Little Stony Creek Falls
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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:
- Turn onto VA-71 north (no sign here).
- After one mile, turn left on VA-72 and proceed north (through Ft. Blackmore and Dungannon) for 22 miles.
- Look for USFS sign, to USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area (about 2.6 miles north of Dungannon).
- 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:
- Follow above directions.
- Continue on VA-72 past the entrance to USFS Hanging Rock Recreation Area for an additional 6.6 miles (very curvy!)
- Turn left onto SR-664 and go 1.1 miles.
- Turn left onto gravel Forest Service Road #700 and go 1.4 miles.
- At the road split take the left (Forest Service Road #701) and go one mile to gravel parking area.
- 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.
Typical Conditions
The severe damage from the December 2009 storm has been cleared and the wood bridge halfway up the trail repaired.
7/29/12 - While only a few blowdowns were encountered on the trail, the primary issue is that the path is collapsing into the creek in several places, thus providing difficult crossing. Recommendation is to create a raised boardwalk anchored into the hillside as the sides of the gorge will continue to be scoured by heavy runoff.
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 (Wise, VA) Telephone: 276-328-2931. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM.
After the Hike
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!
Maps
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.872" lon="-82.449" type="terrain" zoom="14" width="725" height="350" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little_Stony_Creek_Falls.KML
(A) 36.8609,-82.44625
Parking at lower trailhead
(A) 36.8699, -82.4632
Parking at upper trailhead
(L) 36.86657, -82.44794
Trail bridge #1
(L) 36.874745, -82.447136
Trail bridge #2
(C) 36.87788, -82.45882
Little Stony Lower Waterfall
(C) 36.87472, -82.4632
Little Stony Middle Waterfall
(L) 36.87307, -82.46282
Trail bridge
(C) 36.87133, -82.46203
Little Stony Upper Waterfall
</googlemap>
Photos
Upper falls at low flow
Middle falls
Trailhead sign
Typical view along trail
