The Cascades, Barneys Wall, Butt Mountain - Jefferson National Forest, VA

[@lisareed-dx2gu]

Thank you for bringing back so many memories of my childhood at the Cascades, a highlight of my youth growing up in the 60s and 70s. When I was young we took our horses on a trail ride up to the Fire Tower. Loved seeing all these familiar places! Nothing like the mountain cliff views....Love your commentary along the trail.

[@bigzach322]

Thanks Lisa

[@sabinehornungfan7371]

The forest and the waterfall is mystical!

[@bigzach322]

They definitely were.

[@kevinriley5847]

Nice video. I am very thankful to live nearby. One of my favorite places.

[@williamcollins7461]

Love this video man

[@DRMET]

Outstanding! Is there a better sound than tumbling water? That rock you were on at the top has got to be Look Off, I bet. Loved the upper and lower Cascades. That bench at the end is pretty special, too.

[@DelmarToad]

Tradition is to take the lower trail up to the falls, then on your way back take the upper trail or forest service road.

[@timtruemper1427]

A NC resident but have gone to Viriginia Mountains quite a bit. The falls are a definite must see and I like Barney's Wall as a destination too.

[@bigzach322]

Yes it's a beautiful area, haven't been back there since this hike unfortunately.

[@kevinsmith2299]

Cool video!

[@beckyowens4698]

Awesome! Thanks for the video. My family and I are planning to go here and this helped a lot!

[@bigzach322]

Thanks Becky

[@error.418]

I've jumped Barney's Wall :) It's a beautiful hike and exit

[@bigzach322]

Wait what do you mean by jumped? Is that rappel or something else?

[@error.418]

Zachary Robbins BASE jump, using a parachute.

[@bigzach322]

Oh damn lol, that's what I guessed but it seems insane for that height. It's less than 300 feet right?

[@error.418]

Zachary Robbins Insane is under 200 feet, although people have done it. My personal hard limit is 250 feet. You use different methods for different altitudes. This site claims Barney's Wall is 700 feet: www.hikingupward.com/JNF/TheCascadesBarneysWall/ But I would have to go back in my log book to see what we measured the exit altitude to be.

[@bigzach322]

Well it is around 400 feet almost straight down, but about 900 feet to the water. So I guess it is dependent on where you are exiting.

[@indys1978]

Awesome video! Wish I saw it before I went. Only got to the lower falls. Maybe next time.

[@bigzach322]

Yeah that's a shame, it's not far upstream

[@kolbybelcher4346]

Just hiked it yesterday the water was freezing

[@karinclark1355]

Very nice ! Was at Ft. Lee when I got discharged in 2007! I asked the Lt. Mosby if they could just let me sign the papers and let me walk off base and I'd relocate to Virginia for good, but they said NOPE! I have to go back where I came from originally which was Alabama! Haven't lived in Alabama for about 4 years now, but have been planning on moving to the mountain areas of Virginia! More specifically Blacksburg, Roanoke area! That time is coming next month! Can't wait!🤠

[@bigzach322]

Roanoke is a great place to go, up and coming small city with a lot of breweries. And very close to all things outdoors.

[@antoniokatsouros5241]

Is the water deep enough to jump from the waterfall ?

[@bigzach322]

I think there's a high probability of serious injury or death jumping from this. As you can see in the video, the lower drop is an angled slide away from the top and there are also large flat rocks at the bottom of the lower slide.

[@ronirby4496]

Great video! I did the hike for the first time yesterday (lower falls, upper falls, and Barney's wall). Thanks for the info about the upper falls. I had no problem finding them, but it's a little tricky getting to the bottom. It was a great hike, and the lower falls were amazing! Pictures don't do it justice, and the water felt great after a 2 mile hike in 95 degree heat.

[@bigzach322]

Thanks for watching, it definitely was way too hot this weekend to do anything but bask in water.

[@jimcatalfamo8034]

didn't like the ending, wondering how long the hike was or did it miss it, i just did cascade falls this pass jan 14 on a rainy coll morning and i most of said wow 40 to 50 times, simply gorgeous. all in all enjoyed the vid, ty 4 sharing

[@bigzach322]

Sorry, this was one of my first videos and it's just not very good compared to my more recent stuff.

[@jimcatalfamo8034]

@@bigzach322 maybe I was a little harsh. I didn't like the ending because it seemed unfinished. But I did really enjoy it 😊. And I'm going to check out more of your videos. I'm looking forward to see what other ventures you been.

[@bigzach322]

@@jimcatalfamo8034 No it's appropriate, the video is poor quality and structure since I was a novice back then. I still am, but have improved somewhat. It's only a hobby at this point.

[@robertrioux7409]

Is there any camping allowed on a trail within 5 miles of the falls?

