There are over 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. That stretch is riddled with marvelous Blue Ridge Mountain views that leave little doubt why the BRP is the most popular of all US National Parks.
Virginia’s BRP highlights include the Peaks of Otter, Mabry Mill, Groundhog Meadow, and Mill Mountain.
There are also countless fabulous hikes, historic sites, awe-inspiring overlooks, and a host of small Virginia mountain towns.
In this amazing mix of scenic driving attractions, there’s a great collection of Virginia waterfalls to check out.
Some of these falls rank among the tallest east of the Rocky Mountains, while others are perfect for taking a refreshing dip.
All of them are worthy of stopping for a hike and taking a short detour, and many are part of the gorgeous George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled all the info you’ll need to visit the 10 best waterfalls on (or near) near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia!
READ MORE: How to Plan an Amazing Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
Blue Ridge Parkway Accommodations in Virginia
- Afton Mountain Inn (historic farmhouse turned boutique hotel w/pool)
- Restored 1800s Buchanan Log Cabin (charming 2 bd cabin getaway- no service in the area)
- Shirley’s Bed & Breakfast (top rated Roanoke B&B w/delicious breakfast)
- Bent Mountain Lodge (pet-friendly B&B south of Roanoke w/views)
- Hotel Floyd (Sustainable DT hotel close to BRP & Crooked Road Music Trail)
- Moonlight Manor Bed & Breakfast (Floyd B&B w/picturesque views, good breakfast)
Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls in Virginia Guide
- Upper Shamokin Falls
- White Rock Falls
- St. Mary’s Waterfall
- Crabtree Falls
- Wigwam Falls
- Apple Orchard Falls
- Fallingwater Cascades
- Roaring Run Falls
- Stiles Falls
- Chestnut Creek Falls
READ MORE: The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels & Cabin Rentals in NC & VA
1. Upper Shamokin Falls (Milepost 9.6)
39 Mountain Inn Loop Rte 664 • (434) 325-8169
Upper Shamokin Falls is maintained by the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen Resort as part of a 13-acre stand of hardwood forest called Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve.
There are lots of hiking trails within the preserve, so it’s possible to take different routes (ranging from under a mile to several miles) for reaching Upper Shamokin Falls.
The upper falls (there’s also a Lower Shamokin Falls, accessed via a different trail) are a series of cascades as the creek winds and tumbles over rocky terrain.
Taking the Upper Shamokin Falls Trail (0.4 miles) is the shortest route to the waterfall, and you can use the Morgan Loop (0.3 miles) to get back.
To get to the trailhead via the Blue Ridge Parkway (which is a notably longer hike), use the Dripping Rock parking area and hike across Laurel Springs Drive to access the falls.
This is one of the quieter waterfall trails on the BRP, so it’s a win if you want to avoid the crowds while seeing something remarkable!
READ MORE: Hiking the Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail Near Waynesboro VA
2. White Rock Falls (Milepost 19)
White Rock Gap Parking Area, BRP Milepost 19 • (434) 263-7015
White Rock Falls is one of the more popular waterfalls along Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway.
This waterfall is a 30-footer in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, with trail access is just off the BRP at the White Rock Gap parking area.
The trail to White Rock Falls is well-marked and well-trodden, but there are some creek crossings that require clambering a bit.
It can either be a 3.4-mile out-and-back trip or a 4.4-mile loop. Either way, it has plenty of cool rock formations and scenic views to appreciate along the way.
The waterfall has a ribbon-like flow down a mossy rock face, ending in a crystal-clear pool with a rocky bottom. The pool is not quite deep enough for a swim, but it’s a stunner and is suitable for cooling down on hot days.
Note that the White Rock Falls trail also crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway at Slacks Overlook, and adding the Slack Overlook Trail makes for a longer hike.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Waynesboro VA (Augusta County)
3. St. Mary’s Waterfall (Milepost 23)
FS162, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests • (540) 464-1661
St. Mary’s Waterfall is part of the St. Mary’s Wilderness, and is open to the public. The wilderness area is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and can be easily accessed directly from it.
