Are you looking for a hike with lots of streams? If so, this is a hike you should do, and is one of the most popular hikes in the Jefferson N.F. You will either be right next to streams or within sight of a stream for about 90% of this hike. The highlight of the trail is the 200’ Apple Orchard Falls with a very nice viewing area constructed by the Forest Service in 2000. Shane “The Mountain Lab” joined us on this hike and true to Lab nature, he was wet most of the trip!!
There are some great camping spots within the first mile of the trail and a really good one near the end of the Cornelius Creek Trail just prior to the parking area. For such a short hike it has some of the best stream views of any hikes we have done in Virginia.
From the parking area take the bridge to the left of the kiosk to begin the hike on the blue blazed Apple Orchard Falls (AOF) Trail. In 0.2 miles you will come to an intersection, bear right and stay on the AOF Trail. About 1.0 mile later you will arrive at two bridges and another campsite, take the 2nd one over the creek continuing up on the AOF trail. The next 0.75 miles starts climbing more steeply until you reach Apple Orchard Falls. You will want to stop here and have lunch and get some good photos of the Falls.
Beyond the Falls you will start to climb a series of wooden stairs coming very quickly to the only overlook with a wooden bench of the whole circuit, and just beyond that another small waterfall. Go another 0.3 miles to the intersection of the Apple Orchard Falls Road (a seeded fire road) and take a right. Follow it 1.0 mile to the blue blazed Cornelius Creek Trail. The Fire Road bears to the right but stay straight to go on the Cornelius Creek Trail.
Follow the Cornelius Creek Trail for 2.2 miles to the parking area. The trail follows Cornelius Creek and will include two crossings. The creek was flowing well on our trip and made for difficult crossings and some wet feet. There are also some very good swimming holes on the way down. There are multiple places you will want to stop and take photos of the creek flowing over the rocks.
Warning: Be careful of the plentiful stinging nettles near the creeks and ticks on the fire road.
Note: An alternative parking area if all you only want to see the Falls is at Sunset Field, near Milepost 78.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is approximately 1.5 miles down to the Falls from Sunset Field.
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Reviews For The Apple Orchard Falls Hike (5 Most Recent)
I started from the Sunset Overlook on the BRPW, the trails were not to busy because of the recent rain i only saw one other person the whole day until the end of the hike. I went down the apple orchard trail and came back up the cornelius creek trail using the AT branch back to the AOT. My only suggestion would be to go the oppisite way if you want to save the falls for last. It was a Great hike very peaceful.
By:
Damien
Rating:
Date of Hike: Friday, March 11, 2011
DO NOT USE GOOGLE'S DIRECTIONS!!! They are wrong, and my girlfriend and I spent a long time trying to find the right way. Definitely use the directions posted in the other review.
Aside from this mishap, this was a great hike! Since we did it in the spring, the streams were full of water and the waterfall itself was great. It's a relatively short loop, and our camping spot was also really nice. I would definitely recommend it to someone looking for only a moderate work-out and lots of streams.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, July 10, 2010
Great Hike - did it as a backpacking trip with my daughter this weekend and we had a blast.
UPDATE TO DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:
VA-759 S IS CLOSED - YOU CANNOT TAKE VA-759 S FROM HOPPER CREEK ROAD TO THE TRAILHEAD. As this is how google maps will send you to the trailhead (at least if you are coming from Hampton Roads), the following update will probably help you.
FOREST SERVICE DIRECTIONS FOR HOW TO GET TO THE TRAILHEAD MARKED ON THE MAP:
INTERSTATE 81 TO EXIT 168
STATE ROAD 614 (JENNINGS ROAD) FOR 3 MILES
LEFT ONTO FORREST ROAD 59 UNTIL ROAD ENDS
As I said, great hike. This was my 6 year old's first backpacking trip, and she loved it. We camped at Stauby's site (listed in the other comments) which is close to water, and shouldn't get overrun in a flash flood - unsure of actual risk, but the canyons are a testiment to the power of water in motion. The site 1 mile up the Cornelius trail from the parking lot is near the swimming hole, and is probably a better site - we'd have camped there if we hadn't gotten behind due to the directions mix up. Again, I'd be wary of a lot of rain upstream if you camped here, but someone with more experience than I in the Blue Ridge could judge this risk better.
Forrest Service signage recommends doing this site in the opposite direction, but I liked the more gentle down hill that you get from following the directions on the site.
Be aware that fire bans are going up in the area this summer due to lack of rain. Plenty of driftwood for firewood if that changes, however.
Sincerely,
Steadman
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 15, 2009
Terrific Hike! This really is a top notch stream hike... Nearly the entire thing is a gorgeous roaring cascade. And the actual falls are something special. The forest service did a terrific job with the viewing platform. I did the longer look starting from the bottom, up Apple Orchard Falls trail, crossing over on the AT, and coming back down Cornelius Creek trail. There had been a lot of rain recently so the water was up. Great for the views, but not as good for the stream crossings on Cornelius Creek. A large group was there and they apparently had several spills.... I, forewarned, was more lucky. Highly recommended!
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Did a quick overnite with my 15 lb. trail dog Willie while in Lynchburg for business this weekend. I was initially disappointed with this hike, as it was basically a walk in the woods, complete with bridges and walkways. But, from the falls up (and over) it was fantastic. I hiked up to the AT and hike the 2 miles or so over to Cornelius, then down to the lower campsite noted in the write up. Great firewood, great water source, great site. The AT was spectacular with several great overlooks, and the campsite was perfect. This is a great dog hike, and a nice hike for novice hikers. The fall colors were truly amazing.
Beyond the Falls you will start to climb a series of 
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