Is The Little Stony Falls Trail Repaired

The Cascades/Barney's Wall - Pembroke, Virginia


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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
8.4 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Resource:	v.0 hours plus a half hr for tiffin 1,600 ft Topo Hike Trails Map (PDF) Pembroke Weather Forecast Garmin (GDB), Gaia/Trails App (GPX) (What's this?) 3D View of Route
From:	Park at the restroom and information center at the Cascades Recreation Area. Fee parking. 37.35337, -eighty.59969

Near Pembroke, in Southwest VA, is i of the near beautiful waterfall and creek trails in Virginia in our opinion. The hike up the lower trail is i photo opportunity after the other with the trail never going farther than 30 yards from Piffling Stony Creek before finally reaching the amazing lower falls.

See HU Note below about directions to the Upper Falls sent to united states by i of our hikers. This hike tin be done every bit a iv mile round trip to the 69' pes lower falls (800' Elev proceeds) or equally an 8 mile round trip (1600' Elev gain) taking in the lower falls and Barney's Wall to run across 700' foot sheer cliffs with great views of the New River Valley. This is a very popular hike on the weekends so come up early, do the falls, so continue to Barney'southward Wall for a niggling more solitude.

HU Note: For our hikers who are movie buffs, this hike is minutes away from Mount Lake Conservancy & Hotel where much of "Dirty Dancing" was filmed. We stopped here for dinner on the mode home, great nutrient and service!

The un-blazed trail begins to the right of the bathroom and Information Center at the far end of the parking lot. Very quickly you will make it at the first span. We chose to go across the bridge and have the lower trail as we heard it was the more picturesque of the two trails. Yous could return on the upper trail if desired to get a different perspective of the creek. The lower trail weaves its way alongside the creek for a mile before reaching the second bridge and rejoining the upper trail. Proceed your eyes open for remnants (stairs to no where) of the trail that were destroyed in the 1996 overflowing. From the 2nd bridge to the lower falls is most ane mile with many more places to stop and take photos. The lower falls will come into view equally you lot pass a big boulder. Your time to practice this trail will depend largely on how often yous cease and how much time you spend "soaking" in the views and possibly taking in a dip in the big pool below the falls. This is the turn-effectually point if yous decide not to continue to Barney's Wall. Retrace your steps downwards either the Lower Trail or accept the Upper Trail when you become to that intersection at the 2nd big bridge y'all crossed before.

To continue to Barney'due south Wall, head up the wooden stairs taking a left onto the trail instead of a right to the falls observation deck. In about 200 yards you volition reach an open surface area with a sign post directing you to the Salvation Trail. It is a burn down road for 0.4 miles. At the fork in the road carry left and take another left in most fifty yards at the Conservancy Trail sign mail. Information technology is more of a trail from this betoken on and is Yellow-blazed. This is a pleasant uphill walk in the wood, crossing a small-scale creek and finally reaching the Barney'due south Wall intersection on the left in 1.1 miles. The sign was leaning against a tree and then go on alert as information technology could be easy to miss. The spur trail to Barney'due south Wall (0.iv miles) is too yellow-blazed and passes through a few seemingly healthy stands of Hemlocks, a rare treat in VA these days! Just before the cliffs y'all will see a campsite (not sure of the camping rules since this state is conservancy property), the trail bears to the right of the military camp. You lot will have a great view of the New River Valley looking over towards Blacksburg. If you have no fear of heights, lie on your stomach and expect over the edge to get an idea of how tall the cliffs are. Equally always, be conscientious near cliffs, specially when wet. This is a great place for lunch, you may fifty-fifty have company (Eastern Fence Cadger) and if you listen carefully towards the southward-east, you volition hear the roar of Little Stony Creek.

From this bespeak turn around and retrace your route back past the lower falls and to The Cascades parking surface area.

HU Notation: There is a 2d set of falls about 0.5 miles beyond the lower falls. The upper falls can exist reached by standing forth the trail that runs to the left of the lower falls (the aforementioned one you used to reach Barney's Wall). Exactly one half mile above the lower falls in that location is an unmarked only well established path on the right that leads downhill. You should be able to hear the falls from the turn and they are located nearly a tenth of a mile down the colina. (Photo and directions courtesy of Kyle K.)