[@bigzach322]

It's illegal beside the creek because it's a day use area, but it might be fine on top of the mountain. I'm not sure, I also don't know if they allow overnight parking at The Cascades access.

[@robertrioux7409]

@@bigzach322 thanks. That's why I am hoping someone will know if a camping area is available within a 5 mile hike of the falls. Did you see any campsites with all of your hiking around there?

[@bigzach322]

@@robertrioux7409 I don't remember, it's been over 5 years. It's likely illegal close to the tower facilities.

[@jamesheslep935]

my grand father sold the property to national forest and that is not me in the video.i just caught looking for videos of the cascaides

[@bigsmallie99]

Nice video! Thanks for the info! Me and a friend are going next week and you provided some much appreciated information!

[@bigzach322]

Thanks for watching. Make sure to check the hike link, it will provide you with any questions I hope.

[@dannyc.jewell8788]

What is said is as some people hike up the trail they think how nice it would be to have a cabin right beside the creek , and for some that dream will come true ,the world is their oyster ,nature is being swept away , but don't worry Mother Nature can take care of herself .

[@jamesheslep935]

my grand ffather used to own most of the property up there he donated the property to the national forest we are now pat of 5 families who own the cabin laural lodge have had hikers spend the night on the front porch. I am jjfh the 4th my grand father was the 3nd my father is the 2nd my father the the 3rd I am the 4 rth love it up there have not had a chance to go in a while. last I heard the hemlocks around the cabin had a bllyth.

[@SmellNRoses]

The Cascades is definitely a spectacular waterfall by anybody's standards, but certainly for Virginia. I was a student at nearby Virginia Tech back in the early 1990s, seems like a million years ago haha, but this was a regular hang out for me back then. I agree the Upper Cascades are awesome, especially since so few people go up there. Few people know about Barney's Wall either. I'm not sure how high that cliff is, but dang it is high!!!! Some of the areas of cliff around Moore's Wall at Hanging Rock S.P. are approximately 400 feet, that's the only cliffs I can think of off the top of my head that rival Barney's Wall. Yeah up at the fire tower, those rocks are Look Off Rock. All the maps for the area are wrong. Just to the east of Cascades is another cliff,call Bear Cliff, its not located where the map shows either. The faint remnants of trail you were on is because a long time ago, the Conservancy Trail actually went all the way up to Look Off Rocks, but now it makes a turn and heads out to the forest road. The road appeared to be in excellent condition...the last time I was up there I drove up that road and I had to get into 4wd long before even reaching the Barney's Wall trail and there were deep ruts in the road all the way to the top, though I did successfully make it up there, it was an intense drive. When you get a chance you should hike some of the AT around that area...up on Potts Mountain around Wind Rock, the Rice Fields area, and Angel's Rest south of Pearisburg are all spectacular.

[@bigzach322]

Smell N Roses I don't think the cliffs are quite 400 ft high around Hanging Rock. I think Shortoff Mt is taller than any of the cliffs in Hanging Rock. I thought almost the entire forest road was very good condition, it seemed like I could drive my car on it no problem. According to multiple maps Lookoff Rock is a sub-peak where I hiked, but maybe the rocks near the tower are locally known as Lookoff Rock. That was my first time in the area and I just bought the regional map so I'm looking forward to some of the AT hikes in the future.

[@sabinehornungfan7371]

On a next video, can you please find a Celtic forest and a mystical waterfall somewhere?

[@Willys-Adventures]

cascades were cool but at 8:43 barneys wall was awsome

[@bigzach322]

willy bailey It's not the best location for vertigo

[@user-zx4vj6ub8r]

How deep is the water below the falls? Deep enough to swim?

[@bigzach322]

It seems like it, there were tons of people swimming.

[@user-zx4vj6ub8r]

@@bigzach322 I guess my question generally speaking is, is it deep enough not to be able to touch the bottom so to speak? Enough to really tread water and swim lol

[@bigzach322]

I can't give you a sure answer, but my guess is yes given the size of pool and waterfall.

[@cesarochoa2224]

do you think it'll be the same experience if i go in december? I want to do some hiking for my birthday, great video btw!

[@bigzach322]

What do you mean by similar experience? The amount of people?

[@micha12mcm]

Can you swim in this waterfalls? Help anyone?

[@bigzach322]

Didn't you already ask this?

[@micha12mcm]

@@bigzach322 no! First time seen this video

[@bigzach322]

Oh well I never went in the pool so I don't know the depth, but a lot of people were swimming or wading. I imagine it's deep enough but I can't say I'm 100% confident in that assessment.

[@quicksilver1752]

So can you hunt in this area?

[@bigzach322]

Not sure, maybe up along the top.

[@santiagovvaz9235]

Address please

[@jamesheslep935]

flip flop the numbers on my grand to my father.