Summit Seeker
Looking up at part of Crabtree Falls

Waterfall Hikes in Virginia

14 Curated Trails

Waterfall Hikes in Virginia at a Glance

This page lists 14 waterfall hikes in Virginia from the Summit Seeker trail database. Summit elevations run from 150 ft (Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia)) to 3,140 ft (Dark Hollow Falls).

14 of the 14 routes have a distance we can quote from a published source. The shortest is Lands Run Falls at 1.3 mi; the longest is Hazel Falls at 5.3 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 325 ft (Lands Run Falls) to 1,291 ft (Overall Run Falls). Together the quoted routes add up to 44.9 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 6 moderate, 2 easy, 2 hard.

11 of the 14 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.

Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.

Every waterfall hike in Virginia, with route facts

Trail Summit Route Distance Gain Time Difficulty Trailhead
Dark Hollow Falls 3,140 ft — 1.4 mi round trip 440 ft — Easy Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7)
Lewis Falls 2,770 ft — 3.3 mi loop 990 ft — Moderate —
Whiteoak Canyon Falls 2,630 ft Whiteoak Canyon Trail 4.6 mi round trip 1,040 ft — Moderate Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6)
Apple Orchard Falls 2,510 ft — 2.6 mi round trip — — — —
Rose River Falls 2,480 ft Rose River Loop Trail 4 mi loop 910 ft — Moderate Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4)
South River Falls 2,220 ft — 3.3 mi loop 910 ft — Moderate South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7)
Jones Run Falls 2,150 ft Jones Run Trail 3.2 mi round trip 1,045 ft — Moderate Jones Run Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 84.1)
Doyles River Falls 2,080 ft Doyles River Trail 3.3 mi round trip 1,189 ft — Moderate Doyles River Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 81.1)
Hazel Falls 2,000 ft Hazel Mountain Trail 5.3 mi round trip 1,070 ft — Hard Meadow Spring Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 33.5)
Overall Run Falls 1,900 ft Traces Trail 5.1 mi round trip 1,291 ft — Hard Mathews Arm Campground Registration Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 22.1)
Lands Run Falls 1,710 ft Lands Run Gap Road 1.3 mi round trip 325 ft — Easy Lands Run parking area (Skyline Drive mile 9.2)
Crabtree Falls (Virginia) 1,610 ft Crabtree Falls Trail 3 mi round trip — — — Crabtree Falls parking area, Crabtree Falls Highway (VA 56), Montebello
Roaring Run Falls 1,570 ft Roaring Run Loop Trail 1.5 mi loop — — — —
Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia) 150 ft River Trail 3 mi round trip — — — Great Falls Park Visitor Center

Route notes

  • Dark Hollow Falls — 1.4 mi round trip from Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7), 440 ft of elevation gain, rated Easy.
  • Lewis Falls — a 3.3-mile loop, 990 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Whiteoak Canyon Falls — 4.6 mi round trip via the Whiteoak Canyon Trail from Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6), 1,040 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • Apple Orchard Falls — 2.6 mi round trip.
  • Rose River Falls — a 4-mile loop via the Rose River Loop Trail from Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4), 910 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • South River Falls — a 3.3-mile loop from South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7), 910 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • Jones Run Falls — 3.2 mi round trip via the Jones Run Trail from Jones Run Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 84.1), 1,045 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • Doyles River Falls — 3.3 mi round trip via the Doyles River Trail from Doyles River Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 81.1), 1,189 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
  • Hazel Falls — 5.3 mi round trip via the Hazel Mountain Trail from Meadow Spring Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 33.5), 1,070 ft of elevation gain, rated Hard. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • Overall Run Falls — 5.1 mi round trip via the Traces Trail from Mathews Arm Campground Registration Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 22.1), 1,291 ft of elevation gain, rated Hard.
  • Lands Run Falls — 1.3 mi round trip via the Lands Run Gap Road from Lands Run parking area (Skyline Drive mile 9.2), 325 ft of elevation gain, rated Easy. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
  • Crabtree Falls (Virginia) — 3 mi round trip via the Crabtree Falls Trail from Crabtree Falls parking area, Crabtree Falls Highway (VA 56), Montebello.
  • Roaring Run Falls — a 1.5-mile loop via the Roaring Run Loop Trail.
  • Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia) — 3 mi round trip via the River Trail from Great Falls Park Visitor Center. Parking: Great Falls Park charges a $20 parking fee..
2,510 ft

Apple Orchard Falls

2.6 mi
View
Looking up at part of Crabtree Falls
1,610 ft

Crabtree Falls (Virginia)

3 mi
View
Dark Hollow Falls in fog
3,140 ft

Dark Hollow Falls

1.4 mi
440 ft
Easy View
2,080 ft

Doyles River Falls

3.3 mi
1,189 ft
Moderate View
150 ft

Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia)

3 mi
View
2,000 ft

Hazel Falls

5.3 mi
1,070 ft
Hard View
2,150 ft

Jones Run Falls

3.2 mi
1,045 ft
Moderate View
1,710 ft

Lands Run Falls

1.3 mi
325 ft
Easy View
Lewis Falls in Shenandoah National Park
2,770 ft

Lewis Falls

3.3 mi
990 ft
Moderate View
1,900 ft

Overall Run Falls

5.1 mi
1,291 ft
Hard View
1,570 ft

Roaring Run Falls

1.5 mi
View
2,480 ft

Rose River Falls

4 mi
910 ft
Moderate View
2,220 ft

South River Falls

3.3 mi
910 ft
Moderate View
2,630 ft

Whiteoak Canyon Falls

4.6 mi
1,040 ft
Moderate View