George Washington and Jefferson National Forest · Virginia, West Virginia

Crabtree Falls

1.5 mi of trail, end to end · asphalt surface · trail No. 526 · trail class 5 · typical grade 10-12% · tread 18-24 inches wide · hiking

Begins at the forest's mile 0, 37.8508, -79.0792 - no trailhead mapped Drive to where the trail begins

Crabtree Falls Day Use Area the Forest Service's write-up

$3 per vehicle per day. · season Open year round to

This moderate 2.7 mile trail wanders through the mountainside offering scenic views of 5 major cascades falling a total distance of 1,200 feet. Overlooks allow hikers to enjoy the beauty of the valley. The first waterfall overlook is universally accessible, and is only a short distance along a paved trail.

Restrictions DANGER: Leaving the trail has resulted in numerous fatalities due to extraordinarily slippery conditions created by clear algae on rocks. Hikers must remain on trail; pets must be leashed at all times. Alcoholic beverages prohibited. No horses or bicycles allowed.

This hike on fs.usda.gov

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About this trail's facts

The lines are the US Forest Service's National Forest System trails layer (public domain), read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end, and the class, surface, grade and tread width are the forest's own entries where it publishes them - a forest that publishes the centreline alone has none. The trailheads and the points along the way are the Service's recreation points, and the write-ups its own recarea text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the forest's own site before you go.