Crabtree Falls

Crabtree Meadows and Falls are located at Milepost 339.5 of Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

As you enter Crabtree Meadows, you will find a gift shop and a restaurant. Crabtree Meadows marks the last stretch of the Parkway through the Blue Ridge Mountains before it turns westward into the Blacks, Craggies, Pisgahs and Balsams before entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In the early summer, the Meadows becomes a showplace of wildflowers.

The trail to the 70 foot waterfalls begins from the parking lot beside the camping ground. It is 2.5 miles loop trail and strenuous. Take the road to the campground which is 1/4 of a mile. Go past the information and registration booth and turn right into the parking lot for the falls. Take the trail from the parking area to a ‘T’ intersection. The trail to the right is shorter and is 0.9 miles. It’s mostly downhill to the waterfall but while returning be prepared for a good cardio exercise. There is a bridge over the creek in front of the falls offering good views. You can return by the same way(0.9 miles) or continue through the loop trail (1.6 miles) to the parking area. The loop trail continues along Crabtree Creek.

You can read about the different Waterfalls of North Carolina here.