Apple Orchard Falls is a short hike through the National Forest to a beautiful cascading waterfall. It’s a must do for anyone living near or visiting the area.
Apple Orchard Falls sits along the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Peaks of Otter. The stunning waterfall has multiple approach trails and a well constructed platform at the base to enjoy it. The trail is steep at times but absolutely worth the effort.
Apple Orchard Falls Hike
Length: 2.5 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Gain: 1000 ft
Great for: families, pets, cooling off in the summer.
May be difficult for: people with limited mobility.
Best time to visit: Any time of the year, but we like summer the best for this one.
Location: Sunset Fields parking area Blue Ridge Parkway (mm78.4)
What to bring: Backpack, first aid kit, 1 liter of water per person, camera, river sandals or water shoes if you want to get wet.
How we rate it: 4/5, A beautiful waterfall with an unexpected view.
Getting There
There are a few different trails you can take to hike to Apple Orchard Falls. The most popular trail is the short 2.5 mile hike from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
There is another option to hike a much longer loop trail to Apple Orchard Falls using the Cornelius Creek Trail and a fire road. That loop clocks in at almost nine miles, so while it is also beautiful, it is much more strenuous.
This post is going to focus on the more popular route down from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The trailhead is at the Sunset Fields overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 78.4. You’ll need to spend at least some of the trip on the Parkway if you are starting here, so make sure you check for Blue Ridge Parkway closures before heading there. If you have enough time I recommend doing as much of your drive along the scenic road as you can.
The parking for this trail is easy to find and parking has been ample each time we have been there.
Hitting the Trail
The trail to Apple Orchard Falls is obvious from the parking lot and you’ll soon come to a trail board with relevant information about the trail and intersecting trails.
The hike from Sunset fields begins by sloping downward along an easy to follow trail. The trip to the falls will be a steady descent through a densely wooded forest. In the summer this is one of our outdoor retreats from the heat.
As with many trails in this area you will be following blue blazes for the length of the hike. You will pass two intersections along the hike, one with the Appalachian Trail and the other with a fire road. There is ample signage at both.
Before you reach Apple Orchard Falls you will come to a small waterfall. This is a great spot to dip your feet in the water or let your kids or dogs spend some time playing.
There’s a rocky shore along the creek that makes for a pleasant resting area. If you brought river sandals you can safely get in the water here and cool off.
The final section of the hike takes you down a long set of stairs and the view really opens up dramatically showing off the surrounding mountains.
There is a small viewing area along the steps where you can see the waterfall through the surround trees as you walk down, but the best view is from the boardwalk below the falls.
There’s a bench on the viewing platform and it’s a great place to relax and just be for awhile. The rushing sound of the waterfall and the light mist is so refreshing on a hot summer day.
Take your time here because on the trip back, you will be gaining elevation the entire time.
As you hike back up, the steepest section is along the steps, but the trail steadily climbs all the way to the top. If you didn’t notice the huge exposed rocks on your way down definitely take them in on your way up.
After Your Hike
If you still have some energy leftover, Peaks of Otter is not far away and you can tackle the leg scorching hike up to the amazing views at Sharp Top Mountain.
But I’m guessing most of you aren’t going to want to do that. Instead, you can grab lunch at the Peaks of Otter restaurant. (They are open seasonally, so check the website for hours).
Or head to the Town of Bedford. It’s a beautiful little town with several great restaurants to check out including Beale’s Beer. Bedford is also home to the National D-Day Memorial. If you are visiting the area and have an opportunity to visit the D-Day Memorial you absolutely should.
Leave a Reply