Falls of the Month, February 2000

Staton's Falls

Ratings : Power - Beauty - Ease of Access -

• Location : Buena Vista, Pedlar District, George Washington National Forest, western Virginia
• Height : 140 feet in several cascades
• River/Stream : Staton's Creek
• Water Levels : moderate
• Safety Considerations : steep cliffs
• Driving Directions : From I-81, take I-60 (the exit is in the upper 180s or 190s near Lexington) through Buena Vista to the Blue Ridge Parkway (about 20-30 minutes). After going under the Parkway, continue 3.2 miles on US-60 until you reach SR-605 (Pedlar River Road). Turn left and continue 1.7 miles to a fork. Take the right fork (SR-633, Fiddlers Green Way). This road turns into gravel soon. After 1.1 miles on SR-633, the top of the falls is on the left and a small parking area is on the right.
• Rules/Limitations/Fees for Access : none

Also known as Lace Falls and Deadman's Falls, Staton's Falls doesn't look like anything impressive at first glance. Next to the parking lot is a small ten-foot cascade and below that is a fifty-foot cascade that a visitor can really see only through the trees from the roadway. However, once that visitor discovers the small trail that leads to the bottom of the cascade, the beauty and sheer fun of Staton's Falls becomes apparent. This is not a waterfall to view from behind a fence! Instead, you have to experience it.

In my opinion, the best way to experience this waterfall is to take your shoes and socks off and go barefoot. The unusual rock slope that Staton's Creek tumbles over at this point sticks much more easily to feet than it does to a sneaker or a boot. Plus, its smooth texture makes it more like walking on tile floor than a slab of rock. Finally, to fully appreciate this waterfall, a visitor must get their feet wet. This soon becomes apparent when you see the form of the waterfall.

The falls are composed of several large cascades with corresponding pools. The pool underneath the top cascade is often used for swimming, although swimmers should be carefully observed since there are steep rock slopes nearby. The second cascade falls in a concave semi-circle into a deep pothole which is about the size of a large hot tub. However, this hot tub is filled with cold creek water that you probably don't want to swim in except in the hottest part of summer. The pool underneath the beautiful 50-foot cascade is the largest of the three but also the shallowest. The main attraction here is finding crayfish and other creek life. Below this cascade are several more cascades, one with a wide pool with a mud bottom.

The cascades of this waterfall go on and on and one could spend a few hours exploring everything here. However, the trail really doesn't continue past the pool below the 50-foot cascade so be careful when you hike. Likewise, if you do choose to swim or wade in any of the pools, be aware that high waters can cause strong currents that can pull you over the edge of the pool and down the next cascade. In other words, have fun but be smart and don't take chances. There's a reason why it is also called Deadman's Falls.

Total distances : No hiking is really necessary although you may have to negotiate a somewhat steep path to get to the bottom of the largest cascade. However, the distance is only a hundred feet or so.

Other Nearby Waterfalls : Panther Falls

Complete List of Falls of the Month : Falls of Rocky Mountain National Park Part IV - February 2001, Falls of Rocky Mountain National Park Part III - January 2001, Falls of Rocky Mountain National Park Part II - November/December 2000, Falls of Rocky Mountain National Park Part I - June through October 2000, Bash Bish Falls - May 2000, Wadsworth Falls - March 2000, Staton's Falls - February 2000, no December or January Falls of Month (I was lazy...), Raymondskill Falls - November 1999, Linville Falls - October 1999, no September 1999 Falls of the Month, Race Brook Falls - August 1999, Blackwater Falls - July 1999, Muddy Creek Falls - June 1999, Whiteoak Canyon - May 1999, Elakala Falls - April 1999, Southford Falls - March 1999