Cascades is a conservation area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests near Pembroke in western Virginia, named for a 60-foot waterfall on Little Stony Creek flowing toward the New River. Set in the Ridge and Valley Province, it is known for folded ridges, narrow valleys, visible fossils, and the exceptional biodiversity of the southern Appalachians. The area includes notable plants, potential old-growth forest, and a creek considered eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation. Popular destinations include the waterfall trail and Barney’s Wall, while conservation advocates have emphasized its vulnerability because it lacked added protections given to some inventoried roadless areas.