Traditionally, hikers would reach the waterfall via the Saint Mary’s Trail. But the VA Forest Service has recently encouraged folks to use an alternate route in, known as the Mine Bank Trail.
The Mine Bank Trail bisects the St. Mary’s Trail, and requires hikers to head west towards the St. Mary’s Falls Trail. The out-and-back route is roughly 9 miles.
This wilderness area is beloved for having plenty of rock formations and lots of water, which combine for a heaping helping of natural beauty and vibrant greenery.
In addition to the 15-foot waterfall (with a plunge pool), there are plenty of cascades to appreciate on the route.
Other attractions in St. Mary’s Wilderness include Big Spy Mountain, Little Spy Mountain, Cellar Mountain, and Big Levels & Green Pond.
READ MORE: A Detailed History of the Blue Ridge Parkway
4. Crabtree Falls (Milepost 27)
11581 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montobello, VA • (540) 291-2188
Located about 6 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia’s Crabtree Falls (NC has a Crabtree Falls on the Parkway as well) is a series of five serious cascades that fall a total of 1,200 feet.
One of these cascades, at 400 feet, is the tallest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi!
There are 5 overlooks from which to observe Crabtree Falls, the first of which is 700 feet from the parking area (and is wheelchair accessible).
The other four continue along the next mile-plus of a rocky and steep dirt path, with several switchbacks.
At 1.7 miles in, there’s a wooden bridge that crosses over the waterfall, and the view from it is a magnificent vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Tye River Valley.
This waterfall is named after William Crabtree, the first European who settled in the area. Crabtree Falls is located at the Crabtree Falls Day Use Area, and it costs $3 cash per car to park there.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Restaurants in VA & NC
5. Wigwam Falls (Milepost 34)
Yankee Horse Ridge Overlook, BRP Milepost 34 • (828) 348-3400
Wigwam Falls is one of two main attractions at the Yankee Horse Ridge Overlook, which also has a lovely picnic area and a stream flowing through it.
The other noteworthy feature is the Irish Creek Railroad, a 42-inch narrow gauge rail once used by the South River Lumber Company.
Wigwam Falls is an easy-access trail with just 0.1 miles of walking required to reach its base. The waterfall is 30 feet tall and slides down gray rock.
Note that in order for the waterfall to be truly impressive, it’s best to visit this one shortly after a storm (or when snow is in full melt in the early Spring).
The railway at Yankee Horse Ridge Overlook is a reconstructed section and includes a train trestle. Visitors are invited to follow the line for about half a mile or so in order to appreciate the forest regrowth.
The lumber industry had a huge effect on the Blue Ridge Mountains in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The railroad exhibit is meant to remind society of the lessons learned from over-harvesting our natural resources.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks in Virginia
6. Apple Orchard Falls (Milepost 78)
Sunset Field Overlook, BRP Milepost 78 • (828) 348-3400
Another feature of the expansive George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Apple Orchard Falls is a beloved Virginia waterfall along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
It’s also a short spur off of the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
Apple Orchard Falls is a 200-foot monster of a waterfall that is accessible to most levels of hikers.
The route from the Blue Ridge Parkway begins at the Sunset Field Overlook. It’s about 2.9 miles out-and-back, with a great snacking /viewing bench at the foot of the falls.
In addition to the falls, the Apple Orchard Falls Trail provides sweeping views of mountains and valleys. It also intersects the AT, which gives access to Cornelius Creek Trail, another route for reaching the falls.
Cornelius Creek and the AOF Trail can be combined to make a 7.5-mile loop trail for viewing the waterfall, exploring a bit of the Appalachian Trail, and enjoying awesome scenic vistas.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lexington VA & Natural Bridge VA
7. Fallingwater Cascades (Milepost 83)
Fallingwater Parking Area, BRP Milepost 83 • (828) 348-3400
Fallingwater Cascades is one of many highlights of the beloved Peaks of Otter area. For quick access to the waterfall’s loop trail, hikers can park at either the Fallingwater parking lot or Flat Top parking lot.
