Tye River rocks at Crabtree Falls

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 11, 2013

Crabtree Falls ... Rt. 56 through George Washington National Forest

This arched bridge, put in place in 1978 after being shipped from New York State in one piece, crosses the Tye River at the Crabtree Falls hiking area. It used to be the start of the trail but the parking lot is now located behind it so it's not necessary to cross the bridge to begin the hike.

Saturday was a beautiful spring day with temps around 60 so the parking area was completely full. There was a church bus there, and one group was sitting on the ground around their vehicle having a picnic. This is arguably one of the most popular hikes in the George Washington National Forest.

Obey all signs and stay on the trail. At least 28 people have died by falling down the Falls over the past 20 years including a Liberty University student who died two weeks ago when she ventured off the trail. Treacherous, transparent algae grows on the rocks making them extremely slick.

Rt. 56 in the Crabtree Falls area of Nelson County.

Tye River tumbles and falls over boulders along Rt. 56.

My kind of road! But I didn't take a chance with my not-a-4-wheel-drive Nissan. This is Meadows Lane, the route to the upper parking area for Crabtree Falls. Follow the upper stream beyond the Falls. There's great info about this trail Hiking Upward website.

The Lynchburg Daily Progress has a good article about the dangers of the Falls.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 20, 2013

Scenic byways ... Rt. 56 and apple country

 Saturday we went exploring on the southern end of Rt. 151  on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Spring has arrived in that part of Virginia ... trees have leafed out, dogwoods and red buds were blooming, and the grass had greened. With temps in the 60s, it was a gorgeous spring day to be out and about. After taking the Blue Ridge Parkway from Afton to Reid's Gap, then hopping off to drive down past Wintergreen to Devil's Back Brewing Company, we took Rt. 151 south to Rt. 29, then turned around and started back because I wanted to take Rt. 56 up to the Parkway on our path back home. As we headed north on Rt. 151, here was our turn....

 As soon as we turned onto Rt. 56, this vista was before us ... green fields and farms and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beside us was the almost-to-the-top-of-the-banks Tye River.

This is apple country with many orchards and nurseries in the area. Just beyond this point, Rt. 56 begins its climb into the mountains.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 20, 2013