Great hike; lots of steps that make it a real workout! Amazing views on the way up; lots of places to stop and take pictures. It's best to arrive early. We got there at 7:15am and there were only a couple of people on the trail; by 9am, there were lots of people, which made it a little crowded. read more

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Beautiful falls. Hike seems longer than it is. Can get steep and slippery. Very enjoyable. We saw a few little trout in the stream. The rock formation/ cave is beautiful. Nice views. Lots of places to stop, sit, think and take pics. Directions in and out are rare. Need GPS cause there is no cell service even a few miles out on the road. Lots of friendly families and dogs. read more

Crabtree Falls - The lowest section of the falls. - Hiking Near Me - Montebello, Virginia

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Beautiful hike with amazing views, my husband and I went here for our first time! It was a warm but gloomy day. The hike kicked my butt!! Nice elevation and a lot of steps to take to get to the top. It is 3.4 miles all together but all very worth it! We did encounter 2 small snakes on our way down back to the parking lot but they are non venomous Plains garter snakes. We just got a stick to get them to move over the path so we can pass through. read more

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There is no question as to why this place has all 5 star reviews- this is absolutely the best hike I've been on in Central VA! The hike is nearly 4 miles total up and back down a mountain. The entire way, you've got the sound of the rushing waterfalls and the amazing, beautiful views! The hike itself is tough at times with many steps and some steep climbs, but overall it is accessible to most ages- I even did this hike while pregnant (though wouldn't necessarily suggest this for most pregnant women). The trail itself is well built with many steps and an obvious path. There are some rock climbs, but nothing treacherous. With all of the rain, there was a good amount of mud, but still not terrible. There is a really cool cave along the way, and of course the many lookouts to the waterfalls cannot be beat! At the top, stop for a picnic on the rocks that overlook a great mountain view! Don't miss this amazing hike in Central VA- these waterfalls are truly one of a kind! read more

Hiked the Crabtree Falls and it is a well maintained trail with many switchbacks. I would consider it a relatively short hike of 1.7 miles and moderately strenuous. FYI: limited to no cell service while you're there... Coming from Charlottesville, Google maps took us along a convoluted route that took longer to reach the Falls. I recommend taking route 64 to route 151 as a more direct route and along route 151, you will have food options as well as beer and wine options along the way which is a nice perk after your hike . The following note is one I copied from the internet and found interesting because I grew up during the time when the "Waltons" was popular: Crabtree Falls is also famous for its connection to the well-known television show The Waltons.  The falls were not shown on television, but the name was referred to several times during the life of the program, usually in reference to a Sunday outing. read more

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These falls are beautiful. It was worth the hike. It is a strenuous hike for the non athletic but well worth it. Highly recommend. Take a lot of pics. Life is too short not to go - be adventurous. read more

Hike up 1.7 miles along the falls. Amazing views at the top and nice to hear the sound of running water the entire hike. It is a bit challenging and steep if you are not in shape. Be careful with all the rocks and roots on the trail. Trail is easy to follow and there's several lookout points to rest and take pics. The last 1.1 miles after the 1.7 is also a nice trail, so for those that want a little extra exercise, go for it. End the hike with a trip to Devils Backbone Brewery for great beer and food! read more

Gorgeous! It took us about 2 hours to get to the top because we had a 4 year old and 18 month old, but happy that we made it! Views from the top are amazing! Pretty out of shape so my body is already feeling it. The pathways are pretty good but several spots were very muddy and it's uphill obviously. We live about an hour and a half away and it was so very worth the trip! Would love to come back in the different seasons. read more

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Beautiful falls, shady trail so bug spray is probably more likely to help your comfort than sunscreen. Recent ongoing work to improve trail. The distances are clearly marked. The outcroppings of rock are beautiful on the trail away from the falls. Lots of photo eye candy. read more

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Very enjoyable hike! It is 1.7 miles up the mountain, most of the way is very clean easy trails. There are a few spots that can get muddy and you have to watch your footing, but that comes with hiking. The views from the top are spectacular, and well worth the effort. We arrived at 1 and there was very little parking. read more

