cascades national recreation trail

What a beautiful hiking trail and waterfall. 4.77 miles round trip. The creek is within eye sight the entire way. Watch the stone steps when it gets close to freezing. Get there early before the parking lot fills up.

We decided to take this hike to see the ice on the Cascade Falls. A warm Saturday in January was a great day for the adventure. A concern about being senior citizens alone in the National Forest did not become an issue as the trail is well visited even in winter. Parking was adequate but full by the time we were finishing. Lots of folks and dogs making the hike.Took the lower trail up to the falls. Very scenic and hugs close to the stream. The rocks and ice were spectacular. Be advised that there were many icy steps and rocks. Potential for a fall is real.After a 2 mile slow and careful hike, the falls were beautiful with ice over the ledges. Well worth the effort.Took the upper trail back down. An old 4WD trail, much less technical the the lower trail. Adequate clean restrooms, benches along the trail. Our fee was covered by the National Parks senior pass.

I'm writing this review as I'm a local here in Pembroke. The Cascade Falls is definitely a great stop for anyone exploring the area. There is adequate parking for many vehicles, although in the summer time its a busy stop for many. The Park Service has a nice restroom facility and interpretive signage near the area where the trail begins for the hike to the falls. You have two options traveling to the falls, the trail known to some as the upper or left trail is the best for anyone new to hiking or are infrequent hikers. The trail goes up and down quite a bit, a good bit of stamina and leg exercise will be needed to do this somewhat comfortably. The right side is rather rocky and slippery if its been raining or snowing, careful. Also take along water to keep hydrated especially during the spring, summer months. The falls are beautiful, there are benches to sit on to take a break or have a sandwich, etc. Word of caution the falls looking inviting and is beautiful, be careful on the obvious flat rock areas that many want to walk on near the actual falls, they are very very slippery, use caution. Stay a while and enjoy the falls, it is something to see. And as you walk back to the parking area its for the most part downhill, notice the various types of trees, also the different birds, its a peaceful quiet place to visit, you'll be glad you stopped here. Enjoy !!

For three bucks you get to exercise your legs and stamina. Its a great treat to see the falls at the end. There is a small cascade a few thousand feet before the big one.

My husband and I hiked this last year and really enjoyed it so we decided to invite our 14 year-old teenage daughter. Although, she thought she would rather be anywhere else than hiking with her parents, we were all pleasantly surprised on how much she enjoyed the hike. We hiked the trail to the right, which is a bit more challenging but made the waterfall feel more like it was "earned" then took the easier trail down the trail to exit. Love having both options. Great hike for anyone who is able to comfortable walk for a couple hours.

This is a beautiful trail but it is two miles UP the mountain to the falls. If you are older (like me) and not in the best of shape (like me), please be sure and take the upper trail. I tried to make it to the falls via the lower trail. It is VERY rocky and hard to walk. The upper trail is wider and much easier to travel upon (I used it to get down the mountain.) When they tell you it is two miles up to the fall, it is not a joke. But it is beautiful. Even if you only want a nice spot for a picnic, you can go to the entrance to the trails and find picnic tables, grills and easy access to the creek. There are also restrooms nearby. A very lovely hidden gem off of Rt. 460. It does have a fee of $3 per car to enter the area.

For a taste of the mountains of Southwest Virginia the Cascades trail and waterfall is a wonderful experience. The trail travels upward through the canopy of deciduous trees to a big beautiful waterfall and pool where you can dangle your toes in the water and even swim under the falls.

This was a 3 hour drive from my house, but I'd seen pictures of the fall and just had to come. It was a Saturday and finding a place to park was a chore. When I go back, I will try for a weekday to avoid the crowds. We took the upper trail as most of the kids were taking the lower trail. We've had a lot of snow this winter, so Little Stony Creek was full of crystal clear, fast moving water. The scenes along the walk were beautiful. Even on the upper trail you could see the creek during the entire trek. I didn't think the trail was difficult, but it was quite wet. The final approach to the waterfall included flooded sections of trail and water flowing freely over the steps leading up to the observation area. There is also an Upper Cascades Falls 1/2 mile upstream. Next time I will try to see it as well.

My husband and I have walked the trail to the waterfalls and love it. It is a nice 1 mile mike and you an either take the pathway beside the creek or the trail which is sorta for 4 wheelers. I recommend the pathway up and the trail back. Just a beautiful place to enjoy the day.

We hiked Cascade Falls and the scenery was beautiful. We took the scenic path and hiked by the waterfall the whole time. The big rocks, many little waterfalls and autumn leaves made it a beautiful hike.