Although the name for Crabtree Falls is thought to have originated from William Crabtree, a settler who arrived in the area in 1777, most of its written history occurs in the 20th century. In the late 1960s, the land surrounding the falls was being considered by developers as a possible resort. After the residents of Nelson County urged the U.S. Forest Service to acquire the land instead, money was appropriated by Congress, and the falls were protected as part of the Washington National Forest.
Crabtree Falls has an average width of 30 feet and a total vertical drop of 1,000 feet, which makes it one of the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. It actually consists of several waterfalls, beginning with the initial fall that has a 400-foot drop and ending with the final 80-foot waterfall, which is the portion most often viewed by visitors. An average volume of 50 cubic feet of water per second cascades down from Crabtree Creek and eventually flows into the Tye River.
The 2.5-mile Crabtree Falls Trail includes five overlooks where visitors can view portions of the falls and the Tye River. The first overlook is one of the most popular for visitors due to its paved trail and proximity to the lower parking lot, which is only 700 feet away. For those hikers who want to go farther, there are four more overlooks near the upper falls and the remaining 1.2 miles of the trail that follows the creek and ends at the Crabtree Meadows parking lot.
Crabtree Falls is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia, but it is also one of the most dangerous. To date, there have been more than 25 deaths and numerous injuries to visitors leaving the trail for better vantage points. This is due to the extremely slippery conditions created by the moss that has accumulated on the rocks in the area. As a precaution, warnings are posted with rescue statistics, and the U.S. Forest Service has created a four-wheel-drive road specifically for use in future rescues.
