1. Introduction
The Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls has incredible waterfalls, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls sites to visit in Virginia. The park has several waterfalls which are accessible within moderate hiking distance. It is the best place if you are seeking a good hiking place that lies in the womb of nature. If you are a nature enthusiast you are going to put these falls under your most favorite places.
2. Whiteoak Canyon Falls
Whiteoak Canyon falls is remembered by the hikers as one of their best hiking experiences in Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls. Lying on the elevation of 1040 ft height, it takes around 3 and half hours to reach the top of waterfall Canyon falls.
If you are wondering about what the difficulty level of this fall would be then don’t get anxious as it is quite moderate. Though it may feel strenuous on our and back hike.
But all the tedious and exhaustive actions and efforts to take step by step with all the strength left and get closer to the falls, will definitely be worth it.
The Whiteoak Canyon Trail has prominently made its wanderers of exotic and most sheer beauty, known throughout the world.
The tumbling waterfall comes down slowly and with serene pace, stealthy from the gorge and suddenly takes a form like white clouds of beauty and then scattered all around in cascades, waves playing with each other and wandering together like two lovers walking in an autumn evening under falling pale leaves.
Merely the imagination of the scene could make feel a vibe of intense serenity, so what would be the actual experience of visiting the site?
After going through a hard-core way step by step and finally reaching your goal and witnessing the heaven which nature provides to us.
It would give you a soothing cool calm to the whole body which was silently moaning in pain, now all of it will vanish and you will feel a new enthusiasm inside out.
3. Naked Creek Falls
Situated in an elevation gain of 207m with a length of 2.4 km, in the East branch of Stanley, Virginia, the Naked creek falls are found to be an off-trail falls of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls. It is about a 1.5-mile marker, you may find it near skyline drive.
The gaze of Naked creek falls inevitably found to witness a most breathtaking, spectacular beauty. The saturated hues of freshly green and blue create one of the most wondering views to behold.
The shattering streams tumbling down with a joy of life and zeal which gives your soul the satisfaction of new enthusiasm.
Though it is also undeniable that the creek has given a tough challenge to the hikers as it is an off-trail fall. The hiking paths wouldn’t be easy to go along with as it may get slippery, and hard to walk, especially in spring season.
The Naked creek falls is most of the time underrated because of its seclusion from other Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls, though it’s secluded serenity and spectrum charm is what makes it stand out to be the most elusive park Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park.
4. Dark Hollow Falls Trail
Dark Hollow Falls as its name reflects, lies in a hollow route towards the south of Big Meadows Lodge of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls. It is a well-known waterfall hike, and you are also going to love it because of its speciality. It is a short distance hike in Shenandoah National Park. It is around 1.5 miles, which is a 1.75-kilometer-long walk.
It is recommended to go through this beautiful trail with a short distance. The trail starts on Skyline Drive MP50.7 south.
If you are looking for some amazing experience in less time or planning a short holiday while travelling alone, the dark hollow falls trail would surely be worth it to be on your bucket list.
It will take approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes. The other side of the coin is, this trail lies a short distance but the difficulty level of it would be high in comparison to other moderator hikes of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls.
It is highly rocky and steep which also causes danger if it gets wet and slippery in the moist season.
If Dark hollow falls is one of the hikes which is on your bucket list, then make sure you are mindful and fully prepared to tackle any situation.
Especially if you are visiting along with your children, you should be more cautious about this hike. Infact with children, the hiking would be more difficult as children tend to get tempered and excited very easily with such places.
5. Shortest Hike: Lewis Falls
The Lewis falls hike of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls, is a shortest hike which begins about 2 miles from the parking lot. The hikes will take approximately 4 hours to reach these falls. The waterfall is at a great 81-ft height, and there is a waterfall which gradually saturated into a beautiful charming valley. This waterfall is easily accessible for the visitors because of its moderate and shortest hike distance.
