Whiteoak Canyon Falls Hike
Waterfall | Virginia
4.6 mi round trip
1,040 ft
Moderate
Whiteoak Canyon Falls Hike at a Glance
The Whiteoak Canyon Falls hike via the Whiteoak Canyon Trail is 4.6 mi round trip with 1,040 ft of elevation gain.
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 2,630 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | Whiteoak Canyon Trail |
| Distance | 4.6 mi round trip |
| Elevation gain | 1,040 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 2 h 5 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 35 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,160 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 4.6 mi distance and 1,040 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 Whiteoak Canyon Falls
Whiteoak Canyon Falls is a waterfall in Virginia, on land managed by Shenandoah National Park.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Whiteoak Canyon Trail: 4.6 miles round trip with about 1,040 feet of elevation gain, from Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6). Allow 3 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 Whiteoak Canyon Falls?
The Whiteoak Canyon Trail to Whiteoak Canyon Falls is 4.6 miles round trip with about 1,040 feet of elevation gain. Allow 3 hours 30 minutes.
Where does the Whiteoak Canyon Falls hike start?
It starts from Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6).
Is there a fee to hike to Whiteoak Canyon Falls?
An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park.
Are dogs allowed on the Whiteoak Canyon 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 Whiteoak Canyon Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- 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 Whiteoak Canyon Falls.