wonderful! Like a whole series of little waterfalls side by side.

Jo said...

Betsy;) your posts and Sunny's make me want to visit your beautiful country. GLORIOUS waterfall. So restful yet so awesome. Thanks for your encouragement over on my blog with our baby grands and his hectic arrival. Have a blessed weekend, my friend. Hugs Jo

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Good morning!
Wonderful place!

Diane AZ said...

Wow, it certainly is WIDE. Very unusual and beautiful. Thanks for your great pictures!

MadSnapper said...

oh goody, a waterfall if i went over it i would probably survive. i really like the wide and not so deep look of it and also the name

penny said...

Your right that is a very wide waterfall your standing in front of. There sure is gorgeous mountain country in WV. Fantastic photos, Betsy.

Julie said...

Are you sure it is 25 ft. high??? It sure looks very short compared to it's length!!! Beautiful!!!!!
:)

Connie said...

Those are really pretty falls, Betsy. I would love to see them. You and George take great photos! :)