Rose River Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 67 ft high | Virginia
4 mi loop
910 ft
Moderate
Rose River Falls Hike at a Glance
The Rose River Falls hike via the Rose River Loop Trail is 4 mi loop with 910 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 67 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,480 ft |
| Trail | Rose River Loop Trail |
| Distance | 4 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 910 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,010 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 4 mi distance and 910 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 Rose River Falls
Rose River Falls is a waterfall in Virginia, about 67 feet high, on land managed by Shenandoah National Park. Its height is from nps.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Rose River Loop Trail: 4 miles as a loop with about 910 feet of elevation gain, from Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4). Allow 4 hours 30 minutes. Distance from nps.gov. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park. (nps.gov)
- Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. (nps.gov)
- This trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines. (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 Rose River Falls?
The Rose River Loop Trail to Rose River Falls is 4 miles as a loop with about 910 feet of elevation gain. Allow 4 hours 30 minutes.
Where does the Rose River Falls hike start?
It starts from Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4).
How tall is Rose River Falls?
Rose River Falls is about 67 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Rose River Falls?
An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park.
Are dogs allowed on the Rose River Falls trail?
Pets must be on a 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 Rose 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
- nps.gov
- 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 Rose River Falls.