Local Trails Spotlight: Brush Creek Falls

Brush Creek Falls is already a beautiful trail in Mercer County, but every trail takes on a whole new face in the snow. If you can brave the cold, it is certainly a must-see in the winter. The trail is not a very difficult out and back trail with a 3.9-milelength and moderate difficulty.

The trailhead is roughly 30 minutes north of the Bluefield University campus near Athens, West Virginia. However, the quarter-mile-long track connecting the trailhead to the main road is straight downhill with no guard rails and not likely to be plowed in the winter. Thus, if you plan to visit the trail in the winter be sure to bring a vehicle with four-wheel drive because the trail is very remote. But if you have the means, it is a trail worth seeing in the snow.

The trail’s main feature is the waterfall shortly into the hike. The trail has a wooden viewing deck overlooking the falls. Also, just before the deck there is a small trail that allows you to see from the top. Then just beyond the deck there is another small trail that allows you to see the falls from below. 

The rest of the trail follows a ridge created by the creek. In the winter, expect to see many large icicles hanging from the rock faces along the trail. The trail also has frequent, small river crossings and wash-outs.

Even though this trail does not offer any panoramic overlooks, the Brush Creek Trail is still worthwhile for the hiker looking for a good day hike or anyone looking to enjoy its impressive waterfall in the snow.