Blue Ridge Parkway, E.B. Jeffress Park: Cascades Trail (Blog Hike #277)

Trail: Cascades Trail

Hike Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, E.B. Jeffress Park

Geographic Location: east of Boone, NC (36.24513, -81.45793)

Length: 0.9 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2009, May 2014

Overview: A mostly easy hike with some steep steps at the end leading to a fantastic waterfall overlook.

Park Information: http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=722093
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: E.B. Jeffress Park is located at milepost 272 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This milepost is located 11 miles south of SR 16 or 4.4 miles north of US 421.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot near the Cascades Overlook.

The hike: Most people drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for the many fantastic views that open up for many miles in any direction.  The highest part of the parkway, and hence some of the best views, can be found in North Carolina either just north or just south of Asheville.  Yet the mountains of western North Carolina are not called the Great Smoky Mountains for nothing, and on many days clouds will cover the Parkway, reducing even the best view to a white curtain.  So what should you do on those days when you can barely see 50 feet ahead of the car?  Stop driving and hike to a waterfall, of course!

            Such were the circumstances on a Monday in early May when I drove the Parkway.  The previous day was gorgeous, and the next one would be too, but on this day the mountains were covered with clouds and a light mist.  Not wanting to skip an entire day of hiking, I chose to hike the Cascades Trail, hoping I would be able to see the waterfall through the fog.  Not only was I able to see the waterfall, but the volume of water was perfect due to the dampness, and the gravel trail kept my feet mostly dry.  What could have been a disaster turned into probably the best waterfall hike I took on the Parkway.

Trailhead: Cascades Trail (in 2014)

            The trail starts as a blacktop path at an information board and a restroom building near the entrance to the parking area.  The trail soon turns to gravel as it enters the forest.  Up here on the ridge the forest consists mostly of broadleaf trees such as maples with a dense understory of rhododendron.  Some interpretive signs help you identify the trees and other plants in the forest.

            At 0.1 miles, the trail forks to form the semi-loop portion of this hike.  For no real reason, this description will turn right here and use the left trail on the return route.  The trail descends slightly as it stays near a drop-off on the right.  I gained no views here during my visit due to the fog, but on a nicer day you might get some partially obstructed views through the rhododendron.

The Cascades Trail, on a clear day

            The trail soon reaches Falls Branch, which it crosses on a fine wooden footbridge.  The area around Falls Branch has some nice, large hemlock and white pine trees.  Just after crossing the bridge, the other arm of the Cascades Trail enters from the left.  Stay right to continue to the falls.

            You can soon hear the waterfall to your right, and a set of stone steps leads down to the upper overlook.  This overlook is placed near the very top of the cascades and is protected by a stone wall.  From here, the water slides and drops for nearly 100 feet before finally reaching the bottom, which I could barely see on my visit, again due to the fog.

View down the Cascades from the top

            For an even better view closer to the middle of the falls, continue down another set of steep stone steps to the lower overlook.  These steps can be a little slippery when wet, as I discovered on my visit, so take your time and use the wooden railings when possible.  From the lower overlook, you can see the entire waterfall from top to bottom.  Spend some time here to take in the sights and sounds of this spectacular waterfall.

View from the lower overlook

            Reverse course back up the stone steps, and when the trail forks again, take the right fork this time.  This branch of the Cascades Trail follows Falls Branch almost to where the Parkway crosses it, allowing you to see more large pine trees.  After crossing the branch on another wooden bridge, the trail curves left and climbs away from the branch.  The Parkway is located out of sight just uphill to your right, as a passing car may or may not remind you.  When I hiked this trail, the rain shower started in earnest when I hit this section of trail.

            At 0.8 miles, the two arms of the Cascades Trail come together again.  Continue straight on the combined trail.  Another 0.1 miles of flat walking will return you to the Cascades Overlook parking area, which marks the end of this hike.  Another interesting trail is the 0.6 mile one-way Tompkins Knob Trail, which departs from the other end of this parking area.  The Tompkins Knob Trail features scenic overlooks which would have been engulfed in fog on my visit, so I did not hike that trail.  I hope to return to hike that trail and sneak in another visit to the waterfall in the future.