Blue Ridge Parkway: America’s Favorite Drive, Day 2

Second Half of the Ridge Region & Into the Mid/”Plateau” Region: Milepost 30–115

This post covers day two of what I described in my previous post as “an epic 4-day motorcycle touring + camping trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway with a loop into West Virginia.”

In my last post, I described getting on the parkway from Milepost 0 and what to expect for hiking, camping, lodging, food and fuel along the northern region of the Parkway — the “Ridge Region.” There are also valuable tips regarding US Forest Service land (much of the land surrounding the Parkway) vs National Park Service (which manages the Parkway itself). I won’t go back over everything in this post so, for these tips, please check out the first post: here.

On Day 2 of this trip, I continued from my campsite at Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort south along the Parkway and saw some amazing waterfalls, mountaintop ponds, a huge natural bridge similar to what you might see out west in Arches National Park and more!

Five Things You’ll Learn From This Post:

1. Where to find (and how to hike to the top of) the largest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi — with a total height of over 1,200 feet over 5 drops!
2. All the details for Natural Bridge State Park — one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the Modern World.
3. The ultimate mountaintop lodge for the “Glampers” among us — no shame!
4. Another beautiful campground (with a brewery!) right off the Parkway and along a river with tons of outdoor activities and rentals — bike, hike, canoe, picnic, music and fall festivals, night time tree canopy zip lining and more!
5. The best midday food location to keep you fueled on the hikes ahead without wasting too much time getting on and off the Parkway.

Stop 1: Crabtree Falls

After refueling my bike and grabbing a hot cup of coffee from the camp store at Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort, I headed down the road to Crabtree Falls.

Crabtree Falls has a total height of 1,200 ft (maybe 1,000 — depending on who you talk to). There are 5 total drops that “cascade” down the falls, with the tallest single vertical drop being 400 feet. For reference, Niagara Falls is only 167 feet. Depending on how you cut it, Crabtree Falls is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi in several categories. It is certainly the tallest in Virginia and is absolutely worth seeing.

There is a small parking area off Rt 56 (remember from the last post — just a few miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway) with a US Forest Service self registration box.

The trail is very easy to find and additional maps and information can be found both on the USFS website and NPS websites.

Immediately after hiking along a flat and beautiful woodsy trail you reach the base of the falls (which as you can see from my first photo is also a full waterfall in its own right). There’s a viewing platform.

You can then continue on up the trail to multiple more viewing platforms, over the course of 1–1.5 miles, that emerge from the woods on the edge of dramatic cliffs that the waterfall cascades pass along.

The views of the valley below and the mountains on the other side grow the higher you go. The whole trail is about about 3 miles or so depending on exactly how far you follow it and how you decide to “close the loop.”

Always remember, to Leave No Trace.

Stop 2: Otter Lake and Waterfall, Milepost 60.9

Getting back on the Parkway from Crabtree Falls (back up Rt 56 and once again turning south onto the Parkway), there will be many more opportunities for vistas and hiking.

One spot that I found particularly interesting and beautiful was Otter Lake. There’s a waterfall / dam right off the Parkway and visible from the road. In fact, the headline photo I used at the top of this post is of the waterfall at Otter Lake. There’s parking and a little hiking loop around the lake — trail map: here.

It’s a great spot to stretch the legs and take some fantastic leaf photos.

Stop 3: Lunch, the James River, and Natural Bridge State Park

Immediately after Otter Lake, there’s an opportunity to turn off the Parkway and do some exploring of the surrounding Virginia area. There are many things to do in this part of Virginia and this post series is focused primarily on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But I do think this “side trip” is worth including here as part of my Parkway exploration because it offers a few opportunities that Parkway travelers shouldn’t miss.

The first opportunity after turning off the Parkway west on 501, is the James River. As you meander down 501, you’ll see a few boat launches and outdoor river adventure ideas along the James — Virginia’s largest river. Keep these in mind for the summer months!

The second, opportunity is lunch! Continue on toward Glasgow, Virginia — a picturesque small town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains and farms. There are a couple opportunities for food but I can’t recommend more strongly — Scotto’s Pizza.

