United States · Nelson County
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)
Crabtree Falls is one of the tallest sets of waterfalls in the United States east of the Mississippi River. It is located in the George Washington National Forest in Nelson County, Virginia, off of Virginia State Route 56.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County) drops 366 metres (1,201 ft) on the Mississippi River. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Nelson County, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Crabtree Falls (Nelson County) itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Nelson County are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
Getting there
- Base town Nelson County, United States
- Country United States
- Region Nelson County, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)
United States
Height366 mWidth—
Most similar
Hunlen Falls
Canada
Height396 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Canada
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 2.7× taller than Crabtree Falls (Nelson County). It drops 3.4× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Crabtree Falls (Nelson County) yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
37.8508, -79.0783
Quick answers
Where is Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)?
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County) is in United States (Nelson County). The nearest base is Nelson County, United States. Its coordinates are 37.8508, -79.0783.
How tall is Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)?
Crabtree Falls (Nelson County) drops 366 metres (1,201 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Mississippi River.
When is the best time to visit Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Crabtree Falls (Nelson County)?
The usual base is Nelson County, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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