The Cascades
4 mi.
The Cascades is an easy 4 mile roundtrip trail near Blacksburg with an elevation gain of 1,340 feet. If you take U.S. 460 West from Blacksburg for 17.5 miles you will end up in Pembroke at which point signs will direct you to the Cascades parking lot. The path weaves up Little Stony Creek to the falls all of which is good for trout fishing during the summer months. The falls themselves are 60 feet in height and splash onto a flat rock at the bottom before running off into a large pool which is available for swimming. No camping is permitted anywhere along the trail or at the falls, something to keep in mind if planning a trip. The trail starts out wide and narrows into a steep ravine following the right side of the stream. The left side of the ravine is a steep rock face known as Barney's Wall and is a commonly used site for bouldering. Bouldering being the skill of climbing small rock faces with no harness and nothing to help you. The weather through this ravine mimics that of a much farther northern state making for an interesting mix of vegetation consisting of rhododendron patches growing under hemlock trees. There is a picnic area at the base of the trail that offers tables to eat a packed lunch, bathrooms, and water fountains year round.