Jefferson National Forest: Cascades Recreation Area (Blog Hike #132)

Trail: Cascades Trail

Hike Location: Jefferson National Forest, Cascades Recreation Area

Geographic Location: northwest of Blacksburg, VA (37.35375, -80.59915)

Length: 3.8 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: April 2003

Overview: An easy and beautiful creek-side hike ending at a large, rushing waterfall.

Trail Information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=79943&actid=50
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=754027
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Blacksburg, take US 460 about 10 miles to the town of Pembroke.  In Pembroke, turn right on CR 623.  CR 623 dead-ends at the blacktop parking area for the Cascades Trail.

The hike: It was late-morning on a cloudy mid-April Saturday when I drove into the large, blacktop parking lot for the Cascades Recreation Area.  I had just driven two hours from my lodging in Lynchburg, and I was eager to stretch my legs along this National Recreation Trail.  After a brief stop at the newly-constructed restroom at the trailhead, I began the trail.  What was waiting for me could not have been more splendid. 

The trail itself is well-maintained and has a front country feel to it, but the scenery is as good as any backcountry trail I have hiked.  Specifically, the creek tumbling over rocks sounded and looked as nice as any creek side hike I have taken, and the 66-foot waterfall at trail’s end is possibly my favorite in southern Virginia for its volume of water, height of falls, and sound of water hitting the rocks and plunge pool.  Hike this trail in the spring soon after a good rain, and you will not soon forget it.

The trail leaves at a signboard to the right of the restroom.  There is a picnic area to the right of the trail as you start, but that is soon left behind and the creek comes into full view and sound.  Make sure to take a few moments to stop and close your eyes, listening to the sound of the water tumbling over an endless number of rocks.

Stream below Cascades

0.25 miles from the trailhead, come to the first of two newly-reconstructed bridges crossing the creek.  Turn right here and cross the creek, using the trail going straight ahead as the return loop.  The other side of the creek features much of the same terrain as the trail continues to parallel the creek upstream.  This area has been logged extensively in the past, so it does not qualify for status as a wilderness, but the forest along the creek is recovering quite nicely.

The single-track dirt trail remains on the south side of the creek for 1 mile until reaching the second bridge where you are forced to cross back to the north side.  Turn right at the north side of this bridge and continue following the creek upstream.  The last 0.75 miles of trail to the waterfall is more rocky that the first 1.25, so watch your footing when the rocks are wet.  After passing an “appetizer” (a small waterfall created by a small tributary 1.9 miles from the trailhead), come to a wooden platform and bench overlooking the real show 2 miles from the trailhead.

Small waterfall created by tributary

            As stated in the introduction, this waterfall is quite a treat for the eyes and ears.  Water falls 66 feet from a ledge in a single column before being broken by a rock outcrop at the bottom of the falls and above the large, clear plunge pool.  A pair of overlooks allows the postcard view from 50 yards in front of the falls, but don’t miss the overlook higher on the ridge that sits only 30 feet from the falling water.  Make sure you have your camera along, as you will want to use it.

The Cascades waterfall

            The waterfall marks the furthest point from the trailhead reached on this hike.  There are two trails into the waterfall area, the one you came in on, and another one departing the same direction but uphill toward the ridge rather than downhill toward the creek.  Choose the uphill trail, and after 0.1 miles of steep climbing, arrive at an intersection with an old jeep road.  This is the highest point of the hike; it is some 700 feet above the trailhead, but except for the last 0.1 miles, the climb is hardly noticeable.

A stone marker at the intersection directs you to turn left on the jeep trail to return to the trailhead.  Follow its instructions and begin heading downhill on a wide two-track jeep trail that probably used to be a logging road.  The forest along the ridge is much younger, suggesting it has been logged much more recently.

For the next 1.75 miles, the trail slowly but steadily descends along the jeep road to an intersection back at the first bridge.  For most of this distance, you are several hundred feet above the creek, so you get a different perspective on the ravine.  From the bridge intersection, you must retrace your steps 0.25 miles downstream back to the parking area to complete the hike.