Dark Hollow Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 70 ft high | Virginia
1.4 mi round trip
440 ft
Easy
Dark Hollow Falls Hike at a Glance
The Dark Hollow Falls hike is 1.4 mi round trip with 440 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 70 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 3,140 ft |
| Distance | 1.4 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 440 ft |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 40 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 50 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 390 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1.4 mi distance and 440 ft of gain for this hike are verified (visitskylinedrive.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Dark Hollow Falls
Dark Hollow Falls is a waterfall in Virginia, about 70 feet high, on land managed by Shenandoah National Park. Its height is from visitskylinedrive.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Dark Hollow Falls Trail: 1.4 miles round trip with about 440 feet of elevation gain, from Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7). Allow 1 hour 15 minutes. Distance from visitskylinedrive.org; elevation gain from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Easy.
Before You Go
- Pets are not allowed on this hike. (nps.gov)
- The trail is short but very steep and rocky, and the return climb is challenging. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Shenandoah National Park for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Dark Hollow Falls?
The Dark Hollow Falls Trail to Dark Hollow Falls is 1.4 miles round trip with about 440 feet of elevation gain. Allow 1 hour 15 minutes.
Where does the Dark Hollow Falls hike start?
It starts from Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7).
How tall is Dark Hollow Falls?
Dark Hollow Falls is about 70 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Dark Hollow Falls trail?
Pets are not allowed on this hike.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Dark Hollow Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- visitskylinedrive.org
- Distance
- visitskylinedrive.org
- Falls height
- visitskylinedrive.org
- Falls location
- gowaterfalling.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Dark Hollow Falls.