The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to some stunning waterfalls, which provide the perfect opportunity for a natural escape. Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike or a leisurely stroll, these waterfalls have something for everyone.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best spots in Virginia to enjoy a waterfall. So pack your hiking boots and get ready to explore some of nature’s finest work!
1. Great Falls National Park
The Great Falls National Park is home to the impressive Great Falls, a series of waterfalls that stretch for more than 700 feet. Visitors can enjoy a variety of hiking trails that range in difficulty, as well as scenic overlooks that provide beautiful views of the falls.
Great Falls VA has a variety of activities for people of all ages and abilities. On accessible trails, you may get a great view of the waterfall. The park is a great area for families and friends to get together and enjoy nature near DC.
2. Hazel Falls
This waterfall lies in Shenandoah National Park’s “Hazel Country,” which was a thickly inhabited region prior to the park’s establishment. The trail follows the Hazel River through hill and valley to Hazel Falls, where a rock indentation provides a natural shelter beside the falls, all within a deep stone amphitheater.
The first 2.4 miles to Hazel Falls are on historic settlement roads, but the final 0.3 miles to the falls and cave are on a steep route. Just before the waterfall, you’ll come upon a rock shelter on your right. The rock indentation is on your right, at the base of a massive granite cliff, and it makes for a very solid roof. The cave is roughly ten feet deep, twenty-five feet broad, and seven feet tall.
3. Dark Hollow Falls
Dark Hollow Falls is located in the Big Meadows area of Shenandoah National Park, which offers facilities such as a lodge, campsite, camp shop, visitor center, and picnic area, enhancing the options after your trip to Dark Hollow Falls.
The Dark Hollow Falls Trail leaves Skyline Drive and runs alongside Hogcamp Branch, putting on a scenic show as it stair-steps down to the Rose River, falling and crashing in every type of fall, slide, cataract, and cascade, one tumbler after another, to collect in surprisingly deep pools, only to fall again.
The 70-foot waterfall is accessible by a moderate/strenuous hike that is less than a mile long. The trail to the falls is steep in places, but well worth the effort. The waterfall can be seen from several vantage points, and it’s a great place to take a break and enjoy the sounds of nature.
4. Overall Run Falls
Overall Run Falls is the tallest waterfall in Shenandoah National Park. The first three kilometers are devoid of any water, until arriving at Twin Falls, the first cascade. Twin Falls is seen from a rock outcropping on the left side of the route. A massive rock splits Overall Run, forcing the water to split into two channels that descend 29 feet.
A quarter-mile farther up, you’ll reach a large open cliff with a panoramic vista. Overall Run Falls cascades 93 feet into the canyon below, with Page Valley and Massanutten Mountain in the background and the Alleghenies in the distance.
The falls can be reached by a moderate hike that is just over three miles long. The hike is mostly downhill, and the waterfall can be seen from several vantage points. Overall Run Falls is a beautiful sight to behold, and it’s definitely worth the effort to visit.
5. Lace Falls
Natural Bridge State Park is home to Lace Falls, one of Virginia’s most well-known attractions. Natural Bridge, a 215-foot-high and 90-foot-wide limestone arch overshadow this 50-foot cascade, but if you’re going to see Lace Falls, you may as well see Natural Bridge.
Hike beside Cascade Creek’s falling waters and minor waterfalls before heading into Cedar Creek’s steep canyon to witness Natural Bridge. The walk continues ahead to a circular viewing point where you may see Lace Falls cascading over layers of slippery rock.
The trail to Lace Falls is an easy .25-mile walk from the parking lot and takes visitors through a beautiful hardwood forest. The waterfall is named for the delicate lace-like patterns on the cliff face.
6. Whiteoak Canyon
Whiteoak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park has so many waterfalls that it’s difficult to keep track of them all. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail has six sequentially numbered falls that drop over the gorge of Whiteoak Run, with smaller cataracts in between. Whether you properly identify and number the falls or not, you will be rewarded with not only a plethora of cascading waterfalls but also canyon vistas and breathtaking beauty everywhere you turn.
The route occasionally veers away from the stream, passing through open rock where stairs have been cut into the bare stone. Begin a pattern of approaching a waterfall, then switching back and ascending to the foot of another waterfall.
At 2.7 miles, you’ll reach a rock observation point above Whiteoak Falls (no. 1), Shenandoah National Park’s second-highest waterfall at 86 feet. Try to count cataracts on your way back. Whiteoak Run, after all, has more cascades per mile than any other stream in Shenandoah National Park, which is quite a feat.
7. South River Falls
The 83-foot South River Falls may be seen from a variety of perspectives. This Shenandoah National Park gem is situated along the verdant South River, which is shaded by golden birch trees and abundant in wildflowers. South River Falls, which overflows over a rock wall and separates into two chutes plunging downstream, may be seen from an outcrop about a mile from the trailhead.
From the vantage point, the falls can be seen as a white ribbon cascading over a rock into a pool. The hike is a moderate-level two-mile loop that offers hikers plenty of opportunities to see the waterfall from different angles.
Virginia is home to some stunning waterfalls, and whether you’re looking for an easy walk or a more challenging hike, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs. So get out there and explore the incredible natural beauty of Virginia’s waterfalls!
Featured Image Credit: Medium
