Cascades and Tompkins Knob Trails Map (click to enlarge)

Length: 1 mile loop
Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

The Cascades Trail is a loop trail located in E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway that leads to a small waterfall on Falls Creek. It also serves as a “nature” trail, meaning you will see signs along the way that identify trees and other plants.

Typical terrain of the Cascades Trail and nature trail signs along the route, Blue Ridge Parkway

The trail begins on a paved path leading from the parking area, though within minutes it becomes a gravel path. Shortly thereafter the trail forks, marking the start of the loop portion of the hike. While you can go either way, the suggested route is to stay to the right and hike the trail in a counterclockwise direction. The trail makes a gradual descent towards Falls Creek, which you will first come to and cross about 10 minutes into the hike.

The gravel trail is smooth, relatively free of rocks and roots, and the descent is not overly steep. However, often when there is a waterfall in the picture, sooner or later the trail takes a rather steep plunge, and the Cascades Trail is no exception. In this case the steep descent is accomplished with the help of stairs, and there are a lot of them.

Stairs on the Cascades Trail at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway lead down to the waterfalls

On the way to the falls you will pass a stone observation deck that gives you a view of the water cascading downhill. This is not the end of the hike, so after taking a look, continue on to the waterfall.

View from the top of the cascades found along the Cascades Trail at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

At this point you will actually have to climb up a set of stairs to reach the waterfall, which is just a few minutes farther down the trail. The viewing platform is located at the side of the falls, which is not optimal for photos, but you can still get some good shots from this angle. There is no trail to the base of the falls short of Lewis-and-Clarking-It™ to the bottom on your own. For those without a tripod and who want to create a photo with the mist-like water, you can prop your camera on the stone wall like I did (I never carry a tripod). If you can’t get your camera propped up to the angle you want, you’ll just have to get creative, perhaps by finding a rock to stick under the lens to tilt the camera upwards towards the waterfall. Of course you must know how to manipulate the shutter speed and aperture to get the desired effect.

The Cascades Trail at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway ends at the waterfall

Full length view of the waterfall at the end of the Cascades Trail at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Closer view of the waterfall at the end of the Cascades Trail at E. B. Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I don’t know if there is anything to prevent you from hiking back the way you came, but the trail is designed to keep everyone hiking in the same direction along the loop. Maybe this is just so people aren’t hiking in both directions on the staircases. When done at the falls, leave the viewing platform the same way you came in, but look for the sign that directs you to the return route.

Sign points the way to return on the Cascades Trail to the parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The sign in the parking lot states that the hike takes 30 minutes, but that’s just hiking time. I spent ten minutes at the falls taking photographs. Most people will want photos, and some may just want to sit and enjoy the sight, so plan about 45 minutes for the round trip.

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