crabtree falls

Crabtree Falls is 1000-foot cascading waterfall in the George Washington National Forest. Although you can't see the entire thing at once, all combined, it is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States. Note that there is a $3 day use fee to park at the recreation area, payable at self-serve kiosks. Don't forget to bring small bills for the fee. From the trailhead, the Crabtree Falls Trail (#526) follows the waterfall all the way up. The trail is 1.7 miles from the start to the top of the falls and includes a number of switchbacks and stairs. The first part of the trail is paved and handicapped-accessible leading to the base of the lowest portion of the falls. After this point, the trail becomes more difficult, heading up along the waterfall via switchbacks and steps. Please stay on the trail while hiking up to prevent erosion and environmental harm as well as for personal safety - numerous fatalities have occurred here from people getting off trail and falling. Altogether, there are five distinct major cascades and countless smaller ones over the course of the waterfall and a number of overlooks to view them. At the top, there is another overlook. You can't see the waterfall from here, but the views of the surrounding mountains are gorgeous. We visited in the winter. Although there was no snow on the ground, the air temperature was cold enough that much of the waterfall had frozen and it was absolutely beautiful.

My family went on a perfect fall day to enjoy the waterfall and leaf change. The nice thing about this particular fall is that it is accessible to a certain point; however, after the first spot to look at the falls it becomes a much harder walk. My younger two and I stopped at the second look out and my husband and 8 year old walked a little further. They said that the path became much more narrow and steep after leaving us. The biggest issue on our visit was the amount of people. It was extremely busy which made it difficult because we had to stop multiple times to let people past our short-legged children. The path was very congested. Multiple people had dogs with them so if you are not into dogs be prepared to see them. There was no issue with "presents" left behind though. The parking was rather interesting on the day we were there because of the large number of people there. It was $3 to park so make sure you take cash due to it being an envelope system which is actively monitored. There were multiple people that were getting park tickets for not paying to park. There is an envelope pick-up/drop close to the entrance as well as close to the path entrance. Rough bathrooms are at the start of the path to the falls, but they are rough so don't expect wonderful smells or super clean. There are picnic tables so a packed lunch is a nice addition. Also, make sure you take a minute to walk down the bridge on the other side of the parking. It is a beautiful view too which is now overlooked by most due to changing the parking/entrance. We did not have any issues with it being slippery on the day we were there (we stayed on the path though); however, we have heard of several people being injured due to venturing off the path.Make sure that you look at a map before you set out because GPS does NOT work once you get within about 3 miles of the park. The nice thing is once you don't have signal you end up staying on the same road and the park is marked; however, it would be rather un-nerving if you didn't expect it. The road back is very winding and narrow. A great addition to the waterfall is driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway!Overall, my kids truly enjoyed the day.

This is a fun hike with great views of several waterfalls. Not too difficult. Kids would have no problem. A little crowded on weekends.

I have made 4 trips to see the falls and have yet to make it to the top. After seeing the photos that have been posted it must be awesome in the fall with the leaf colors. I have enjoyed the area below the parking section with the bridge that was brought in from NY (See photo). The hike up is pretty strenuous so be prepared!

It's a long way up and I didn't make it. The trial is well maintained. I imagine it can get crowded during peak vacation time. Bring water. You also must pay $3 to park and put the cash into an envelope then into a lock box. So plan to have $3 with you.

It is a long way up the mountain with very nice views of the falls. View at the top is great and worth the climb. Cool place.

Easy access to the lower falls, more spectacular the higher you go. Trail gets more challenging towards the top. Would like to be there when the water was flowing more, but still very beautiful!

It's a workout for sure, but was worth every moment!!! Bring lunch for the top and water! Don't forget a camera! Great trip!

Very nice way to spend an afternoon. Saw all different ages, sizes, shapes, of hikers. There are many places to stop and take a break if you need to. It would be great if there was a little snack shack at the top! That way, we wouldn't have to lug water bottles/snacks with us. It is a pretty hike and we will definitely do it again!

Good waterfall; great view; Not good for old people or with a child; Pack lot of water and energy drinks

The trail is one hour up and another down. A child with some waking experience can easily do it. For others, it might be enough to do half way. The walk is steep.Safety: railings are in arbitrary places, so stay with your child at all times. Don't let them venture ahead alone. Lovely views, fauna, and flora. Amazing! Get there before 10 AM if you don't want crowds.

A very peaceful hike up an amazing waterfall. The hike to the top is about 2 miles. The waterfall itself is said to be a 1200 ft cascading waterfall which is the largest east of the Mississippi. There are many viewpoints along the way to stop and see the water. There is also a $3 fee to park unless you have a NPS pass. It was a great hike that my whole family loved. We will definitely return again.

Just hiked Crabtree with my family and my brother in-law and his family and it was really amazing. Age range for the kids 18, 16, 13 and 7 years-old and all were happy....that in itself made the hike enjoyable. Definitely a good steep trail that you need to mind your footing on, but the pace and vista stops were really great. My daughter kept asking if there was a payoff view and boy-o-boy there was a terrific view up top. Highly recommend this climb to anyone, experienced climber or not. $3 fee for the park service is totally worth it, but pay a bit more so this spot will be available for a long time to come!

This was a nice hike of about 2 miles to the falls. It gets very steep at points and has a combination of steps and rugged terrain. There are a few terraces to stop at and rest and enjoy the views. It is a little stenuous but its worth it if you can make it to the top. There are markers along the way to let you know how far youve gone on the 1.7 mile trek. Its definately recommended you have good shoes and plenty of water. The views are amazing and you can see some wildlife as well the hike is located in the goerge washington national park. Be careful of the drive in to the park. The roads are very windy with large hills and are one lane eachdirectionn very fun day all around. Kids will love it.

We hiked this on Father's day with our teenagers. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees. There are quite a few stairs, but plenty of spots to stop and rest. We even packed a lunch and ate near one of the views of the falls. Great hike.