The food is great and much more than just pizza. But what made this place special, is that, while camping the night before, my inflatable mattress pad developed a hole and completely deflated. Ordering some takeout, Scotto himself heard of my predicament and offered to help out!

We inflated the pad in the parking lot and he then sprayed soapy water all over it. We found the hole (watching the bubbles in the soap) and patched it up with duct tape.

When sacrificing the comforts of home to travel and camping outdoors, small acts of kindness — like help repairing a camping pad — are hugely appreciated. Any time I’m on the Appalachian Trail I share food, coffee, or whatever else I have with AT hikers. This is known as “Trail Magic” and I talked about it in a previous post “Hawksbill Sunrise Nature Photography”.

Give a little Trail Magic and the Karma Gods will be strong with you. And this time around, it was my turn. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it the rest of the trip if Scotto hadn’t helped me out and I’d had to sleep directly on the ground.

After lunch, keep going down the road another 10 min to Natural Bridge State Park. This is a wonderful park with a small fee paid at the visitors center. There are many great things to do with kids, the elderly, or anyone of any fitness level. Check out the official website: here.

The Natural Bridge itself is 215 ft tall limestone, with a gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. It is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the Modern World. It is now a National Historic Landmark.

Continuing through the gorge and along the Cedar Creek trail, there are additional beautiful forests, the Monacan Indian Living History Village, a waterfall, and other sights. It’s a great area to spend a few hours exploring.

Stop 4: Anywhere…

Retrace your steps to get back on the Parkway from Natural Bridge.

As mentioned in my previous post, nearly ever mile down the Parkway there’s another pullout, overlook, hiking trail, historical marker, or other fun thing to explore.

The Parkway cuts along forested mountain ridge lines with spectacular vistas any direction.

I think Day 2 brought even more dramatic vistas than Day 1, as I went further south into the Ridge Region.

My recommendation is to drive slowly and stop every 30 minutes or so to take in another amazing view. Also, these pullouts are designed to make it easier to take photos safely without being distracted on the road.

Hikers, cyclists, and motorcyclists alike all use the road with very little shoulder so DO NOT take photos while driving along the Parkway. There is always an accessible pullout nearby and the best photos will be from these pullouts anyway, trust me.

Stop 5 (optional): Peaks of Otter Lodge, Milepost 85.6

I didn’t stop here since I was camping but I have to mention this lodge for those reading this post and wanting a more comfortable (ie: “Glamping”) experience. What I saw looked absolutely gorgeous and I was very tempted to pull off and book a room.

3,000–4,000 ft mountaintops surround the lodge which is on the banks of a little mountain pond. Some rooms have decks and balconies facing the water.

There are ample hiking trails, dining, and other events the lodge offers. Check out their website: here.

Final Stop of Day 2: Explore Park, Milepost 115

On Day 2, I went down the Parkway from Crabtree Falls around milepost 30 to my camping spot at milepost 115, with a couple side trips — clocking about 150 miles on the bike. It was a long day in the saddle (and a long day in general with the added hikes and photo ops) but absolutely worth it!

Near Roanoke, Virginia, I highly recommend staying at Explore Park. There are cabins, yurts, and campsites with fire pits and picnic tables. It’s right off the Parkway and along a river with tons of outdoor activities and rentals — mountain bike, hike, canoe, picnic, music and fall festivals, night time tree canopy zip lining and more! There’s even a brewery tavern!

I’ll wrap up this post with a sunset shot from a pullout close to Explore Park. When I cut the bike engine and gazed at the final rays of sun going down over the mountains, I noticed a fellow traveler next to me singing and playing the guitar from the front seat of his car. Another woman had the back hatch of her Subaru open and was dangling her legs off, beverage in hand.

On trips like this, it’s the big and little moments like these that settle into your long term memory. The dramatic views and strenuous climbs and also the other travelers you run into enjoying the outdoors just for the sake of being outside.

Will Hackman, Hackman Guided Adventures

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