Chestnut Creek Falls
Carroll County, Virginia
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Carroll County, Virginia
- Access status
- Partial: rail-trail route documented; Galax parking details and current trail status unconfirmed
- The walk
- Roughly 5 miles one way from the Galax trailhead (Waterfall Hero Hikes)
- Ground & access
- Gentle grade on a former railroad bed shared with bicycles and horses. A visitor account found a slippery scramble path down to the base of the falls; the views from the trail and bridge need no scramble.
Chestnut Creek Falls is a cascading waterfall on Chestnut Creek beside the New River Trail, a rail-trail in New River Trail State Park. A visitor account starts at the state park trailhead in Galax, crosses Chestnut Creek on two bridges and follows the trail north past the Cliffview area to the falls. Go Hike Virginia says the falls are near milepost 47, with a shaded picnic table and bench beside the trail. The visitor account describes good views from a bridge and the picnic area. Return the same way. The exact trailhead parking in Galax is not described.
Plan your visit
New River Trail State Park trailhead in Galax, north on the New River Trail along Chestnut Creek past the Cliffview area to Chestnut Creek Falls near milepost 47
Waterfall Hero Hikes reached the falls roughly five miles from the Galax trailhead. Go Hike Virginia places the falls near milepost 47 of the New River Trail.
Gentle grade on a former railroad bed shared with bicycles and horses. A visitor account found a slippery scramble path down to the base of the falls; the views from the trail and bridge need no scramble.
Where to start
New River Trail State Park trailhead in Galax. The exact lot and its rules are not described.
Timing & water
The park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Virginia State Parks asks visitors to check the current park map and use only the open portions of the trail.
Before you go
No fee is mentioned for the Galax trailhead.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Bullhead Creek CascadesWilkes County, NC22 miSW
- Incredible Falls98 ft (30 m) · Wilkes County, NC22 miSW
- Bullhead Creek FallsState park trailhead; very short walkWilkes County, NC23 miS
- Upper Widows Creek FallsPartial guide: state park trail; effect of a posted Mountains-to-Sea Trail closure on the shared section is not statedWilkes County, NC24 miSW
- Widows FallsState park; short path from a roadside parking areaWilkes County, NC24 miS
- Stone Mountain FallsWilkes County, NC24 miS
- Middle FallsPartial guide: part of the park loop trail is closed; check with the park before goingWilkes County, NC24 miS
- Lower FallsPartial guide: usual route closed for stair work; alternative total distance not publishedWilkes County, NC25 miS
- Carter FallsSigned public trail from a gravel trailhead lotWilkes County, NC30 miS