Trip report
Jul 26, 2016 — There are two trailheads for the Glade Creek Trail. The alternative trailhead is located at: 37.7651569, -81.0441913, but I recommend the one associated with this hike (Trailhead button), because the drive is a lot more pretty as it winds next to the New River than the alternative, and you get gain vertical elevation along Glade Creek first and make Kates Falls the destination, rather than to first descend and have to hike back up on the return. The photos below assume you start from the north, at the New River Gorge.
The Glade Creek Trail follows the really gorgeous Glade Creek, ferns and lush foliage lining the trail pretty much the whole way. The trail has a bunch of minor ups and downs as it follows the winding of the creek, and crosses the creek once over a pretty photogenic little footbridge. Along the way, there are multiple small waterfalls and spots to go swimming. Once across the footbridge, the trail widens significantly as it works up to the southern trailhead. I highly recommend taking the short detour to Kates Falls. It's close and the falls are really pretty.
The best stuff of the hike is pretty much over once you hit Kates Falls, but I opted to continue along the Glade Creek Trail to its head (southern trailhead), because I wanted to see the whole trail. I'd say hiking underneath I-64 is pretty cool, but check out the photos below to see if it's worth it to you.