We love finding ways to link up different trails to make our hikes more interesting, especially when the trails are on the shorter side. Still, both the Cascades Trail and the trail near Tomkins Knob Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway are great on their own and perfect if you’re looking for a shorter walk. We’ve shared some thoughts about each trail below.
Here’s the story of how we hiked both trails and some of the highlights we found along the way. Come along for the hike, and happy adventuring!
Table of Contents
- 1. Start – Tomkins Knob Overlook
- 2. Jesse Brown Cabin
- 3. Trail to Cascades Parking Area
- 4. Cascades Trail Trailhead
- 5. Cascades Falls
- 6. Back on the Cascades Trail Loop
- 7. Conclusion
1. Start – Tomkins Knob Overlook
Tomkins Knob Overlook sits at milepost 272.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We parked in the lot at the overlook and took the Mountains-to-Sea (MTS) Trail that begins to the left when you face the overlook sign. The first part of the trail is about 500 feet long and leads to the Jesse Brown Cabin historic site.
2. Jesse Brown Cabin
Our first stop on the hike was the Jesse Brown Cabin site, which has three historic buildings: the cabin, the old Cool Springs Baptist Church, and a log springhouse. These buildings show what life was like in Appalachia during the 1800s. We spent about 20 minutes looking around. The fog that day made for some great photos, with mist rolling down from the ridge and over the cabin, as you can see in the picture above and our YouTube video found on our Tomkins Knob Overlook page.
3. Trail to Cascades Parking Area
The MTS Trail picks up again just past the old Cool Springs Baptist Church. From there, it’s about a 0.3-mile walk through a lovely pine and hardwood forest until you reach the Cascades Parking Area.
4. Cascades Trail Trailhead
The MTS Trail ends at the far side of the Cascades Parking Area. To reach the trailhead, follow the sidewalk next to the picnic tables. The Cascades Trail is part of E.B. Jeffress Park, which covers more than 600 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Cascades Trail is a loop just under one mile long. We think it is one of the more underrated trails on the Blue Ridge Parkway because it offers a short, easy hike, mountain streams, and a waterfall without being as busy as some of the trails near Blowing Rock and Asheville. We went left at the start of the loop.
5. Cascades Falls
The highlight of the Cascades Trail is a waterfall located about halfway along the loop. A short side path takes you straight to a viewing platform, where you can watch water drop 35 to 40 feet down the mountainside, rushing right next to the platform.
6. Back on the Cascades Trail Loop
After we visited the waterfall, we returned to the main loop trail and made our way back to the parking lot. This section had the steepest inclines, but they weren’t too bad. The fog lingered over the trail, giving the hike a moody atmosphere that we enjoyed.
7. Conclusion
After returning to the Cascades Parking Area, we began the half-mile walk back to the Tomkins Knob Overlook. We really enjoyed this combination hike because it gave us a chance to learn about the region’s history and see some amazing views. We hope you liked joining us on this virtual trip and that it inspires your next adventure!