Cascade Falls Trail

Cascades is such a great name for this dog-friendly hike because as you wander through the woods, you will see waterfall after waterfall of small cascading flows along the river. At the end, you are rewarded with a 70 foot amazing encore to this stroll through the woods.  This is a moderate not quite 4 mile round-trip hike along the river. For the first third of a mile you were right on the river. At the first bridge, you can go either straight or right across the bridge as part of the loop trail.   We decided to cross the bridge. This took us on an ascending path up the rock steps.  On this side of the river, there are several downed trees that you may need to go over or under. The way out was 2.39 total miles to the base of the falls.  

On the way back, we decided to take the road we had not traveled.  From the falls, we went up the steps and once we were at the top of the steps to the top of the ridge, it was a gradual walk along the ridge.  This route is definitely more easy to moderate than the way out.  However, on the ridge path, you do not see the water as you walk for about the 1st mile.  After the 1st mile, you have come down enough that you begin walking just a little bit above the river. We really enjoyed this wonderful Virigina waterfall hike.