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| By:
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Saturday, September 04, 2010 |
A spectacular hike. It's been several years since I hiked Crabtree. A couple of friends and I decided to give this one a shot as there were a few nearby geocaches we wanted to find (which we successfully did!)
Lots of activity on the trail today with plenty of other dogs our dog, Hussi, was able to "shake hands" with. Just about everyone we encountered was extremely friendly and very thankful to enjoy such a beautiful day, weather-wise.
Going up wasn't a problem but coming down was a little slow with the dogpack holding Hussi back a bit, as well as an injured foot on one of our "humans."
The views are truly spectacular, especially on such a clear day as today. However, if one's going for a "quiet hike," best find another trail as this one, while kept very well, is very busy.
I highly recommend this hike for anyone in decent shape as well as dog-owners with socially friendly animals.
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| By:
Mike & Shannon
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, July 26, 2010 |
| As novice hikers, and being a bit out of shape, we did the hike in a rush since we were also going to Monticello the same day, which wasn't smart. Plan on taking a couple of hours with several breaks along the way and beware of the Virginia humidity. Of course closed toe shoes are a must because the trail gets very rocky. Still, don't be deterred, it is completely rewarding and definitely worth the trip, even for out-of-shape novices.
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| By:
Penningtonx4
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 26, 2010 |
| We made this hike as a family and loved it! My four year old walked the trail, while I carried my 4 month old in a carrier. My wife carried the backpack. We really enjoyed the falls and simply being in nature. Because we had small children, we liked the steps and aids. The trail is very well kept and the views are great. We will be returning to this one again. There were numerous people on the trail, so the solitude factor is low. Great hike, great place for pictures!! Good family friendly hike.
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| By:
Julie
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Monday, June 14, 2010 |
| First time hiker :) The hike was beautiful! Several spots along the trail are next the waterfall and have some great picture taking spots. We took a towel and had lunch at the top, it was awesome! It took about 1.5 hours up and about 40 minutes down. Only downfall is they are doing some construction on the trail. I would not recommend taking a dog the trail gets pretty rocky in some areas.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 06, 2010 |
On June 6, 1981 I had the pleasure to visit & hike this beautiful area. The water flow in the gorge/falls was intense, loud and captivating. Stay on the trail, don't get drawn in by its beauty or it will pull you in for a ride. I was one of the lucky ones.
Remember - hike responsible and respect mother nature!
EJ
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| By:
hillareeeee
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 |
| Definitely a very picturesque hike, awesome for long-exposure shots of the waterfalls. I was disappointed to see how "friendly" the hike was (lots of railings and stairs), but it's nice to see that the waterfalls are accessible to people that may have not been able to check them out without these aids. It was short and easy, great for a quick day trip.
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| By:
Warren
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Rating:  |
Date of Hike: Monday, May 31, 2010 |
| Great Hike, Temperature was around 90, but walking up the trail near the falls kept it cool. They were beautiful falls, must see to appreciate.
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| By:
Bodhidharma
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, May 30, 2010 |
We really liked this hike - beautiful waterfall with great places for my dog to swim and cool off. The day was nice, but there were soooo many people there - had to pull off the trail every 50-100 yards. Probably had to do with Memorial Day Weekend.
This is our first trip recommended by Hiking Upward. We are huge fans now, and plan to do many more!
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| By:
Kayla
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Thursday, May 20, 2010 |
| It is a beautiful hike with the waterfall alongside! It is a rather easy hike not too steep. However, there are sharp rocks on your way up, so be prepared. We spotted several deer on our hike it is an extremely peaceful environment. Oh, but the top though! That is the best part! You have a gorgeous view from the top of the mountain be sure to bring a camera! We were disappointed by the $3 fee that is required to park (because we were not expecting it). Other than that, it was a blast!
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 15, 2010 |
| Really enjoyed this one! A powerful thunderstorm canvased the area the night before our arrival, adding force to the already surging, early summer waterfalls. As usual, we hit the trail early and were the first ones up the mountain. At that point the path, although damp, was still providing secure footing. Several hikers came up later behind us and we noticed on the way down that some patches along the trail were turning quite mushy. We prefer hitting the trails early because it increases the chances of seeing wildlife, but other than serenading birds and a gray banded snake sunning itself, we didn't see any animals on this trip. This is a great hike for novice hikers. There are three different observation platforms along the way, allowing great views of the falls, as well as convenient places to catch your breath. I recommend going early in the year before the water flow slows down.
