Not even a mile roundtrip, a visit to The Cascades is worthwhile for anyone near the Boone area. The most popular route is a short trail route leaving from the parking lot at Milepost 272.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The falls are the main attraction in the area, but the picnic area near the parking lot stays busy as well. Refrain from climbing on the rocks near the falls, as people have died here from slipping and falling.