Nelson Loop · Route 151 & Crabtree Falls

Nelson County's scenic loop: from Nellysford the route climbs VA-664 to Reeds Gap, rides the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Tye River Gap, drops down VA-56 past Montebello and Crabtree Falls to Massies Mill, and returns north on VA-151. It's 52 miles. VA-56 has no shoulder and rock and gravel fall onto it, the Crabtree Falls lot is small, and VA-151 fills with winery and brewery traffic on weekends. There's no fuel on the Parkway.

This loop strings together the roads of Nelson County. From Nellysford it climbs VA-664 to Reeds Gap and rides the Blue Ridge Parkway south past The Priest Overlook to Tye River Gap, near milepost 27. There it leaves the Parkway and drops down VA-56 through Montebello to Crabtree Falls, a series of cascades on Forest Service land that Nelson County bills as the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi, about 1,200 feet in all. The trailhead lot sits right on VA-56 and charges a daily parking fee.

Below the falls the road follows the Tye River down to Massies Mill, and the route comes back north on VA-151, the valley road lined with wineries, breweries and cideries. VA-56 is steep, tight and has no shoulder, and rock and gravel come down onto it, so take the descent easy. The Crabtree Falls lot is small and fills up on fall weekends, and VA-151 gets heavy weekend traffic from tasting rooms. There's no fuel on the Parkway.