Apple Orchard Falls Trailhead — Attraction in Bedford

Don't do this if you only have 1 hour of sunlight left and you approach this from blue ridge road. The trail marker said 1.2 miles and it was downhill so I ran it as best as I could (lots of things to trip over) and I sort of was running it. It still took me roughly 20 to 25 minutes. The signage was not good either and the trail gets narrow. There was some trickle of a fall, but I figured that couldn't be it. Despite being tired, knowing I would have to return uphill I continued. Finally about 10 minutes from that location I thought it was, I found it. Of course in the summer it was underwhelming. I then rushed out of there; figuring I only had enough light for half the trail not only because the sun was going down but because the canopy towards the beginning blocks lots of light. I did my best to eyeball the path and was able to do pretty well considering the sun was going down. While I didn't see any postings about bears I figured this was prime real estate especially since the sign said this connects to the Appalachian Trail. I clapped my hand and somehow kept walking with 2 short breaks. I heard some rustling behind me when there were .4 miles left; I was forced to turn my cam light on because the end was very difficult to see; again it was dark but mostly the canopy blocked the light. Even with the light I had trouble figuring the trail and since I sort of ran it, the last stretch did not look familiar. I thought I might be lost and contemplating for the first time to call 911; at this point I had done 7 miles in the span of 6 hours and they all were strenuous. I finally made it to the car. Moral of the story, don't hike so late in that trail, and don't overestimate your time frame. My back and legs hate me! So I do blame the signage and the path, but it was my stupidity to rush...

Great area of the BRPW in Virginia. Great trail and very pretty views. No facilities. Jeff Mullins Photography Adventures. Happy Hiking! The trail begins at an elevation of 3500 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Sunset Field Overlook near milepost 78. It leads in a northwesterly direction, crossing into the Jefferson National Forest at 0.1 mile, crossing the Appalachian Trail at 0.2 mile and a seeded logging road at 0.8 mile. At 1.1 miles the trail passes a huge overhanging rock on the right that would give shelter from rain. It begins a steep descent around the falls at 1.2 miles. At 1.4 miles, look back for a beautiful view of a 200-foot high falls. The trail leads into the headwaters of North Creek, following old woods road downstream. At approximately 3.4 miles, the northwest end of the trail (elevation 1500) joins FS Road 59 at the end of Cornelius Creek Trail. The trail can also be accessed from FS Road 59. From Interstate 81 take the Arcadia exit (exit 168). Follow Route 614 approximately 3 miles to FS Road 59. It is 4.5 miles to the trailhead at...

What a GORGEOUS hike! The waterfall aspect was stunning, and we arrived after a rain, so that likely heightened the experience. In fact, some of the waterfall was happening right on the trail as a result of the storm (ha)...but as everyone here has previously stated, this is a well-maintained trail, so just wear good shoes and bring poles if you're like me and my older knees need 'em. The trees were so vibrant, the sky a bright cloudless blue, and the flowering bushes a total glorious surprise. We definitely hiked past the main falls a little lower to catch the rest and it was well worth it to us. The parking lot had space when we arrived and the trail wasn't crowded at all. Plan to take your time because this is one you'll want to savor. As others have said, if you don't have much hiking experience or aren't as fit as you once were, you'll find parts of this challenging. A lot of folks had their dogs along, so great hike for the canine...