Bent Mountain Falls
Montgomery County, Virginia
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 200 ft (61 m)
- Location
- Montgomery County, Virginia
- Access status
- Nature preserve trail to a distant overlook of the falls
- The walk
- The Nature Conservancy gives the shortest distance to the viewpoint as 1.6 miles
- Ground & access
- Unimproved preserve trails with steep sections. The Conservancy lists the Johnston (Red) Trail with an average slope of 11.6 percent and a maximum of 59 percent.
Bent Mountain Falls is a 200-foot waterfall on the side of Bent Mountain that drops into Bottom Creek, in The Nature Conservancy's Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve. It is seen from a distance from the Malcolm and Jimmie Black Overlook; you cannot get close to the falls. From the gate, walk the gravel entrance road (Black Trail) to the trailhead kiosk and the fork at about 0.6 mile. Go Hike Virginia turns left on the Yellow Trail past a pond and above Bottom Creek, then at about the 2.1-mile mark veers left onto the Red Trail to the overlook. The Red Trail also runs from the entrance road to the overlook. Return the way you came, or continue on the Red Trail back to the entrance road. The falls are east of the overlook, so morning light can be in your eyes.
Plan your visit
Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve gate on Route 669 (Patterson Drive), up the gravel entrance road to the trailheads, then the Yellow (Knight) and Red (Johnston) trails to the Malcolm and Jimmie Black Overlook
The Nature Conservancy lists the shortest distance to the viewpoint as 1.6 miles and says to walk about half a mile up the gravel road from the gate to the trailheads. Go Hike Virginia describes a 4.0-mile hike that reaches the overlook turn at its 2.1-mile mark.
Unimproved preserve trails with steep sections. The Conservancy lists the Johnston (Red) Trail with an average slope of 11.6 percent and a maximum of 59 percent.
Where to start
Park on the side of the road at the preserve gate. From US 221, about 0.6 miles past the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance, turn right on Route 644, bear right on Route 669 (Patterson Drive) and follow the Conservancy directions to the preserve sign on the left after a small bridge. Winter washouts and holes can affect the road into the preserve.
Timing & water
Open daily, dawn to dusk.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned. Dogs are not allowed at this preserve. No restrooms.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- The Nature Conservancy: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve
- The Nature Conservancy: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve
- The Nature Conservancy: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve
- The Nature Conservancy: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve
- The Nature Conservancy: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve
- Go Hike Virginia: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve, Hike to Bent Mountain Falls
- Go Hike Virginia: Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve, Hike to Bent Mountain Falls
- Blue Ridge Country, Kurt's Hikes: Bottom Creek Gorge
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.