Butcher Branch Trail

Butcher Branch is one of those short-but-sweet New River Gorge trails that rewards you with a waterfall without demanding half your day. The path drops down along its namesake creek through a canopy of hardwoods and rhododendron thickets so dense they turn the trail into a green tunnel in summer. The footing gets progressively rougher as you descend — expect roots, rocks, and a few muddy stretches where the creek seeps across the path. The payoff is a modest but photogenic cascade where Butcher Branch tumbles over a mossy rock face into a small pool. At under a mile each way, it feels more like a nature walk than a proper hike, but the moderate rating is earned on the return trip when you're climbing back up everything you just walked down. Perfect for hikers who want a quick gorge fix without committing to an all-day death march.