Amazing views, but not for the faint of heart..lol. You're traveling uphill along rocky, slippery terrain and only a few feet from the edge (sometimes, without guard rails). There's limited parking, so get there early; and make sure you use the bathroom beforehand. There's one on site, but it's basically a wood enclosed portable potty. The smells hits you at the door!!! read more

This place is magnificent! A must see if you are in the area and enjoy the outdoors even just a little. This is a place we always bring our out of town guests to if the weather is nice. Many waterfalls in the area require a decent hike in order to see them, but not this place. After you park you are only 200 yards or so from the base where you have a decent view. The first view point is a very easy walk. There is a lot of paved parking in the area, but it does fill up on a nice day. You can continue upward for a 3 mile hike to visit other viewing areas, but we usually only make it to the first one. Dogs are welcome and the hike is easier enough for just about anyone. There are picnic tables around the area near the creek that the falls flow into for a nice lunch. We usually head a few miles down the road to the little country store though that has great chili and soup though. This is a great place to bring friends or for a great day date. Enjoy! read more

Beautiful views from the top! The climb is a bit steep - you ascend over 1,000 feet but it is in switchbacks so it's doable. Took about 1.5 hours to go up, but much much easier coming down! The bathrooms are atrocious. read more

This was a fun hike. It wiped us out though. Despite its 1.7 mile path, the uphill nature did a toll on us. There is an even split of smooth paths and very rock paths. The scenery can't be beat with great views of the falls and the surrounding mountains. Definitely recommend. read more

Crabtree Falls - Hiking Near Me - Montebello, Virginia

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BEAUTIFUL falls! I've done this hike several times, and it never ceases to amaze me. It's kind of steep going up, but there are stairs most of the way, and it's a relatively short distance to the top. Plenty of places to stop and take a break right next to the falls. This hike is very popular and highly trafficked, so there's not a lot of solitude, but every avid hiker should do this at least once! My dog loves it as well! read more

This is one of my top favorite hikes in a very long time. The trail is kept nicely, it's easy to find and it's extremely rewarding once you climb your way to the top. I was actually more impressed with the waterfalls as we climbed up, rather than from the top. There is a much warmer and inclusive feel with all the nature surrounding you as you make your way up. There were some tough spots for those who may have trouble balancing on wooden logs etc. due to the muddy water (if you didn't want to step in that), but overall it was easy to navigate. I can't wait to explore some more out there with more family & friends. read more

Nice place to go on a hike! There's plenty of parking and the fee is $3 per vehicle. The trails are well maintained and beautiful. Not a super long trail, but you'll definitely get your workout in as it gets quite elevated. There's a beautiful waterfall along the trail, though the water level's pretty low now. Plenty of trees, so it's nice and shady even under the hot sun. There are tiny caterpillars dangling from the trees, so keep an eye out. There are also bees that love to sting people. My boyfriend and at least 4 or 5 other hikers got stung coming down the trail. Still a pretty awesome trail though! read more

If you like hiking this is a pretty easy one to do and the view is amazing-- as many others have said. The hike is 1.7 miles and it took us an hour going up and 50mins going down. I felt that going up was pretty easy, coming back down felt harder though, not sure why. Make it an early trip if you want to avoid a big crow. We were there at 10:30am and there were plenty of people already. When we left, around 1pm, there were too many people. It is a good place to bring children and dogs but those who bring dogs please, please clean up after them! We encountered some smelly things that shouldn't have been part of the hike, specially in such a small path. I noticed some kids were wearing sandals and they looked in pain. Wear comfy outwear (unlike me who wore jeans) and comfy shoes for sure. Also, have $3 for the parking fee, pee if you can before going in here (their bathroom is super nasty and it didn't even have TP or hand sanitizer). read more

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Five star maybe six! This trail system is so well maintained and beautiful. Hiked to the top (1.7 miles) with my 12 year old and 7 year old who both loved it. My oldest son and I wore hiking shoes, but my wife and youngest did just fine in sneakers. Lot's of families and a few dogs along the way. Good places to stop and take in the views which were breathtaking. Cant recommend enough for a challenging, yet totally doable family hike. We didn't go past the 1.7 mile mark but did see a few venturing further. $3 parking fee so bring cash. There's a pay box at the entrance to the parking lot and at the trailhead. Bathroom facilities at the trailhead but didn't use them so no idea how clean. read more

