The Waterfall

One of John's co-workers told him about Crabtree Falls over by the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Not having a whole lot planned for the weekend we decided to check it out.  It was raining but not pouring.  We thought maybe the rain would actually improve the waterfall.

The drive is beautiful - as has been every drive we've done here in the Virginia area!  Once again we have to go on faith that our directions and GPS will get us there - eventually.  The farther we go on the Tye River Road the narrower it gets and the more scenic.  (Remember one of the waterfalls we told you about on Kauai?  The road narrowed and became covered in debris from a recent rain, but there was no place to turn around?  This wasn't quite as "spooky," but almost.  I LOVE it!)

The Falls is in the middle of the George Washington National Forest and operated by the National Forest Service.  And there it is!  A really nice parking area, and a PAY PHONE.  You know you are really in the boonies with no cell service when the National Forest Service provides a pay phone...  One is supposed to pay $3 to help fund the Forest Service, but it's on the Honor system.  While we are there we see not a single person slip money into the envelope provided.  Bummer.  The National Park Service and the National Forest Service are heritage kind of organizations.  They are the first to suffer when budget cutbacks come.  We even have to write a personal check to put in the envelope because we don't have cash on us (we're debit card fanatics.)  Finally, we are ready to take a hike.

Crabtree is a series of waterfalls stacked on top of each other.  The first one we come to is only a few hundred yards away from the parking area up a paved path.  Nice.

There ARE signs warning about the dangers of waterfalls and surrounding rocks due to perpetually being misted by the spray of the waterfall:

But this is for the edification of raucous teenagers and other silly people. 

John has one foot on the asphalt path and one on the rocks - he's safe.  And no, he doesn't have a broken rib sticking out - that's his camera.  He's trying to keep the lenses out of the rain!

The hike to the top of the Falls is just over a mile (so two miles round trip)  The path is VERY well maintained, steps are built into the path, and there are rails along the side to a) discourage folks from taking shortcuts on the switchback and b) to give ME an assist on the way up.  Just teasing.  You can see that the path is not terribly steep.

The second level of the falls is really pretty, too.

As the trail gets steeper the rails become anchored in concrete and made of metal.  It's cold and wet so you might want gloves of some kind.

It was a really nice visit.  Picnic tables are available and so are restrooms.