It is one of the strenuous Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls, lies on an elevation gain of 990 ft and takes almost 4 hours of hiking to reach a wonderful viewpoint of waterfalls.
Starting from Big meadows Amphitheatre area the hike will take you through a 3.3-mile walking distance. And the best part of its short distance is that you won’t have to deal with the flowing water coming through several streams during your hiking period.
Although it is a short hike like Dark hollow trail falls but unlike it, the Lewis trail falls is less hard to hike with a moderate level of hiking difficulty.
It will be really great fun for you and your family and friends to hike together on this trail and take advantage to witness the world of nature. It is highly recommended to visit, if you ever plan your holiday or trip to Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls, because in a short time you will get fantastic joy.
6. Cedar Run Falls
The Cedar Run waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls lie halfway down Skyline Drive. This hike is not for anyone or everyone as only the most resistant and patient people would be capable of reaching the milestone of Cedar Run Falls. Situated on an elevation of 2,794 ft height, with a distance of around 8.1-mile marker, The Cedar run trail will take almost 7 tedious and exhaustive hours of hiking to reach the Cedar Run falls.
The difficulty level of this hike is strenuous, which means it will take a huge toll on your physical capacity as well as mental ability of persistence. You will have to encounter a lot of barriers throughout your way to cedar run falls. You will need to cross several slippery streams with utmost precautions as it may be highly dangerous. The walking way itself is very steep. The long 7 hours makes it more difficult to suffer.
Although if you are able to be consistent in your hard efforts and resistant to all the barriers you encounter in your way, you will be rewarded with nature’s rejuvenation and healing. The hike is famously known for its huge variety of lovely cascades areas and wonderful and soothing view of waterfalls or to enjoy a picnic.
Along with this you will get the chance to take a good session of swimming to feel the relaxation of your inflamed and straining veins with a cold soothing bath. The Cedar Run Falls are known for its amazing swimming spot provided to its visitors. It is further known for its extravagant aqua beauty which really makes your whole efforts worth making.
7. Rose River Falls
Lies on an elevation of 910 ft with a 4-mile circuit hike, The Rose River trails take you through a dazzling way to the most beautiful waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls.
The beautifully paved ways of hiking make sure you will encounter several beautiful streams which slowly come down through narrow gorge.
And if you will choose the favourable season like spring or rain, you will get a chance to adore the wonders of beautiful cascades through the trail.
In addition, you may see several rapids flowing down water streams, making a remarkable canyon spread across hundreds of yards of the Rose River trails. With a duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes and moderate hiking difficulty, the Rose River waterfalls of Shenandoah National Park is one of the most alluring hikes.
Its exhaustive beauty has become a lead character for the tempering of visitors towards this fall. It gives pleasing comfort to our naked eyes. The aesthetic of nature is apparent on rose river falls of Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls.
In your trip lists if you visit Shenandoah National Park, you must visit the Rose River waterfalls to behold the charismatic tapestry of nature. You will surely not regret this and it may become one of the most beautiful places you may have seen. So what are you waiting for, go get your pen and put down the Rose River falls at the top of your visit list of Shenandoah National Valley.
8. Most Popular: Jones Run Falls
It is one of the Shenandoah falls which can be enjoyed both by outdoor tourists and locals netizens. Jones run falls lie on milepost 884.1 near Skylines Drive. Along with the tourists, its crazy likeability has been spread among the local residents of Jones Run Falls also.
The distance of Jone runs falls is 3.2-mile round hike with an elevation of 1045 feet. It takes approximately two and a half hours to cover the total hiking distance. It is one of the most favored hiking places of Shenandoah National Park. It also provides a lot of opportunities for wonderful and amazing sightseeing places for its visitors as it consists of plenty of scenic views of calming waterfalls and water streams.
It is obvious why it’s so popular. Nature and mountain lovers will definitely love the place as it is enclosed in vegetation. There you will see a lush of sprawled greenery and mossy rocks in the trail. With a moderate level of difficulty, the trail will take through most beautiful water streams in the middle and way and finally take you to a 42 ft long and hefty waterfall beside a mountain stream steeplying through the elevation of the mountain.