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| By:
The Smiths
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 18, 2010 |
This is a wonderful hike. The waterfall is gorgeous and the trail is in great condition. The trail is not too difficult and it was not very crowded when we went. It is a perfect day trip from Richmond, VA and we hiked it in about 3.5 hours with plenty of stops to enjoy the falls and see the view at the top overlook. We did not think to bring bug spray, but wished we had to get rid of the bugs at the bottom of the trail. Once we got to the top, they were gone. Montebello Country Store is nearby in case you need to stop to pick up any food, drinks, or other items you may have forgotten. It is very nice inside, has gasoline, gifts, home made goodies, and clean restrooms too.
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| By:
Gaurav
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 03, 2010 |
| I thought that the hike was average. Pretty moderate. All the trees had shed leaves and the area gave a pretty desolate look and feel. Lot of people in the way who wouldn't let others pass. That was pretty rude. We went till the meadows which was nothing special. A good average workout.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 28, 2010 |
| Beautiful cool day for a hike. Crabtree was no let down. The leaves are not yet back so the view of the falls was quite a bit more than usual. The trail was busy but not overrun as I hear it can sometimes be. did a little geocaching at the top which made it more interesting for the kids.
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| By:
hikingupward
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 21, 2010 |
| We stopped at Crabtree Falls on 2/21/2010 to check conditions after doing an overnight backpack to Spy Rock (hike to be posted soon). Be aware the parking lot is completely covered with snow. We had to park right at the turn off from Route 56. You cannot get a car across the bridge, it may be awhile until the parking area opens. The Falls are 80% frozen and very beautiful. Ate lunch at the Blue Mountain Brewery on the way home. Worth a stop if you are in the area: http://www.bluemountainbrewery.com/
Photos: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/576818978ZSXPcd
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| By:
Willow
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 23, 2010 |
| Beautiful day for a hike! I was worried because I've never done a hike in the winter before, but the trail wasn't too bad. It was pretty slushy and up towards the top there were some icy parts but with some creativity (and help from my boyfriend and the nice guys behind me) I got through pretty easily. Definitely worth it for the view of the falls after a snow! The roads getting there were easy, too.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, November 15, 2009 |
| Took my son, two of his friends, and my basset on this hike for the second time this fall. First time, there was not much water running. Went this time after 3 days of rain and wow what a difference. The sound of the water was deafening and we had to yell at each other when next to the falls. it was truly beautiful, but very crowded on this beautiful Sunday. Very dog -friendly hike and many dogs can be seen on the trails. I would recommend this hike for any family including their furkids.
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| By:
Paul and Shelley Stanfield
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Friday, October 23, 2009 |
We arrived late in the afternoon Friday, 430ish- our book and the sign in the lower parking lot didnt offer any REALLY good information about this trail. For all the people who said it was an easy hike, i am guessing that it must be, unless, like us, you are racing against the clock & daylight-set on reaching the top & making it back down before dark. We 'hoofed' it as fast as we could, with our hiking boots & poles, and were confused by the ONE fresh looking couple that passed us in their sneakers and polo shirts who said 'it's peaceful all the way up'...obviously once we reached the top platform with the deck overlooking the falls, we assumed THEY THOUGHT this WAS the top...we kept going-past the cave (we did go through and out the back) and up and up and up, there were LOTS of rocks in the path and twisting an ankle is possible-oh did I forget to mention it was raining on us the entire hike? And between us we have a bum hip & knee? Oh well--- Didn't make any difference, the views were spectacular with yellow leaves everywhere! Well, as close as we were to reaching the top after about an hour or so of hiking, it was getting dark & since the trees basically blanket the earth at this point - we HAD to (to our dismay) turn back or risk getting trapped in pitch black right there on the mountain-there was no moon and no stars-and the possiblity of being stuck was real... so at about 550 we started our decent & practically 'ran' back down which actually did not take much less time, i guess where the path is clear, the parts with the jagged, slippery rocks makes up for it. WE CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK-take our time and make the whole trek up and back. Its on our list of things to do!
