Hike This Popular US Trail To Reach A Stunning 70ft Waterfall

Along North Carolina's section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Creek flows over a rock cliff, creating the picturesque Crabtree Falls. The Crabtree Falls hiking trail is one of the most popular trekking routes along the parkway, according to the Parks Department. It is also ranked as number one on the AllTrails app for the Blue Ridge Parkway area, as decided by the reviews of previous hikers. The trailhead even had to be rerouted to accommodate enough parking for the visitors.

This 70-foot wonder is the tallest waterfall on the parkway and it can be easily reached from the parking lot. It is a favorite with photographers as the falls are particularly impressive after it rains. Nature lovers and birdwatchers will also enjoy the opportunity to hear or see wildlife such as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and barred owls, which can all be found here. The waterfall is named after the pink crabapple blossoms, which bloom here in May.

The parking lot for the falls is at Crabtree Meadows Campground, which is located at milepost 339.5 on the parkway. Makers mecca Asheville is the nearest city, which is just over an hour's drive away.

There are two routes to take to Crabtree Falls — one is 1.8 miles to go to the falls and back, and the whole loop is 2.5 to 3 miles long. The loop is rated as "moderate" on AllTrails.

Blue Ridge Parkway is usually open from May until October. However, the parks department recommends checking for road closures before visiting, as they can be affected by the weather. As the rocks near the falls are wet and slippery, they do not recommend standing on them.

There are 71 tent spots and 22 RV sites at the Crabtree campground for those who want to stay here in season. Some of them are bookable online and the rest are first come, first serve, so it may be worth arriving early to secure one. It has toilets, drinking water, and picnic tables, as well as access to the falls.

There are over 369 miles of trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so this decision may be as tough as the hike itself. Other popular trailheads are Humpback Rocks, Otter Creek and James River, Peaks of Otter, Roanoke Valley, and Rocky Knob. Waterfall lovers may also want to add Linville Falls to their walking itinerary.

Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is an experience in itself. It is 469 miles long and can be accessed through several different highways along the way. The parkway stretches from Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina's Great Smokey Mountains with views of the Appalachian peaks on the journey. It's also a great place to go "leaf peeping" as the trees start to change color for fall in October. As well as hiking and driving, visitors can camp, cycle, motorbike, raft, kayak, canoe, zipline or tube their way around this incredible national park area.