Little Stony Creek Falls

Little Stony Creek Falls (log in to submit report)
Highlight	Rock-lined gorge with sandstone cliffs and cascading creek to view two different waterfalls
Trail Number	FS# 331
Land Owner	Cherokee National Forest
Located	Dungannon, Virginia
Trail Marking	Yellow
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	3 hrs0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br /> round trip
Distance:	2.608 mi4.197 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 5.2 mi8.369 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	In-and-Out
Low / High Point	1,514 ft504.667 Yards <br />461.467 Meters <br /> / 2,199 ft733 Yards <br />670.255 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	681 ft207.569 Meters <br /> / (15 ft4.572 Meters <br />) – South-to-North
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	No hikes logged yet
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	2 trails / 4.3 mi of trail
Parking	36° 51' 39.24" N, 82° 26' 46.50" W Map
Trailhead	36° 51' 39.24" N, 82° 26' 46.50" W Map
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Trail Portion Closure
Currently officially closed (May 2018) between first bridge from lower trailhead to second bridge from upper access. See portion marked in red below. This is due to a landslide covering the trail. Visit the Forest Service website for latest details.

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Trail Overview

Hike in deep, rock-lined gorge with sandstone cliffs and cascading creek to view two different waterfalls - a curtain and a plunge.

How to get there

From Gate City, VA to lower trailhead:

1. Turn onto VA-71 north (no sign here).
2. After one mile, turn left on VA-72 and proceed north (through Ft. Blackmore and Dungannon) for 22 miles.
3. Look for USFS sign, to USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area (about 2.6 miles north of Dungannon).
4. At extremely sharp switchback, go straight (left side of highway) into picnic area and park.

Note: Picnic area is only open mid March-October 31, thus locked gate during off-season. Park along the access road (do not block the gate) and add quarter mile each way to the hike.

To upper parking area:

1. Follow above directions.
2. Continue on VA-72 past the entrance to USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area for an additional 6.6 miles (very curvy!)
3. Turn left onto SR-664 (Corder Town Rd) and go 1.1 miles.
4. Turn left onto gravel Forest Service Road #700 and go 1.4 miles.
5. At the road split take the left (Forest Service Road #701) and go one mile to gravel parking area.
6. Follow the trail downstream.

Route Description

From the Hanging Rock Recreation Area, this yellow-blazed trail winds up the deep rock-strewn gorge carved by the cascading Little Stony Creek. Follow former narrow gauge logging railroad up creek valley. Stream is crossed by several wood bridges. There is an observation stand at the middle falls. Rock steps lead down to pool at base of upper falls. Beyond the upper falls is a parking lot. The trail continues north as lesser used Chief Benge Scout Trail.

Typical Conditions

As shared in TEHCC September 2019 newsletter: This hiking trail has two issues which render this path temporarily closed officially effective with a USFS May 2018 notice. Since Summer 2012, a landslide has removed a section of the trail making it impassable after first bridge from lower trailhead. Multiple blowdowns are reported for this same area, but bypass routes allow access to the middle (curtain) waterfall. At the upper (plunge) waterfall, a more recent landslide has cut off the observation platform and access to bottom of the waterfall after the second bridge from the upper parking lot.

Natural Resources Specialist Brandon Olinger for Clinch Ranger District shares that the trail is being rerouted around the older, lower slide. This section will hopefully open by late September 2019. The newer, upper slide is seeking funding for its repair. No timeline but aspire to have done by Fall 2020.

Fees, Permits, etc.

The day use fee for USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area does not appear to be collected as no sign in present at the payment stand. The rec area has 16 picnic areas with cooking grills and vault toilets.

See also Forest Service trail description Forest Service trail page
Clinch Ranger District (Norton, VA) Telephone: 276-679-8370. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM.

Misc. Information

If driving to the upper parking area stop at a small pull-out half a mile from the parking area (rocks with lots of graffiti) and walk quarter mile out to Bear Rock. Spectacular views. No guard rails, use extreme caution!

Photos

• 

  Trailhead sign

• 

  Typical view along trail

• 

  Trail Profile

• 

  A view along the creek in winter

• 

  A view of the frozen falls

• 

  Middle falls

• 

  Upper falls at high flow

• 

  Upper falls at low flow

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