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 17, 2009 |
| Awesome hike for our official first hike, weather was great. I'm a large fellow and made it to the top with relative ease, at the beginning/end of each switchback theres ample area to catch your breath if need be. The places to stop and look at the waterfall are great, and the views of the mountain especially when we went, the leaves had started changing. This is a great hike for any novice hiker!
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| By:
Angela Wright
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 11, 2009 |
| Great fall hike! This is the 2nd year we've hiked it with our children. They are 5 & 7 now and just your avg. kids when it comes to exercise and endurance. Very manageable. Took us 35 mins from parking lot to cave where we had a snack break then 40 mins more to the top. Where we had a picnic and played around for about an hour. Wear good shoes, you're stepping on a lot of rocks and you feel it through sneakers.
Highly recommend for a family outing. It was a wonderful family day.
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| By:
Willow
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 |
| Beautiful hike! Just like the description says the trail is really well maintained and there are spots with steps and hand rails, but if you are going to let that turn you away then you are missing out on a great experience. I went with my boyfriend early afternoon on a Wednesday and we only saw maybe 3 other small groups of people. We were alone the whole way up and we had the view point at the very top all to ourselves! Great views of the mountains from the top and the falls are definitely something special. I'm going to bring friends and do this one again!
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 12, 2009 |
| Took my two 11 year old daughters up Crabtree Falls this afternoon. Just before arriving at 3PM, we were caught in a massive thunderstorm (with hail) for about 20 minutes . . . by the time we hit the parking lot it was nearly empty! It was like hiking in a rain forest. A spectacular hike with great views and multiple photo ops and rest stops along the way. Great for our 15 lb. dog too!
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| By:
Lesley Mink
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, June 06, 2009 |
This was our first time to Crabtree Falls. My husband, two boys (7 and 9 yrs old) and I went hiking there today. We are not skilled hikers and found this trail easy to navigate and enjoy. Our boys had a great time. Our 7 yr old kept saying, "This is awesome!" He was so excited to be hiking and seeing the waterfalls, as well as the millipedes and snails.
I highly recommend this trail. The views are spectacular! Well worth the journey.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 02, 2009 |
Our first hike with all the kids (ages 4, 6, 9, 14). We started at about 930A and got to the top almost noon. We spent a lot of time looking around and taking pics which accounts for the longer ascend time. We are not in great shape (mostly just 2-4 walks around the neighborhood per week) and found the hike very do-able. Great views and not a very technical hike.
If you have a 4x4, you can drive around to the upper parking area and do the shorter/flatter hike in from there.
Take plenty of water and snacks (trail mix, granola bars, etc.) for kids to keep them energized!
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| By:
Bombor83
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 24, 2009 |
| A great hike. It took about 2 hours to get there from from Richmond. This was my Wifes and my first hike so we were out of shape. It took almost 2 hours to get to the top of the falls and 1 hour to get back down. There were several icy patches and it took some scrambling to get around but it wasn't too bad. I agree with Danelover that good boots are a must. We plan on coming back in the spring where the ice is gone. The falls are beautiful the ice was half melted and you could see the water flowing under and through the ice. It was awesome!
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| By:
DaneLover
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 17, 2009 |
| Great hike for beginners and seasoned hikers. Took us about 2.5 hours to get there from Fredericksburg, and there was a $3 parking fee. The trail is well maintained, but does have loose rocks and ice, so sturdy shoes/boots are a must. The falls were completely frozen over, so it looked more like an ice wall than a waterfall. Regardless, it was gorgeous and amazing. Took about 3.5 hours to go from the lower parking lot to the upper parking lot, which included a 15-minute stop at the top of the falls for a quick snack. The trail from the top of the falls to the upper parking lot is fairly flat and wide, so it was easy going and a nice break from the switchbacks coming up from below. Overall, this is a wonderful hike and one that can be enjoyed during all seasons.
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| By:
Jade
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 25, 2008 |
| My husband and I thought we would spend one of the last warmer weekends of the fall hiking to the top of Crabtree Falls. The views were beautiful, especially with the leaves having changed color already... and there weren't so many people that it felt crowded. It had just rained that morning, so the falls were rushing and were truly breath taking. We live on the Amherst/Nelson border, and plan on making this one of our get-away day trips whenever we get the chance!
