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I'm giving this a 5 because the hike is not overly-long or extremely strenuous. It was, for us, the signature hike we did while visiting Shenandoah NP. The trailhead for this hike is on Skyline Drive itself. The lot appeared to fill up early. You can avoid this by parking at the Big Meadows Visitors' Center lot and doing an additional ~ 1/2-mlie or less hike from there to the trailhead on a separate trail. So if the lot is full, don't give up! You could also hike from lodging at Big Meadows, but it would be at least a mile from there to the VC, so it would become roughly a 3-mile (one-way) hike. From the trailhead, you begin descending almost immediately. Most of the trail is a gentle downhill slope, with occasional steps or slightly steeper inclines. Once you reach the top of the falls, the remainder of the trails (basically a large switchback to get to the base) is steeper, but not too bad. The trail is rocky; if you have hiking poles, they will help. We went in the latter half of October and the Fall foliage was a great bonus during the hike. At the base of the falls, I think the total distance is just under 1.5 miles. We saw people of all ages and fitness levels doing this hike, so it should be within most peoples' ability-range. The return hike (uphill) is definitely more strenuous than the descent. The earlier you go, the more of the crowd you'll likely avoid. Throughout our hike, the crowd on the trail steadily increased (we started around 9:30 a.m., I think). If you are visiting Shenandoah, I would highly recommend this hike.
We arrived in Shenandoah National Park after a full day of exploring in Luray. We were a little disappointed to arrive to a park that was in a complete fog. We couldn't see anything past the front of our car and there was no point in stopping at any of the overlooks along Skyline Drive on the way to the Big Meadows Lodge. We first checked into the Big Meadows lodge where we were going to spend the night. We made a quick stop in the Harry F. Byrd S Visitor Center to get some info of the trails that we wanted to do on our short stopover. Dark Hollow Falls Trail (DFT) was recommended by one of the Park Rangers and it seemed the most appropriate to attempt considering the weather conditions at the time due to distance. One great thing about chasing waterfalls in the rain and fog is that it adds a cool, mystic vibe to the trail. It's actually fun! - Parking - Lot by trail head. - Trail Description - DFT is pretty close to the Big Meadows Lodge. Well maintained trail with lots of shade. Watch out for the slippery rocks on rainy days like the day we went. Some are smooth and some look chipped off of larger rocks. Once you get to the "bridge" it's another 1000ft to the actual waterfall and what a pretty one it is. It has about 4 tiers and there are many great photo ops. The waterfall stands at about 70 ft. Distance - 1.4 RT. Level - Moderate, downhill first, uphill on the way back. Elevation gain - 440 ft. - Kiddos - Our kids are still young but they did it no problem. Just a note though, they lived in Hawaii most of their lives and started hiking at an early age did advanced trails on their own by the end of our time there. Only you know what your family is capable of, so plan accordingly. Some parts of this trail has steep drop offs and since you're going downhill, just watch your kids that they don't pick up speed and lose control. Kids always love to run ahead! There were so many pretty flowers and plants along the way and even more beautiful with the water drops on them. DFT was listed as one of the top waterfall hikes to do in Shenandoah National Park and they were right. It made for a great, quick evening hike before we headed to dinner!
It's a medium hike with the path being little rocky. The waterfall at the end is a bit small so don't be disappointed. The hike coming back will be a bit strenuous. Make sure to take some water. It's easy to climb from the bottom of the falls to the top viewpoint. It's prettier and quieter. Most of the visitors did not venture it. But it's worth it. There was a bit of a crowd by mid day so plan accordingly. There are few parking spots but there is a visitor center at a walking distance with plenty of parking.
The hike is relatively short, but it may be difficult for some people. The entire way to the falls is downhill. So the entire way back to the parking lot is uphill. If you're a relatively experienced hiker--and I just mean you've done a handful--then you'll have no problem with this. But if you're somewhat out of shape, well... This hike is a good place to start changing that! Shenandoah National Park as a whole is a beautiful place with scenic views all around. This hike to Dark Hollow Falls is a great spot to slow down and take in the scenery. It is one of the more popular stops though. There were quite a few people on the trail when we were there.
This trail was beautiful. Dark Hollow Falls is a moderate 1.4 mile roundtrip hike. I did it in sneakers but highly recommend sturdier hiking shoes. It was fun going all the way down, going back up on that incline was another story. It was starting to pick up as we were heading out so go early. Enjoy!
We did this hike at the end of October. It was cloudy and drizzling that day but I still enjoyed this hike throughly. The autumn color was perfect. I would rate this hike as easy. The trail went downhill in the beginning but on the way back the incline was gradual through out the hike. One of my friends who did this hike with me was pregnant and was able to do this hike with breaks intermittently. Parking lot could get busy. I saw some people parked on the grass, just be careful not to get stuck in the mud if it's raining.