To be clear, Fallingwater Cascades is a fairly small waterfall, but it’s in a beautiful space and has a few magical wading pools you can cool off in.
The easy hike to the cascades can either be a 1.2-mile out-and-back trek, or a 1.6-mile loop trail.
For those who want extended hiking, the Flat Top Trail connects Fallingwater Cascades to Abbott Lake and the Peaks of Otter Lodge (and restaurant).
This route is 4.4 miles one-way, and it has phenomenal panoramas from rocky outcrops. The forest ecology also changes over the course of the hike.
It would be a crime to stop at Fallingwater Cascades and skip out on visiting the Peaks of Otter. Johnson Farm has living history demonstrations, and Abbott Lake has a 1-mile strolling path around it.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Lakes in the Virginia Mountains to Visit
8. Roaring Run Falls (Milepost 106)
Virginia Rte 621, Eagle Rock VA • (540) 552-4641
Though it’s located 30 miles from the Parkway, Roaring Run Falls is a spot with several offerings that make this a detour worth taking.
It’s another George Washington & Jefferson National Forest asset, accessed via the Roaring Run Day Use Area in Eagle Rock VA.
Roaring Run Falls has two great routes leading to it, Woodland Trail and Streamside Trail.
Streamside Trail has stone bridges, stark rock faces, and the tumbling torrents of Roaring Run Creek. Woodland Trail has beautiful forest and scenic overlooks. Both can be combined to make a loop.
Additional attractions at the Roaring Run Day Use Area include fishing in the creek, shady sites for picnicking, and a cool historic site– a stone iron furnace on the Woodland Trail that operated prior to the Civil War.
Note: There are vault toilets available at the RR Day Use Area, but drinking water is not provided on-site. It should be brought in or purified from natural sources.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Historic & Covered Bridges in Virginia
9. Stiles Falls (Milepost 159)
Crocket Springs Rd, Shawsville VA • (54) 268-2409
This waterfall is on a privately-owned property, Camp Alta Mons, but they allow visitors to come see Stiles Falls. It’s a beautiful, 40-foot fall that tumbles down and leaps off of a gray rock face.
The 3-mile round-trip hike to Stiles Falls follows a white blaze.
Park in front of the Alta Mons property and walk in via gravel road. The trail itself is about one mile long, and crosses over Purgatory Creek.
Note that the trail is open for public use daily, except when Summer (late June through mid-July) and Winter camps are happening. Snow and ice can cause the trail to be closed as well.
Alta Mons’ camp is a 15-mile detour from the Blue Ridge Parkway, north of the town of Floyd VA and east of Christiansburg VA.
The exit off the Parkway is one mile south of the Pine Spur Overlook (Milepost 144.8). Look for State Rte 610. It’ll turn into State Rte 653 after 6.1 miles, and about 8 miles later, you’ll take a left onto Crocket Springs Rd.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls in North Carolina
10. Chestnut Creek Falls (Milepost 216)
1271 Creekview Dr, Galax VA • (276) 699-6778
Chestnut Creek Falls is one of many fine attractions in the 57-mile New River Trail State Park.
The park follows along the New River, following an abandoned railroad right-of-way. Its northern terminus is Dora Junction, and to the south it goes into the town of Galax VA.
This linear park has two tunnels, three major bridges, and 30 small bridges/trestles. It traverses four counties and has three primitive campgrounds.
Shot Tower State Park and its historic Shot Tower are also along the route.
Chestnut Creek Falls is located just north of the Cliffview Campground and Dannelly Park, and south of Chestnut Yard. The trek between Cliffview and Chestnut Yard is 4 miles, and rates as an easy hike.
To get to the Cliffview Campground from the BRP, take VA-89 N roughly 3 miles south of the Blue Ridge Music Center. From there, VA-89 takes you into the town of Galax, and it’s just a few short turns from there! -by Jonathan Engles, featured image of Upper Crabtree Falls by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