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 31, 2008 |
| We did the hike over the Labor day weekend. I had read some of the other reviews and expected the crowd that we encountered on the trail. However, everyone on the trail was quite polite and just enjoying their own hikes. We hiked with our 3 year old and 6 year old up to the observation area at the top of the falls for lunch. The hike was a little steep in some areas for our little one, but she hung tough. Overall, a highly recommended hike for the family.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 30, 2008 |
| We hiked Crabtree Falls over Labor Day weekend. We expected it to be crowded the whole way. But when we started out at 10:30 am, there weren't too many folks on the trail. The day was absolutely beautiful so we got to see a great view at the top. After resting there, we continued up the trail a short distance to find a place where our dog could play in the stream. He really loved that part. As we headed back down, the trail really started getting crowded. We often had to step to the side of the trail to let larger family groups pass us. So, I'm glad we got a little bit of a head start and beat the main rush.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 01, 2008 |
I grew up in Charlottesville, so I've probably hiked Crabtree about a dozen times over the years. As a simple out-and-back, it isn't especially difficult. The trails are clear, well-marked, and include handrails. The falls are gorgeous when there has been any precipitation, and worth seeing even during the dry season. (Although the falls slow to a trickle in places, the Tye river never dries up and there are plenty of opportunities to dip your feet at both the top and bottom.) I'd definitely suggest hiking from the bottom trailhead up to the meadows and back, otherwise the trail is pretty short. For all of those reasons, this is a wonderful place to head if you're a beginner, or with kids. On the downside, it is ALWAYS crowded. It doesn't matter what time of year you go, if its a Saturday, the parking lot will be full.
Keep in mind that there is a cash fee (I think its like four bucks) for parking, payable by using the drop box at the trailhead. And I strongly suggest grabbing lunch at the Blue Ridge Pig on 151 on the way out - the bbq isn't wonderful but the chicken and roast beef croissants are to die for.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, May 24, 2008 |
| This was a first for my wife and I. We have never been here. The day was beautiful and the scenary was worth it. We are definitely planning on coming back when the leaves change. There are many places to stop and enjoy the view and so the hike took us a little longer than the usual but we did not mind. We packed a lunch in and it was a great place at the top of the falls to stop and relax. The activity level for us was a bit strenuous but we made it and we are not the model pf a perfect athlete. I would reccomend you just take your time and enjoy the scenic overlooks and you will be at the top before you know it. I made it carrying my 19 month old daughter on my back. The trail is cleared really well and easy to navigate. I would suggest proper hiking footweat because it does get uneven in spots and we were only wearing sneakers. My gave me a scare when she sprained her ankle with about a mile to go, like I said make sure you have proper footwear. Thank God with a little ice and alot of prayer she made it down. If this is your first time here definitely print out the maps and info on this site, it was extremely helpful and the directions (hiking and driving) were extremely accurate. I definitely will be back it was a great hike and I am planning on hiking Mount Pleasant when my wifes ankle heals.
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| By:
Richard
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
The Hike was amazing! I felt so challenged, and I usually hike every weekend during the spring. It was a crowded day so there were a ton of people on the trail. Unfortunatley, Today we saw a guy fall to his death from the top of the falls - A warning to all hikers - Read the sings and do not allow your kids to play along the rails. I saw several kids climbing out over the rails at one of the small overlooks just a few hours before the guy fell to his death - Also, be smart and do not take alcoholic beverages on your hike. I am not entirley sure, but I think this guy may have been intoxicated. I also suggest to ALL hikers, be smart - Learn CPR and First Aid and know how to respond to an emergency. So many people were just standing around not knowing what to do today. I don't think anything could have changed the fact that this guy died since he feel about 400 feet, but no one had the smarts to run down to the bottom of the mountain and call 911 Except for my friend and I.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, February 09, 2008 |
Our Boy Scout Troop (Troop 13 CVC) does this hike every year for the past 5 years. We go at the same time time every year. We have been when it was rainy, foggy, warm & iced over. You need Yak Trax when it is iced over and that is when it is at its most beautiful. This past year it was mid 50's by the time we got up to the top. A great time was had by all. We always pack our lunch and eat it at the upper landing. Then come back down. The terrain can be a bit grueling for those of us not in the best of shape, but if you take your time and enjoy the view, it cannot be beat.
