Cascades Trail

The Cascades Overlook, parking area, and trailhead can be found at Milepost 271.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail starts next to the restroom, and turns from a paved path to gravel pretty quickly. Plaques revealing various tree species line the way, and if you keep to the right, you’ll eventually descend and cross a bridge over Falls Creek. From there, continue right to go down the steps to the two fabulous stone viewpoints of the cascade—they’re right next to the waterfall, the spray practically within reach.

• The restroom at the Cascades Overlook is open May to October.

• Plenty of picnic tables line the Cascades Overlook, making this a great spot for lunch and a short hike to stretch your legs.

• The other path from the parking lot heads to Tompkins Knob.

The Cascades Overlook and trailhead can be found on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 271.9—you’ll also see signs for E.B. Jeffress Park. It’s about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Boone. Another access point for the trail is the Tompkins Knob Parking Area at Milepost 272.5. Either way, you’ll want a car to reach this beautiful spot.

There’s no bad time to wander the Cascades Trail. In the spring, the runoff is greatest—and the waterfall most impressive—but it’s quite the sight in any season, including in the winter when ice develops on the falls. That said, for more temperate weather and restroom access, you’ll want to visit between May and October.

If you also stop at the nearby Tompkins Knob Parking Area, you’ll see a dirt path into the woods—it takes you to Jesse Brown’s 19th-century cabin, and you can peer inside. If you continue toward the Cascades Trail, you’ll also run across an old Baptist church, though it’s a bit slipshod by now. Bonus: Combine these stops with the Cascades Trail, and it’s still only 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) round-trip.