Best waterfalls in Virginia

Virginia’s falls cluster along the Blue Ridge — Shenandoah’s canyon cascades, the towering tiers of Crabtree Falls (the tallest east of the Mississippi), quiet gorge walks off the Parkway, and a few rugged southwest Virginia plunges near Bristol. Spring snowmelt and fall color are the windows; the popular ones reward an early start.

Crabtree Falls (VA)1,200 ftModerate hike · Montebello · 3 mia five-cascade waterfall hike reached via VA 56 from Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 27.2.Apple Orchard Falls150 ftModerate hike · Buchanan · 2.8 mia tall cascade off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Peaks of Otter.Statons Creek Falls140 ftRoadside · Vesuviusa long sliding cascade near the Blue Ridge Parkway.Whiteoak Canyon Falls86 ftModerate hike · Shenandoah NP · 4.6 mia canyon of six falls and swimming holes in Shenandoah.Fallingwater Cascades80 ftModerate hike · Bedford · 1.6 mia tumbling cascade on a loop near the Blue Ridge Parkway.Abrams Falls75 ftStrenuous hike · Bristola county-owned, permit-access plunge waterfall in a rugged Washington County hollow.Dark Hollow Falls70 ftModerate hike · Shenandoah NP · 1.4 mithe closest fall to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah.Cascade Falls (VA)69 ftModerate hike · Pembroke · 4 mia gorgeous gorge walk to a swimmable plunge pool.Lace Falls50 ftShort walk · Natural Bridge · 1.6 mithe fall at the end of the trail beyond the famous Natural Bridge.Roaring Run Falls30 ftModerate hike · Eagle Rock · 1.5 mia cascade beside a historic iron furnace in the Jefferson forest.Big Falls of Little Stony24 ftModerate hike · Dungannon · 2.8 mia gorge of falls on a National Recreation Trail in far southwest VA.

Flows change with the season and recent rain — many falls roar at spring snowmelt and slow by late summer. Check conditions and any permit or reservation rules before you go.