MONTEBELLO Six miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson County, visitors can find what is promoted as the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.

Crabtree Falls features a series of cascades that fall a distance of 1,200 feet, according to the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the area.

The falls are a popular destination for hikers because of a 2-mile-long trail that leads to a series of overlooks of the upper falls and eventually connects with the Appalachian Trail. But the first overlook of the falls is only a 500-foot stroll down a paved walkway from the parking area, so anyone can enjoy an up-close view -- and the soothing sounds -- of the rushing water.

If you go, be sure to stop for a cold drink or a chat with the locals at the Montebello Country Store, an old-style general store undergoing a modern renovation. The store's between the parkway and the falls.

To get there from the parkway: Go to Milepost 27, exit onto Route 56 east and follow the signs to Crabtree Falls. -- Bill Lohmann