Shenandoah and the Northern Blue Ridge
19 waterfalls · Page County, Madison County, Rockingham County, Warren County, Rappahannock County, Greene County, Albemarle County, and Augusta County
Shenandoah National Park covers the crest of the northern Blue Ridge, and dozens of hollows drop steeply from Skyline Drive to the Shenandoah Valley on one side and the Piedmont on the other. Dark Hollow Falls in Madison County cascades over greenstone along a moderate trail of about 1.4 miles, and Lower Whiteoak Falls and Overall Run Falls are among the park's favorites. South River Falls in Greene County and Jones Run Falls are farther south along the Drive. Most of these falls lie below their trailheads, so hikes go downhill first and climb back out on the return.
Start with: Dark Hollow Falls, South River Falls, Overall Run Falls, Lower Whiteoak Falls, Rose River Falls
Central Blue Ridge and the James River Highlands
7 waterfalls · Nelson County, Amherst County, Rockbridge County, and Botetourt County
South of Shenandoah, the Blue Ridge Parkway follows the crest through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Crabtree Falls in Nelson County is the highlight, a series of five major cascades and many smaller ones that together drop about 1,200 feet. Panther Falls in Amherst County is a swimming hole on the Pedlar River, popular in summer. Apple Orchard Falls in Botetourt County is a tall, fanning cascade in a cove near the Parkway, and Rockbridge County holds smaller falls in the hills around Buena Vista and the James River.
Start with: Crabtree Falls, Panther Falls, Apple Orchard Falls, Statons Creek Falls, Glenn Falls
Alleghany Highlands and New River Valley
9 waterfalls · Alleghany County, Bath County, Giles County, Craig County, and Montgomery County
In the Valley and Ridge, long sandstone ridges are separated by limestone valleys, and waterfalls form where streams cut through the ridges. Falling Spring Falls in Alleghany County is fed by warm springs and drops over a limestone cliff. In Giles County, The Cascades, on Little Stony Creek near Pembroke, is one of the most popular hikes in southwest Virginia, ending at a broad fall in a rocky amphitheater. The Falls of Dismal in Giles County is a wide, low fall with a swimming hole. Craig, Bath and Montgomery counties have smaller, quieter falls in national forest.
Start with: Falling Spring Falls, Cascades, Falls of Dismal, Blue Suck Falls, Big Falls
Southwest Virginia and the Southern Blue Ridge
10 waterfalls · Russell County, Scott County, Washington County, Patrick County, Grayson County, Floyd County, and Franklin County
Southwest Virginia combines Appalachian Plateau sandstone with the high southern Blue Ridge. Tank Hollow Falls in Russell County spills in a wide, lacy sheet over sandstone ledges near Cleveland, and Abrams Falls in neighboring Washington County, in the ridges near the Tennessee line, is another local favorite. Scott County adds one more fall in this rugged corner of the state. To the east, Patrick, Floyd, Franklin and Grayson counties sit on the Blue Ridge plateau, where streams fall off the eastern escarpment toward the Piedmont. Patrick County, near Stuart, holds three listed falls, and Grayson County lies near Mount Rogers, the state's highest point.
Start with: Tank Hollow Falls, Abrams Falls, Big Falls, Monkey Falls, Styles Falls