Tardily May

Three Seasons (Courtesy of Laura U)

Video

Cascades/Barney's Wall

The Cascades/Barney's Wall Hike Comments

Archived Comments

By: John	Rating:	Engagement of Hike: Saturday, October 26, 2019
The loftier point of the hike is the 66 human foot waterfall, just I find the entire trail next to Little Stony Creek is an of import aspect that makes the hike great. The way the creek winds through the valley creates many open looks with the forest providing an arching tunnel. The lower trail has been fixed and is reopened for hiking. Barneys Wall and the Upper Cascades past themselves are good view points though the trail to get to them may only be in a tunnel of trees, but they can provide additional confinement to juxtapose against the typically busy Cascades trails. The woods walk was dainty on a peak leaf day and I hit it correct on this fourth dimension around. For full report, see: https://travel2walk.com/2019/10/27/virginia-hikes-cascades-trail-barneys-wall-october-26-2019/

By: Ray	Rating:	Engagement of Hike: Sat, August four, 2018
I hiked this back in college and thought it would be fun to take the family. When we arrived the lower trail was closed due to washout (after reading reviews, apparently this was a couple years ago). We took the high trail to the 2nd bridge, and and then took the depression trail. Simply in one case at that place was an area where nosotros had to climb over a fallen tree's roots where the path was gone, but the rest of the trail was in fine condition. We left the parking lot about 10am, and there were about three other people nosotros saw on the trail. When we go to the falls, the h2o is common cold. Nosotros had just received 5 days worth of storms, then the falls were roaring. No one got in the water except us, which was overnice. Nonetheless, when we got washed with swimming and taking pictures (about 30 minutes), it went from half-dozen people at the falls to xx with more than coming in. We had a vii yr old with united states, and tried to make the trip to Barney's Wall. The trail was easy plenty to follow and all the signs where there. (Cheers HikingUpward for the directions - I had been to the Cascades about 10 times and never knew this was there). While the hike is only 4 miles there, it is a decent uphill climb and ultimately proved too much for our daughter after the trip to the falls, swimming in the cold h2o, and then continuing onward. We turned back about a half mile abroad from the cliff (only on the other side of the stream you walk through) so never made information technology the entire mode. We're heading back in a calendar month with just the adults to camp on the stone ledge, so I'll update. In summation: Trip to the lower falls - Definitely family unit friendly, but get early to avoid the crowds. Be prepared for cooler water than the beach or New River. Trip to Barney'southward Wall - Decently marked trails, just a bit more strenuous of a hike than to the lower falls. Wouldn't advise for the younger kids.

Past: D	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sat, August thirteen, 2016
The clarification mentions that above the Cascades there is "conservancy country" then camping ground rules are unclear. That is all even so Jefferson National Woods, Eastern Split up Ranger District. Dispersed camping ground is allowed.

By: Medic G	Rating:	Date of Hike: Monday, Baronial 1, 2016
I would agree with the ratings of this hike.� The lower falls are pretty crowded and this is a VERY popular hike.� The upper falls are worth the "side trip".� As stated, to go to the upper falls, you accept the unmarked side trail to the correct.� The side trail to the upper falls looks similar a Y in the trail when y'all are hiking up the burn service road towards Barney's wall.� If you lot achieve the trail marker indicating a left turn off of the burn service road, y'all have but missed the unmarked side trail. Similar I said, the hike to the lower falls was pretty crowded and the lower falls were crowded.� We went a little earlier in the morning and avoided the larger afternoon crowd we saw on our return.� Once nosotros were past the lower falls, the oversupply did thin out and we didn't see too many people.� We saw a group of about 6 overnight hikers at the upper falls who were in the process of leaving and passed nearly eight people along the trail to Barney'south wall.� We did have Barney's Wall to ourselves when we were there. The "lower trail" from the parking surface area to the lower falls was pretty clammy/wet.� Lookout you footing on the slick rocks!� I took a skid and autumn on the return trip landing pretty hard on one of the rocks.

