Doyles River Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 63 ft high | Virginia
3.3 mi round trip
1,189 ft
Moderate
Doyles River Falls Hike at a Glance
The Doyles River Falls hike via the Doyles River Trail is 3.3 mi round trip with 1,189 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 63 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,080 ft |
| Trail | Doyles River Trail |
| Distance | 3.3 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,189 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 40 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 5 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 960 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3.3 mi distance and 1,189 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Doyles River Falls
Doyles River Falls is a waterfall in Virginia, about 63 feet high, on land managed by Shenandoah National Park. Its height is from visitskylinedrive.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Doyles River Trail: 3.3 miles round trip with about 1,189 feet of elevation gain, from Doyles River Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 81.1). Allow 2 hours 15 minutes. Distance from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- Pets must be on a physical leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. (nps.gov)
- Be prepared for a stream crossing. (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 Doyles River Falls?
The Doyles River Trail to Doyles River Falls is 3.3 miles round trip with about 1,189 feet of elevation gain. Allow 2 hours 15 minutes.
Where does the Doyles River Falls hike start?
It starts from Doyles River Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 81.1).
How tall is Doyles River Falls?
Doyles River Falls is about 63 feet high.
Are dogs allowed on the Doyles River Falls trail?
Pets must be on a physical leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
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 Doyles River Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls height
- visitskylinedrive.org
- Falls location
- worldwaterfalldatabase.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 Doyles River Falls.