Saturday, July 22, 2023

Jul 10 Crabtree Falls (Virginia)

 


Located in Nelson County Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Parkway and The Priest, is this fabulous waterfall. It's popularity in recent years has ballooned so much that a newly designed parking area and road bridge needed to be built. The original parking area was a tiny pull off. You could also stay at the USFS campground nearby and walk to the falls, Both approaches went over this arched footbridge. Today this footbridge rarely even gets noticed. 



It is often described as the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. More correctly, it is the highest vertical drop cascade waterfall east of the Mississippi. Three different sources say it is 1080', 1200' and the USFS says 1593'. You can not see it all at the same time. A trail climbs from bottom to top. There are 3 distinct drops and many smaller cascades. To see it all involves a 2 mile hike.  


Don't confuse this with the same named waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Little Switzerland, NC, a mere 70' single drop waterfall. And don't try to visit on a weekend, and remember to bring $3 for a parking permit. If you have a National Parks senor pass, that works too.






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