Did not love Dark Hollow Falls. The falls themselves are not much to look at from the bridge. You have to walk up to really appreciate the steep water drop. My issue is that this place is so freakin' popular that it is often overcrowded. Hey! I like people and all. But nature just gets lost in the sea of screaming tourists who aren't paying attention. We really struggled to find a spot to enjoy these falls with constant bustling and nudging from others. It's just another waterfall. Here is the alternative. And I hate to tell you about it. Because I'm giving away a great secret. Take the Rose River Falls trail and walk along the most beautiful currents and babbling waters for a good 4+ miles until you reach Dark Hollows. Park at Fishers Gap Overlook between mile markers 49 and 50. Cross the street and take the Rose River Loop trail (not the fire road). Actually, I think the small but mighty Rose River Falls are ten times better than Dark Hollow. Plus you can dip your toe or go for a swim or have a lovely little picnic with as much seclusion as you want. We saw a baby bear so beware you are in bear country. Luckily, we didn't see mama bear. Well if you continue along the Rose falls trail and cross the bridge on your trek eventually you will rise the the trailhead of Dark Hollow. You can go up the Dark Hollow Falls or take the Rose River Fire road back to the parking.
Shortest Trail - downhill is more enjoyable, uphill is a bit challenging. Or at the bottom take the longer but flatter Rose River Fire Road to Fishers Gap Overlook
SMALL MODERATE HIKE, PLENTY PARKING, BEAUTIFUL FALLS! We had an or so more left for sunset so we decided to try the dark hollow falls trail as well. PARKING: Parking is not an issue for this trail. There is plenty of parking spaces in the parking lot, if not then you can also park on the grass on the side of the road. HIKE: Its a small hike with 2.7 miles loop. be sure to wear good slip proof shoes because there are several wet patches along the way. The hike is downhill all the way to the falls with spring flowing along side the trail. The trickling sounds is very soothing. Once you reach close to the bottom, there's kind of an overlook where you can see the head of the falls. Continuing down, you will start seeing the beautiful falls. The falls was very pretty especially after all the rain we had from hurricane Matthew. The only negative point was it was fairly crowded even near the dusk. There are lots of stairs on the way back so I would not recommend taking the stroller like one couple was doing when we were hiking. Ultimately they realized its not possible and had to retract after 0.5 miles along the hike.
The views alone make this trip an easy 5/5. The hike itself is only 1.5 miles round trip which doesn't sound bad until you actually start hiking it. It is very steep with 564 feet in elevation gain. Going down to the destination is about 90% down mountain while coming back is 90% up mountain...a good workout for your legs for sure. I would recommend wearing hiking boots that cover your ankles for extra support as it is very rocky on the paths. There were people of all ages on this trail with the youngest being 5 and oldest in their 80's. It doesn't matter how old you are - you will be stopping for rest/water breaks so enjoy the views when you see them! We stopped along the way to give us ample resting time and absolutely loved it. There is also a visitor center/gift shop less than a half a mile away in case you need food or a restroom. Very much worth the trip out!
==Quick Notes== Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip Rigor: Moderate Terrain: Rocky with some steep steps/incline **saw a bear on the other side of the river** Parking: small lot at Mile 50.7 Can get crowded ==The Experience== It was an extremely foggy weekend in July so the only attractions worth visiting are the waterfalls in this weather. The park rangers recommended Dark Hollow Falls and it's probably the shortest waterfall hike in the park. Though it's short, the trail is a lot steeper than I expected. I did Old Rag the day before, so I ended up using my hiking poles for this one. It was actually pretty handy since the trail has a lot of rocks and tall steps, which could be slippery in lightly rainy weather. The falls are a big attraction even in 'bad' weather, so there will be quite a few hikers on the trail. Getting a picture without other people in it is a challenge, so if you don't like crowds, this probably isn't the greatest spot. What was surprising was that we saw a BEAR on the other side of the river by the falls! What I didn't know is that you could keep going on the trail to Rose River Falls, which were a few miles further (4 miles roundtrip), more secluded, and had easier stretches on its trail [still moderate overall though]. I liked this better, but I'm not sure if it would be as impressive in dryer weather.