This is a great winding trail along a beautiful stream of waterfalls. It does get a bit slippery, but there are rails and stairs at points. It wasn't too crowded when I went, but it was late in the fall. Great place to see fall leaves. read more

Tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. It takes about an hour and 30 min if you are not used to hiking to reach the top and about 1 hour coming down. Make sure you have plenty of water and snacks! Make sure you have your directions before hitting the highway and there is limited cell phone service up here in the mountains. I recommend Vito's Pizza on Hwy 29 to eat it. Amazing food and affordable prices. McD's etc is about all there is in Nelson Co also there is a food lion in Lovingston! read more

Great hike for the whole family. Yes, it is busy, but a lot of bang for your buck. Want some more solitude? Try the extensions beyond the upper falls. read more

Great quick hike it runs for about 2 miles and is very well marked with distance posts. Wonderful views and is well worth the steep terrain. If you struggle to climb stairs this is not the hike for you. Otherwise it is a breathtaking view physically and literally. Fall is an excellent time to see the vegetation beautiful hues of yellow and red. Great hike! read more

Great hike. Do it early in the morning to avoid other people. Plus a little spring time fog adds to the athmosphere

Great falls, scenic locale. My second time around, this time it is fall and the place is almost empty. Great place for a picnic and a hike.

This is a great hike for the family. Many rest spots and great views. https://youtu.be/K_a4vNFtjpU

The trail is broken down into sections which makes it achievable for many different levels of hikers. The beginning part of the trail is only 1.7 miles with lots of beautiful scenery (the waterfalls and overlooks). Much of it is uphill and parts are pretty steep. Once you get to the end of the 1.7 mi trail, I noticed many people turned around there. If you are up for a bit more of a challenge, you can make a right and take another trail that is very pleasant that will lead you all the way to Appalachian trail. This trail is about 1.6 miles and is less rocky and much flatter than the initial, more crowded trail. For those who are very daring, there is a 14 mile variation of this trail that includes jumping on the Appalachian trail, but that was too advanced for me. One star off for the massive amount of people everywhere. We did pick a nice Saturday to go, but until we got on the second half of the trail it was stop and go all the way up. read more

**A MUST DO** My husband and I took the hike to the top of the waterfall . It was a lot of work and at times a little hard but we kept telling ourselves we weren't giving up we were going to make it to the top which was 1.7 miles up. So glad we didn't give up and turn around it was so beautiful. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the top and probably around 45 mins to get back down. We got there at a great time not many people were there yet but on our way down lots of people were making the climb up. Bring water a good pair sneakers that you don't care to get muddy. Great time recommend to everyone!! read more

This is a hike that gets straight to the point. It's only about 3 miles total up and back where the beginning is straight up and back is straight down. Right when you begin you can see the waterfall which is beautiful as long as it isn't summer and dried out. I did this hike in December when there were very few other hikers and had the summit all to myself. There were spots of ice that were a small challenge to get around as the trail isn't too wide for most of the trip. I know this is a popular hike because of the falls but there are many signs that say to stay on the trail for various reasons. It can be strenuous if you are not used to hiking straight up. The trail is very well marked so you know how far is left to go. This hike also reminds me of Humpback Rock. I don't know if I would recommend this hike for children since the path is narrow in spots without railings. There is a 3 dollar fee there where you grab an envelope and fill it out so make sure you have a pen handy. There is no cell service so a little research to know your way in and out will better your trip. read more

This is a beautiful hike! Be careful though, in the winter and early spring, some parts on the trail can be icy. There are many ideal spots to take photos. This is a fun area that I hope to hike again next time I'm in the area! read more

Crabtree Falls was an unbelievable hike. The waterfalls as you climb the mountain are beautiful. When you reach the top, the view is breathtaking. It is very safe and family friendly. The hike is a good start for beginners. read more