Locations: Skyline Drive MP 42.6, at the Whiteoak parking area or MP 45.6, at the Hawksbill Gap parking lot.Distance: minimum 6 miles (9.7 kilometers), out and back.The best place to start this particular hike is the Hawksbill Gap parking lot at MP 45.6.Īll these options might be a bit confusing, but the Shenandoah National Park waterfalls map at the end of this post will clarify a lot. If you’re up for a challenge and confident in your fitness level, you might consider making this a loop hike by linking the Whiteoak Canyon Trail with the Cedar Run Trail.ĭoing so, you’ll add at least two more wonderful waterfalls, creating a very strenuous 7.7-mile (12.4-kilometer) circuit. This lower trailhead, however, lies on the park’s boundary and isn’t accessible from Skyline Drive, which makes it inconvenient if you’re focusing on driving Skyline Drive.īut if you’re staying in Charlottesville, for example, this would be the quickest way to get to the Whiteoak Canyon Falls. This way, you’ll save the easy part, the descent, for last. You can also start this hike from below, at a parking lot called the Whiteoak Canyon Boundary Trailhead. Please don’t overestimate your hiking abilities on this hike. The roundtrip to the lowest of the lower falls and back up is more than 7 miles (11 kilometers)-and, again, it’s steep. The Whiteoak trailhead on Skyline Drive lies basically just across the street from Skyland Resort. There are no fewer than six of them, three upper falls and three lower falls. Running steeply down into a rocky gorge, the return trip is a definite thigh-cruncher.Īs strenuous as it may be, it’s totally worth it for the abundance of waterfalls in the canyon. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail is one of the most difficult hikes in Shenandoah National Park. Location: Skyline Drive MP 62.8, at the South River Picnic Area.Distance: 4.4 miles (7.1 kilometers), out and back.The trail drops down quickly, after which it runs through a wooded hollow.Įnjoyable because of the trail’s quiet woodsy scenery and the falls’ height, South River Falls definitely belongs in the top 5 Shenandoah National Park waterfalls This hike is 4.4 miles (7.1 kilometers) there and back. Moreover, spring is also a great time to see a bunch of Shenandoah National Park wildflowers in this area. If you’d like to see the waterfall at its mightiest, spring is probably the best time of year to visit. It’s good to know, though, that in summer, the ferocity of the water is much less impressive than in spring or fall. The waterfall is made up of two smaller falls, one above the other, and plunges into a swimming pool below.īecause its setting at a sheer, rather imposing rock face, South River Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park. The third-tallest of the Skyline Drive waterfalls, South River Falls falls 83 feet (25 meters) down a rocky ledge. ![]() It’s definitely the most spectacular season for waterfall hunting. After the snow melts, rivers, streams and waterfall grow in size and volume. Note that the best time to do any of the waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park is spring. Feel free to let me know in the comments if you have a different number one. I’m pretty sure that most people will agree with this selection of Shenandoah National Park waterfalls, though there is, of course, always room for discussion about their order. I’ve done several waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park and these are my five favorites. While there are many Skyline Drive waterfalls, if you’re visiting Shenandoah National Park for just one or two days, I recommend that you focus on the following five. Places To Stay In/Near Shenandoah National Park. ![]() Best Waterfall Hikes In Shenandoah National Park.Many of the park’s streams, originating from springs near the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, tumble down the mountain flanks in series of waterfalls. While driving Skyline Drive, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to go for a waterfall hike. national parks for pleasant exploration and pretty waterfalls. In fact, Shenandoah may just be one of the nicest U.S. ![]() The numerous beautiful Shenandoah National Park waterfalls are one of the main reasons why you should visit this scenic park. ![]() What I haven’t talked about in greater detail, though, is the best waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park. There’s plenty to see and do in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, as I’ve made abundantly clear in other blog posts.įrom driving Skyline Drive to sunset hikes, wildlife watching and stays at historic lodges, this wonderful mountain park has plenty to offer. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here. This Shenandoah National Park waterfall hikes post may contains affiliate links.
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