9. Perfect for Photos: South River Falls
Starting from the south river picnic ground, the south river falls is a long distance hike of 3.3 miles. The amount of time would be approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes through this trail, elevated at the height of 910 ft in the Shenandoah National park.
You will get a sparkling glimpse of a variety of wildflowers and birds which are not seen usually of which are unique and rare in their own way.
South River Falls has an astonishing charm to capture. After Jones run falls and Rose river park, the South River falls is considered to be the third most astounding waterfall in the park.
The waterfall has two tiers of water stream falling down as waterfall and a quite uniquely self designed rock shelves on its walls, nature indeed a great artist.
This 83-foot waterfall is wonderful if you get a chance to gaze at it from a distance and if you get more curious to get further climbing to the base, of course you can do it.
While sitting in the pools at the bottom of the waterfall, you can relish the refinement of the very moment of serenity and freshness at the same time.
The scenic views of this waterfall will take to another world of sublimity to cherish the boon of nature.
You must carry your camera if you ever wish or plan to visit south river falls, you will get plenty of amazing images of nature’s beauty. You will definitely regret coming without a camera in case you choose to not take it along.
10. Highest Waterfall: Overall Run Falls
It is a major waterfall of the Shenandoah National park and is under protection which doesn’t allow much interference or restrict the interference with the overall run waterfall. It is important to Shenandoah park because it is the highest fall of the park which lies in an elevation gain of 1291 ft with a 93 ft tall waterfall. This hike begins at Milepost 221.2 on Skyline Drive.
Because of certain restrictions, you will not get much time to explore this location. However, the stunning view would make sure to get you stunning pictures of these falls. This waterfall is quite on a high point and this picturesque waterfall is flowing through a dense forest.
The 4 hours hiking, covering the hiking distance of almost 5.1-mile round trip will have the two different ways for you to choose to reach the actual point of falls.
One is a long distance going through the normal way of hiking filled with rocky ways of a moderate difficulty level. The other way is shorter in comparison with the other one and contains an observation point.
The overall falls have left with a low amount of water density because of its degradation which leads it to be protected, but still you may get the chance to witness the falls while covering the overall distance of this beautiful hike trail.
11. Dual-Waterfall Beauty: Doyle’s River Falls
Doyle River Falls are quite uniquely designed if you look at its quality of double waterfalls at the same time in Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls. The waterfalls have been created in the park in two sets of waterfalls, The Upper Falls and Lower Falls form the whole Doyle River Falls.
These two are the main reasons for the attraction of tourists towards this unique Shenandoah waterfall.
The natural beauty of both of the waterfalls of Doyle River falls creates a pleasing delirium of heaven-like experience for the hikers. The Upper Doyle’s River falls have a height of 28ft and the Lower Fall has an elevation of 65ft.
The Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls hike is strenuous, the difficulty level is high which may leave you feeling exhausted entirely and also could give a great strain and physical pain to all over you body, specially your thighs and toes.
It is 3.3 miles away, one of the shortest and toughest hikes in Shenandoah National park. It should take almost 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the overall distance.
12. Be Prepared and take Necessary Precautions
Hiking is quite good for your health; it is great if you are planning to visit a hiking place with full enthusiasm and energy. But you should be precisely prepared for your hiking, especially if you are visiting with your family, friends and children.
Take all the necessary medicines, first aid box, and don’t forget to take a medical checkup before hiking. Choose the place according to a precise assessment of your capacity to complete it, and be realistic.
13. Conclusion
Shenandoah National Park Waterfalls is indeed an astounding beauty to explore. There are several waterfall hikes to visit, you should choose the suitable hike according to your preferences.
You will definitely not regret it if you plan to visit any of the above-mentioned waterfall hikes as all they have one or another unique quality and are filled with astonishing nature’s beauty.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
