South River Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 83 ft high | Virginia
3.3 mi loop
910 ft
Moderate
South River Falls Hike at a Glance
The South River Falls hike is 3.3 mi loop with 910 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 83 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,220 ft |
| Distance | 3.3 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 910 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 35 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 1 h 55 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 880 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 3.3 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 South River Falls
South River Falls is a waterfall in Virginia, about 83 feet high, on land managed by Shenandoah National Park. Its height is from nps.gov.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the South River Falls Trail: 3.3 miles as a loop with about 910 feet of elevation gain, from South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7). Allow 2 hour 15 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 South River Falls?
The South River Falls Trail to South River Falls is 3.3 miles as a loop with about 910 feet of elevation gain. Allow 2 hour 15 minutes.
Where does the South River Falls hike start?
It starts from South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7).
How tall is South River Falls?
South River Falls is about 83 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to South River Falls?
An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park.
Are dogs allowed on the South 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 South 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
- 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 South River Falls.