Past: Medic Chiliad	Rating:	Appointment of Hike: Mon, August ane, 2016
Sorry, one additional annotate.� The trail signage to Barney's Wall was all in place.� The description stated a sign for the side trail to Barney'southward Wall was leaning on a tree.� This was not the instance when nosotros went.� All trails, with the exception of the side trail to the upper falls, were well marked.

Past: Harry	Rating:	Date of Hike: Saturday, July 16, 2016
This hike is not very difficult and a popular spot for VT students. The main falls become rather crowded, nevertheless, I accept never seen anyone at the upper falls. You can actually climb down the upper falls. Beyond the river at the elevation of the upper falls in that location is a adept surface area to hang a hammock. I accept friends who accept gotten to an boosted waterfall further upstream past walking upwards the river/bushwhacking simply I have yet to explore further upwardly.

By: Allen Leibrand	Rating:	Date of Hike: Lord's day, December xx, 2015
There was a very light dusting of snowfall today. The hike was great.

By: Zachary Robbins	Rating:	Engagement of Hike: Dominicus, August nine, 2015
I hiked the Lower Trail to The Cascades, then went to Upper Cascades before climbing to Barney's Wall and continuing onto Butt Mount fire tower. Fifty-fifty though at that place were 50+ cars past eleven:30 AM, I saw inappreciably any people on the Lower Trail. I highly recommend the Lower Trail, it stays by the creek the entire way and passes past numerous small waterfalls and a slot gorge. The Upper Trail people miss everything. Even with drought-like atmospheric condition The Cascades were spectacular. I've seen pictures with a lot more water, it looks improve with less water because the slanted lower section is more distinguishable. Upper Cascades is easy to find, and at that place is a scramble path to the base of operations that is like shooting fish in a barrel. Merely 2 other people were there. The climb to Barney's Wall was much steeper than expected, but the vertical cliff is quite stunning. I only passed ii groups of people here. I continued on the Conservancy Trail and picked up the forest road to Butt Mount. At the summit is an old burn tower, you cannot safely become to the tiptop because nearly stairs have been removed. There are cliffs on the southwest side with views of Pearisburg and the New River, this might be chosen Lookoff Stone. I went searching for the bodily topo summit Lookoff Rock, I highly advise even thinking almost this unless you have a GPS and full bushwhacking gear. Otherwise it was a nifty hike!

By: Gabe Anaya	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, June 21, 2015
I arrived at 7:00 AM and the park was almost completely empty all the mode to the falls (disallowment the fisherman at the end and 1 or two people all the way up). The lower trail in the forenoon light of summer has almost a mythical experience, particularly when there is no i around. The hike to Barney's Wall is pretty much a straight uphill climb, though you go to enter a considerably unlike ecozone on the way up. The view from the cliff is spectacular and well worth the climb though. I took the trip to the upper falls after Barney'south Wall and it was well worth it - it was nearly deserted and was the perfect spot to jump in the h2o afterwards such a grueling hike. Once I returned to the lower falls around noon, the scene was completely unlike. There were probably 30-40 people pond around the falls, and dozens more than were coming up the trail. Thanks everyone for the suggestions to get in that location early on...information technology is definitely worth it. The parking lot was a similar story - information technology was full at near 2:00 when I left and in that location was a line of almost twenty cars waiting to make it. All-in-all this was one of the most cute and peaceful hikes I've taken on the Eastward Coast, though getting there very early is the cardinal to making this such a wonderful feel.

By: Master Hikers Meetup Grouping	Rating:	Engagement of Hike: Saturday, April eighteen, 2015
Led a grouping of 7 hikers and English Lab to Cascades and then Barneys Wall.�� Notation: Parking lot was total when we arrived at 1130 and was xxx minute look to go both vehicles parked, but well organized past the Pour parking attendants.� Took a dip to absurd off in a pool merely below the 2nd bridge and water was very refreshing.

View all 22 archived reviews for the The Cascades/Barney's Wall hike