Crabtree Falls
- Height
- 1200 ft
- Hike
- 2.7 mi round trip
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Allowed
Crabtree Falls drops about 1200 ft on Crabtree Creek in Nelson County, Virginia. Reaching it is a 2.7 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
USFS: leaving the trail has caused numerous fatalities on algae-slick rock. Stay on trail; alcohol prohibited; no horses or bicycles. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 1200 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | Five major cascades totaling about 1,200 ft of drop (USFS); series of cascades, not a single free fall. |
| Water type | Waterfall basin |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 2.7 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | Day-use entrance off SR 56 (Crabtree Falls Highway) east of the Blue Ridge Parkway underpass; Nelson County, VA (not the NC Crabtree Falls). |
| Parking | Crabtree Falls Day Use Area parking off SR 56; vault toilets; no potable water; picnic tables. |
| Fee | $3 per vehicle/day (card machine or cash/check tube); Interagency and GW&J day-use passes OK. |
| Hours | Open year round; day use only, sunrise to sunset. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Wheelchair access | First waterfall overlook is universally accessible via a short paved trail. |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service (George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | No |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Vault toilets; potable water not available. |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Crabtree Falls open?
USFS: leaving the trail has caused numerous fatalities on algae-slick rock. Stay on trail; alcohol prohibited; no horses or bicycles. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Open year round; day use only, sunrise to sunset.
How tall is Crabtree Falls?
Crabtree Falls drops about 1200 ft.
How long is the hike to Crabtree Falls?
It's a 2.7 mi hike round trip. The road in is paved. Day-use entrance off SR 56 (Crabtree Falls Highway) east of the Blue Ridge Parkway underpass; Nelson County, VA (not the NC Crabtree Falls). Parking: Crabtree Falls Day Use Area parking off SR 56; vault toilets; no potable water; picnic tables.
Do you need a reservation for Crabtree Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Crabtree Falls?
The fee is $3 per vehicle/day (card machine or cash/check tube); Interagency and GW&J day-use passes OK.
When is Crabtree Falls flowing?
Five major cascades totaling about 1,200 ft of drop (USFS); series of cascades, not a single free fall.
What facilities are at Crabtree Falls?
Restrooms and picnic sites. No drinking water. Vault toilets; potable water not available.
Photos
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
Crabtree Falls is inside George Washington and Jefferson National Forest .
Just outside: Priest Wilderness (0.2 mi) .
Sources
2
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/gwj/recreation/crabtree-falls-day-use-area (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, waterfall.heightFt / flowNote, access.wheelchairAccess, access.fee, access.hours, hazardNote, rules.dogs, access.amenities, access.trailhead, waterfall.ephemeral false)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabtree_Falls (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterbodyName)
More: Virginia waterfalls