YIS,
J. Sargent
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| By:
B. Love
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 26, 2008 |
The mountain trails were ice, but that's to be expected in the middle of winter. Ice spikes would have been good but there was less ice and more snow (better footing) beyond the observation deck. After getting to the observation deck at the top, you have seen the best of the views and could begin to go down if you choose. Continuing from the observation deck up the trail was nothing more than good excercise. You can find more seclusion and and a nice snowy panorama of the mountains hiking the trail this time of year. There were still several hikers toward the base of the trail later in the day, but not outfitted to get up the trail and it didn't take long for them to figure it out. The falls were amazing, frozen over ice with running water visible only in some spots underneath the ice. And how do they get that lumber up there?
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| By:
John Marler
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, January 26, 2008 |
| Hiked when the snow and ice ruled the pathways. Did not have spikes or crampons and lemme tell you...it was a CHALLENGE! Tooks us nigh on 5 hours to traverse the climb to a shelter on the AT. Going again this weekend and looking forward to an easier hike. Views and vistas are amazing. Can't say enough good things about this site.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 10, 2007 |
| Very good hike! My first one a few weeks ago was Old Rag, which is a huge undertaking. This is a better one for a beginning hiker. Beautiful falls, hearing them along the hike is great. It was good exercise, but not too strenuous. Of note though, when you get higher up, the trail splits and we wouldn't have known which way to go except that I had printed info out from this site and had it with me.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, April 21, 2007 |
| What a way to celebrate the day before Earth Day. Our hike was peaceful. The weather was as perfect as it could be in April. We felled in love with each set of falls. The top of the fall was magnificent. The trail was well maintained, which made the hike easy. I like to sit on a rock to view the mountain while taking a break so I didn’t care too much for the man made break stops and stairs. That soon changed when we reached the top of the mountain and was able to sit and stare at my view of an ideal place. Thank you Hiking Upward for another great recommendation.
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| By:
Andy, Megan, & Timber
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, March 25, 2007 |
The falls were awsome and the trails was very well maintained. I'd hate to be one of the people who had to carry the lumber up the trail to build the railings. Those rails were probably to help the variety of poeple we met on the way up and down the trail. We encountered several large women, a few hispanics, a few orientals, old folks, and even babies and Jamaicans.
Well worth the trip, but abosolutely no seclusion (I couldn't even find a place to pee)
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| By:
Jen Gibbs
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 10, 2007 |
| Absolutely gorgeous hike, and I agree that the climb to the top isn't too difficult, due to the multiple switchbacks that traverse the mountain. Also, you're near the water almost the whole time, so the soothing sound of water trickling over rocks is an added perk. However, be forewarned that ICE on the trail can make the climb and descent VERY tricky, as I learned today - had to make several detours around large ice-rink-like sections of the trail that happened not to have guard rails in place, so any slippage could have meant quite a fall off the trail and down the mountain. If hiking any time in the near future (i.e. the rest of March, possibly April if it gets cold again), hike WITH other people: I was in a group of 20, and it definitely took some teamwork (namely, spotters downhill) to get around the icy patches. The falls were totally worth the effort, though, and I highly recommend this hike to traill users who will employ common sense about safety.
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| By:
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 29, 2006 |
| Great place to hike. Easy to get to and not too dificult to climb. Bring hiking shoes if you have them. The rocks are hard on your sneakers, not to mention your feet and legs. Also a walking stick will help on the decent, which is a little trickier than the climb. A bottle of water and a digital camera are the only accessories you need.
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| By:
Fred Hill
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, October 29, 2006 |
| It is a wonderful hike which is enjoyed equally from the bottom to the top. We take our family every year and include a picnic lunch following the hike. Take the time to do this......You will thank yourself.
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| By:
Wayne Mancari
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Thursday, October 26, 2006 |
| What a great hike! Our office staff took the day to climb the mountain and it was gorgeous. I had spent hours reading through hundreds of reviews of hikes throughout Virginia and decided to take them to Crabtree Falls. It was an excellent choice! The climb is not too difficult, and the many, many views of the falls were great. Of course, the view at the top was also a highlight. (I would definitely rate it higher than the "2" that the website gives for "view.") The leaves were at their peak and we had a perfect day.
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| By:
RoseAnn
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 21, 2006 |
| Saturday, October 21, 2006 was the peak of fall foliage and the Falls were gorgeous. We had perfect weather, in the high 50s. This was a great hike with breathtaking views from each stop.
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| By:
J. White
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Rating: |
Date of Hike: Sunday, September 03, 2006 |
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