Upper Falls is a small community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, named for the falls of the Coal River that run through it. The Coal River, originally called Walhonde by the Lenape, was explored by John Peter Salley in 1742, who documented these falls on his expedition.
The Upper Falls of Coal River are the centrepiece of the community — a scenic waterfall that splits the town and draws visitors for swimming and picnicking in summer. Meadowood Park lines the eastern bank of the river along the falls. Across the river, Big Bend Golf Course occupies the western bank below the falls.
The nearby Nellis Historic District, a national historic district, preserves one of the region's old coal company towns. Upper Falls is a quiet community within easy reach of Charleston, the state capital.