Blacksburg Waterfall Trip 8/27/2021-8/29/2021

Wanting to take the kids on one more trip before school starts, we decided to take them to Blacksburg to hike a couple of waterfalls. On the drive to Blacksburg, I book a hotel room for 2 nights at the Hyatt Place Blacksburg/University. They had a suite available which is perfect for our family. We arrived at the hotel, checked in and went to our room to set up for the next 2 nights. While setting up, I called in a togo order at Macado’s which was a couple of blocks from the hotel. Our food took a long time to come out. The kids patiently waited and once we got our food, we went back to the hotel to eat.

Overstuffed Sandwiches, Burgers, Wings & More

8/28/2021

The hotel had a huge all you can eat buffet breakfast and we made sure everyone was good and full before we left for the day.

First stop: Cascade Falls

https://www.virginia.org/listing/cascades-national-recreation-trail/6927/

Hike:

Distance: 4.2 miles

Elevation: 696 Feet gained

We stress to the kids when it comes to hike, state parks, national parks, etc. Leave no trace – Leave only footprints, take nothing but memories. Cascade Falls has a rock on the trailhead stressing this message.

The hike on the way to the falls was a beautiful hike through the woods alongside Little Stony Creek.

We made it to the falls and the kids quickly went to play. Cascade falls is a larger waterfall with a giant natural swimming hole. The falls are very popular and very busy today. The first thing the kids did when we got to the falls was play on what they called a “natural slip and slide”.

Taylor enjoyed playing in the water as well.

We all enjoyed playing in the water and under the waterfall. Ethan, Nick and Izzy are strong swimmers and kept jumping in by the waterfall and swimming back to the side.

We took so family pictures in front of the falls.

Blake and I snapped some pictures before we began our hike out.

In total we spent about 3 hours at the falls. The kids really enjoyed playing and swimming (we did too). The falls are beautiful and the area gives you plenty to do. We began our hike out and stopped at the creek a few times to cool off.

Once back at the trailhead we take some pictures and load up to head to our next waterfall.

We head to Falls of the Dismal after leaving Cascade Falls.

Dismal falls is a roadside waterfall. To get to the falls, just pull over on the side of the road and walk 0.1 miles down the mountain and you will arrive at the falls. Dismal falls is a smaller waterfall but has a large pool for swimming and rock for jumping off of. The kids enjoyed jumping from different heights on the rocks and had a great time. All of them (except Taylor) jumped.

Blake’s Uncle lives in Blacksburg and we met up with him, his wife and cousin for dinner. We went to Eastern Divide Brewing Company. The brewery has a dinner menu for which had many entrees for the kids as well as a large area for the kids to run around and play. The kids played with all of the other kids at the brewery and we sat with Blake’s family and enjoyed conversation and a drink.

The next morning, we had another great breakfast at the hotel, packed up and headed for our next waterfall before driving home.

We arrived at Falls Ridge Nature Preserve to hike the Bradley Trail.

Hike:

Distance: 1.28 miles

Elevation: 164 feet

The Waterfall is one of the most unique falls because it is a spring fed Travertine Waterfall around 80 feet tall. If you have ever be in a cavern this waterfall is basically a cavern waterfall and rock structure except instead of being underground, it is above ground and not enclosed. The rocks the waterfall flows over appears muddy but it is actually rock and the water is crystal clear.

The hike is a short hike to the falls and then the trail continues up a set of stairs and takes you on a loop around the falls. Just before the falls there are a couple of caves that can be explored.