Crabtree Falls Hike: A Waterfall Trail in Nelson County, Virginia

Often described as the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, Crabtree Falls drops approximately 1,200 feet across five major cascades.

The Crabtree Falls Trail climbs alongside the waterfall, passing several observation areas before reaching an upper overlook.

From the upper overlook, hikers are rewarded with sweeping views across the Tye River Valley in Nelson County, Virginia.

My hike measured 3.3 miles round trip with approximately 1,120 feet of elevation gain. Allow two to three hours for the full hike.

Crabtree Falls puts on a good show, with tumbling water visible during much of the climb along burbling Crabtree Creek.

Visitors who do not want to complete the full climb can follow a short paved path to the wheelchair-accessible Lower Falls overlook near the parking area.

Crabtree Falls Hike at a Glance
Length	3.3 miles
Difficulty	Moderate
Trail Type	Out-and-Back
Elevation Gain	1,122 feet
Duration	2.5-3 hours
Terrain	A mix of dirt trails and stone or wooden steps
Dog-Friendly	Yes
Fee	$3/vehicle
Driving Directions	Click Here

Crabtree Falls Parking

Crabtree Falls is in the Crabtree Falls Day Use Area in George Washington National Forest. The day-use fee is $3 per vehicle, payable by cash, check, or credit card.

The physical address for the day use area is 11581 Crabtree Falls Highway in Montebello. It’s a stone’s throw from the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. 

America the Beautiful passes are accepted. Follow instructions at the payment station. Display any required receipt or pass information on your dashboard.

Proceed into the day use area. For parking, there is both an upper lot and a lower lot. The upper parking lot is closest to the trailhead, but not by much.

Near the trailhead, there are vault toilets, a massive trail kiosk, and several benches. The site is open year-round for day use from sunrise to sunset.

Lower Falls Overlook: An Accessible Waterfall View

The first Crabtree Falls overlook is wheelchair-accessible by way of a short paved trail. In fact, Lower Falls is just 500 feet from the trailhead.

The viewing platform offers a close-up look at the rushing water and surrounding rock formations.

For those continuing on, a trail sign directs you to the right for the switchback-laden Crabtree Falls Trail that rises to several waterfall overlooks.

Hiking from Lower Falls to the Upper Overlooks

At the 0.3-mile mark, you’ll reach another observation deck, then a set of wooden stairs. At the 0.6-mile mark, there’s an area to walk out for waterfall views.

In a few more steps, there is another wooden overlook, and thankfully, a bench to sit for a spell before proceeding to the upper levels of Crabtree Falls.

At the 0.75-mile mark, you’ll see a small cave to the right of the trail. The opening was reportedly formed by fallen boulders and is especially popular with children.

After three more overlooks, a trail sign at the 1.4-mile mark identifies the final designated waterfall viewpoint.

At this point, you can either turn around or continue on another 0.3 mile to see what else there is to see. I was curious, so of course I pressed on to the end.

Tye River Valley Overlook

At the 1.7-mile mark, a bridge crosses Crabtree Creek above the falls.

Just beyond the bridge are a wooden overlook and a stone viewing area with expansive mountain vistas.

The views across the Blue Ridge Mountains and Tye River Valley are spectacular. I only wished I could have been there for sunset. As it was, we arrived post-sunset.

As this is an out-and-back day hike in Central Virginia, simply re-trace your steps to the parking area.

Crabtree Falls: Hike Options

Since there are so many waterfalls and cascades, it’s a snap to shorten this hike by re-tracing your steps once you’ve gotten your fill of the falls.

For more steps, you’ve got options, too. From the upper falls, tack on an extra 2.4 miles (out-and-back) by continuing to Crabtree Meadows.

From the Crabtree Meadows parking area, hikers can connect with additional trails, including routes for Spy Rock and The Priest.

How Long Does it Take to Hike Crabtree Falls?

Our hike took nearly two hours, including plenty of stops for photos. Most hikers should allow two to three hours for the full out-and-back route.

Historic Tye River Bridge

Before leaving the Crabtree Falls Day Use Area, don’t miss the 110-foot-long wooden bridge spanning the Tye River.

The $62,000 arch served as the starting point for the hike until the mid-1980s. Shipped from New York in one piece, it was crane-lifted into place in 1978.

Today, the bridge is decorative and sits just off the lower parking lot near the entrance to the day-use area.

Crabtree Falls is a beauty. If you’re looking for more waterfall hikes in Virginia, I’ve got you covered with nearly two dozen hikes to gushing waterfalls.