Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter: Fallingwater Cascade Trail (Blog Hike #272)

Trail: Fallingwater Cascade Trail

Hike Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter

Geographic Location: northwest of Bedford, VA (37.47363, -79.58032)

Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: May 2009, May 2014

Overview: A fairly challenging hike, but never excessively steep, to an interesting waterfall tucked in a deep, tight ravine.

Trail Information: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/peaks-otter-trails.htm

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940888
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: The trail starts from a signed parking area at milepost 83.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This milepost is located northwest of Bedford about half way between US 460 and US 501.

The hike: Located on the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 2 hours south of Shenandoah National Park, Peaks of Otter is one of the premier hiking destinations in central and southern Virginia.  The area’s main attractions are the views, which are fabulous since the area lies on the easternmost mountain at this point of the Appalachians.  Other attractions just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway include the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, the Civil War historical sites in Appomattox, and The Natural Bridge of Virginia in Natural Bridge.

Nearly every visitor will find a hiking trail at Peaks of Otter to suit their desires and abilities.  Trails lead to all three of the peaks, Flat Top, Sharp Top, and Harkening Hill.  Of course, these trails all require significant amounts of climbing.  Some shorter trails explore the area around Peaks of Otter Lodge, located at the base of the peaks.  The Fallingwater Cascade Trail, a designated National Recreation Trail, described here splits the difference in terms of distance, plus it leads to an interesting waterfall.

Trailhead: Fallingwater Cascade Trail

            At the southwest corner of the parking area, a wooden trail sign directs you to follow a gravel trail heading downhill and to the right to reach the falls.  This trail forms a loop, so you could go either direction here.  This description will heed the sign’s advice, following the shortest route to the falls.  The trail immediately begins descending and soon passes the first of two wooden benches.  I don’t know why a bench would be located so close to the top except perhaps to minimize the distance the materials must be carried, but here stands the bench nonetheless.

The descent to the falls is moderate but long, sometimes using stone or wooden steps and sometimes just using the grade of the land.  The forest is classic Blue Ridge forest consisting mostly of hardwoods such as maples but with a few hemlocks mixed in.  As you get near the bottom, you can hear the waterfall to your left, but a dense understory of rhododendron prevents any views from this point.

Descending toward the cascade

            At 0.4 miles, the trail reaches appropriately named Fallingwater Creek, which is crossed via a wooden bridge after a sharp left turn.  You are now right above the falls, as you will soon see when the trail starts heading downstream and the falls come into view on the left.  Don’t get too distracted by the waterfall, as your view is obstructed by rhododendron and you are walking on bare rock.  Focus on the trail: you will get a great view of the waterfall later.

The trail descends to below the falls using a well-constructed set of stairs.  At the bottom of the steps, a short spur trail leads left to the waterfall viewpoint.  The falls are about 50 feet high, though part of that is a slide.  The rocks around the creek set off the falls beautifully as do the large hemlock trees and dense rhododendron.  During my visit in early May, the water volume was quite high, making for great audio as the water splashed down the rocks.

Fallingwater Cascade

            The shortest route back to the parking lot is to return the way you came, but to see some different scenery, continue around the loop as the trail heads downstream.  After descending a fairly steep bluff, the trail curves left and crosses the creek for the second and final time, again using a wooden bridge.  The long climb out now begins.  A couple of windfalls impede your progress, but they are only noteworthy because the rest of the trail is so well maintained.

Nearing the lowest point

            At 1 mile, the trail cuts through a medium-sized boulder field which creates an opening through which you can see the now much wider ravine to your right.  The hardwood trees that dominate the ridge tops would make this view a spectacular one in the fall.  Keep climbing, stopping to catch your breath when necessary, and soon pass the second bench.  Astonishingly, this bench is also placed very near the top of the climb.

At 1.4 miles you will reach an intersection.  The trail going straight heads for Flat Top Mountain, but our loop turns left for the final leg back to the parking area.  An occasional zoom can be heard from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is located about 100 feet to your right through beautiful dense, mature, hardwood forest.

Hiking near the Parkway

            The trail continues climbing but at a much more gradual pace.  At 1.5 miles, you will reach the highest point on this trail.  An easy 0.1 mile downhill glide is all that remains to return you to your car and complete the hike.