Chasing Waterfalls: Your Guide to Waterfall Hikes Near Love Ridge
With fall around the corner, but the warmth of summer still lingering early autumn is a perfect time to plan a tour of Blue Ridge Mountain waterfalls. Several of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls in Virginia are just a short drive from our Blue Ridge Mountain lodging.
Three World-Class Waterfalls In Our Backyard
White Rock Falls
Start a few miles down the Blue Ridge Parkway at White Rock Falls. This 40-foot waterfall is accessible via a few different trails, depending on how long of a hike you’re up for, from the shortest (2.5 miles roundtrip from either White Rock Gap or the Slacks Overlook parking area) to the more adventurous (4.6 miles roundtrip to make the entire White Rock Falls Loop).
For an entry-level hike, start an out and back at Slacks Overlook, where you’ll descend through the forest, tracing White Rock Creek. This 2.5 mile out and back is a great way to visit the creek and falls if you are short on time.
If you have a few hours to do the whole loop, park at White Rock Gap and walk across the parkway to the yellow blazed White Rock Trail. You’ll gradually descend along a ravine until you reach White Rock Creek in 1.2 miles. Crossing the creek, you’ll start ascending. The trail gains over 500′ feet over 1/2 a mile with several switchbacks. You will see a spur trail to the right that takes you alongside some big rock formations below the falls. In 200 yards, you’ll reach the pristine waterfall, which splits into two smaller streams as it cascades 30-40 feet over the rocks. While admiring the view and snapping photos, relax and submerge your feet in the shallow pool that gathers at the bottom of the falls (usually too small for swimming, but great for cooling off your feet or splashing around with littles).
Shamokin Falls
Just minutes in the opposite direction (north) from Love Ridge, you’ll find Shamokin Falls, one of the most well-known waterfall hikes in the Shenandoah Valley. Shamokin Falls borders Wintergreen Ski Resort, where you’ll find Virginia’s best downhill skiing and snowboarding during the winter months. For the fastest route to the trailhead, take the Blue Ridge Parkway North to the Dripping Rock Parking Area. Stay on the parking side of the Parkway and follow the trail uphill .1 miles where you will cross Laurel Springs Drive and stay on the “Old Appalachian Trail”. Follow that trail .3 miles to the Shamokin Falls Trail. Take the Shamokin Falls trail another .5 miles to reach Upper Shamokin Falls. This hike can also be done from Wintergreen Resort and capped off with a trip to Fire & Frost. For an added bonus, you can add on the segment of the Appalachian Trail across from the Dripping Rock parking, for a beautiful overlook.
Lower Shamokin Falls is a bit more strenuous but very rewarding, at 3.5 miles roundtrip, traversing densely wooded sections of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Enjoy the creek crossings as you pass by fields of wildflowers like rose azalea and trillium, which paint the landscape white and pink during the warmer months. Both Shamokin Falls are stunning as Stony Creek cascades down 50-60 feet, running at its highest during the spring and lessening as the summer heat sets in and rain dries up. This area is even more spectacular during the Virginia leaf-peeping season, as deep orange and radiant yellow foliage blanket the route leading to the falls.
Crabtree Falls
No list of top east coast waterfalls would be complete without Crabtree Falls. We’re fortunate to have Virginia’s crown jewel of waterfalls just 8 1/2 miles away, where Crabtree Falls – 1,200 feet long and famously the tallest falls east of the Mississippi River – is a must-see during your visit. Composed of five cascades along a 3-mile route, the first overlook of the falls is only ¼ mile from the parking area on a paved section, ideal for those hiking with children or looking for a shorter outing. For the complete experience, follow the well-marked trail as it follows the path of Crabtree Creek, ascending switchbacks roughly 1,100 feet until you reach the massive falls that seem to keep going and going — the most scenic section involving a 60-foot drop over a moss-covered rock cliff, where you can enjoy the splashing spray of water while marveling at the view from below. If you’re an angler, combine your visit to Crabtree Falls with some top-notch Virginia fly-fishing and fun Virginia summer river activities on the adjacent Tye River, where you can toss a line steps away from the parking area and reel in smallmouth bass and wild mountain brook trout. There are two ways to reach Crabtree Falls from Love Ridge, the first is a very steep windy road, Campbells Mountain Road that descends across the Parkway from Love Ridge. This is the most direct and harrowing route to Crabtree Falls. You can also take the Parkway South to Montebello and descend 56 to Crabtree Falls. You can combine both ways to make a really pleasant route. In warmer weather there are several swimming holes to enjoy between Crabtree Falls and the base of Campbells Mountain Road.
Exploring the Falls of Shenandoah National Park
With its sprawling 200,000-acre footprint and headwaters that feed into some of our state’s most prominent rivers, it’s no surprise that waterfalls are a common sight within Shenandoah National Park. Drive 90 minutes north of Love Ridge into the heart of Shenandoah, where Dark Hollow Falls Trail is reachable right from Skyline Drive, the main 100-mile-long thoroughfare stretching from the park’s northern to southern boundaries. While other waterfalls, like Overall Run Falls, are technically more significant (at 93 feet, it’s the highest in the park), they require 5-7 mile round trips to access, making them suitable only for the most committed hikers. In comparison, Dark Hollow Falls Trail is only 1.4 miles roundtrip, and although slightly steep at times, it’s doable for all ages. It’s also unique in that you descend to the waterfall from the trailhead, starting with the more casual portion of the hike as you follow the winding Rose River, bottoming out with a photo-worthy 70-foot series of cascades. If you’re a birdwatcher, bring your binoculars to spot species like ruby-throated hummingbirds, downy woodpeckers, American goldfinches, and turkey vultures, all of which thrive within the park’s boundaries.
In the southern third of Shenandoah National Park (the closest access point to Love Ridge), check off another box on your scenic waterfalls in Virginia list by doing the 3.4-mile roundtrip trek to Doyles River Falls. Like Dark Hollow Falls, the trail starts with a descent down from the trailhead, just off Skyline Drive and only 25 miles from the southern entrance to the park. Within just minutes, you’ll pass the first waterfall, smaller at 30 feet but no less impressive with its three tiers. Continue following the cascading Doyles River to the final drop, where water careens down over 60 feet, a truly breathtaking scene. If you plan to visit Shenandoah National Park for more than one day (which we recommend, as there’s so much to see and do), opt for the annual park pass, which is only $55 for a year, while a single-day vehicle pass is $30.
Make the Best of Your Waterfall Adventure
Although the hiking distances may seem easy and manageable on paper, some essential preparations will make your waterfall adventures as safe and smooth as possible. The likelihood for ticks runs highest from April through September, also the “buggiest” time of year in general, so use bug spray, wear layers when possible, and always do tick checks on yourself after finishing your hike (and on your dogs, if you’re visiting with your furry friend and staying in one of our pet-friendly cabins).
During the summer, these waterfall hikes offer welcomed shade cover and refuge from the sun as you pass through forested sections, but bring plenty of water and snacks to stay energized and hydrated through the hottest and most humid part of the day. It’s worth checking out our local waterfalls during every season, including winter, when the crowds are lowest, but come prepared for icy trails. Creeks flow at their highest during the spring, and waterfalls will be at their most forceful then, making April through June particularly excellent for waterfall viewing when they’re at peak flow.