4 months ago
We were pumped to try this easy trail but quickly found out it's more moderate than easy. My husband has a broken vertebrae in his back so he had to turn around. I decided to push forward and was so happy I did. Such a breathtaking hike. The falls are gorgeous and the path is very nice. They have steps built in to many steep places that makes it very easy to navigate. It was a very warm spring day and I did not bring enough water. Bring water or at least a filter so you can have as much drinking water as you need. I enjoyed the hike down but was quickly humbled on the way back up! When I say breathtaking I mean I was out of breath and breathing hard on the way up. So worth it though. I actually hiked down to the Rose River Loop Trail and that's where I turned around to go back up and it's like a 945 ft elevation gain in 1.5 miles. I had to take some breaks and even cooled myself down a bit in the water. What an epic hike though and I even saw a deer! read more
1 year ago
Amazing waterfall! It was well worth it. It gets steep coming back up but it's nothing anyone can't do. read more
A moderate hike, you start descending so the last half of the trail is the hard part going up hill. The tail is well kept and this is a hike where you see plenty of people. About a mile and half round trip. You are rewarded with a beautiful waterfall at the end. I recommend this for all skill levels. read more
I'm giving this a 5 because the hike is not overly-long or extremely strenuous. It was, for us, the signature hike we did while visiting Shenandoah NP. The trailhead for this hike is on Skyline Drive itself. The lot appeared to fill up early. You can avoid this by parking at the Big Meadows Visitors' Center lot and doing an additional ~ 1/2-mlie or less hike from there to the trailhead on a separate trail. So if the lot is full, don't give up! You could also hike from lodging at Big Meadows, but it would be at least a mile from there to the VC, so it would become roughly a 3-mile (one-way) hike. From the trailhead, you begin descending almost immediately. Most of the trail is a gentle downhill slope, with occasional steps or slightly steeper inclines. Once you reach the top of the falls, the remainder of the trails (basically a large switchback to get to the base) is steeper, but not too bad. The trail is rocky; if you have hiking poles, they will help. We went in the latter half of October and the Fall foliage was a great bonus during the hike. At the base of the falls, I think the total distance is just under 1.5 miles. We saw people of all ages and fitness levels doing this hike, so it should be within most peoples' ability-range. The return hike (uphill) is definitely more strenuous than the descent. The earlier you go, the more of the crowd you'll likely avoid. Throughout our hike, the crowd on the trail steadily increased (we started around 9:30 a.m., I think). If you are visiting Shenandoah, I would highly recommend this hike. read more
We arrived in Shenandoah National Park after a full day of exploring in Luray. We were a little disappointed to arrive to a park that was in a complete fog. We couldn't see anything past the front of our car and there was no point in stopping at any of the overlooks along Skyline Drive on the way to the Big Meadows Lodge. We first checked into the Big Meadows lodge where we were going to spend the night. We made a quick stop in the Harry F. Byrd S Visitor Center to get some info of the trails that we wanted to do on our short stopover. Dark Hollow Falls Trail (DFT) was recommended by one of the Park Rangers and it seemed the most appropriate to attempt considering the weather conditions at the time due to distance. One great thing about chasing waterfalls in the rain and fog is that it adds a cool, mystic vibe to the trail. It's actually fun! - Parking - Lot by trail head. - Trail Description - DFT is pretty close to the Big Meadows Lodge. Well maintained trail with lots of shade. Watch out for the slippery rocks on rainy days like the day we went. Some are smooth and some look chipped off of larger rocks. Once you get to the "bridge" it's another 1000ft to the actual waterfall and what a pretty one it is. It has about 4 tiers and there are many great photo ops. The waterfall stands at about 70 ft. Distance - 1.4 RT. Level - Moderate, downhill first, uphill on the way back. Elevation gain - 440 ft. - Kiddos - Our kids are still young but they did it no problem. Just a note though, they lived in Hawaii most of their lives and started hiking at an early age did advanced trails on their own by the end of our time there. Only you know what your family is capable of, so plan accordingly. Some parts of this trail has steep drop offs and since you're going downhill, just watch your kids that they don't pick up speed and lose control. Kids always love to run ahead! There were so many pretty flowers and plants along the way and even more beautiful with the water drops on them. DFT was listed as one of the top waterfall hikes to do in Shenandoah National Park and they were right. It made for a great, quick evening hike before we headed to dinner! read more
5 years ago
It's a medium hike with the path being little rocky. The waterfall at the end is a bit small so don't be disappointed. The hike coming back will be a bit strenuous. Make sure to take some water. It's easy to climb from the bottom of the falls to the top viewpoint. It's prettier and quieter. Most of the visitors did not venture it. But it's worth it. There was a bit of a crowd by mid day so plan accordingly. There are few parking spots but there is a visitor center at a walking distance with plenty of parking. read more
2 years ago
Highly recommend this hike if you like waterfalls. We hiked in September and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. It's all downhill to the waterfalls so take it easy and take in the relaxing sounds on the return loop and you'll be fine. read more
The hike is relatively short, but it may be difficult for some people. The entire way to the falls is downhill. So the entire way back to the parking lot is uphill. If you're a relatively experienced hiker--and I just mean you've done a handful--then you'll have no problem with this. But if you're somewhat out of shape, well... This hike is a good place to start changing that! Shenandoah National Park as a whole is a beautiful place with scenic views all around. This hike to Dark Hollow Falls is a great spot to slow down and take in the scenery. It is one of the more popular stops though. There were quite a few people on the trail when we were there. read more
6 years ago
This trail was beautiful. Dark Hollow Falls is a moderate 1.4 mile roundtrip hike. I did it in sneakers but highly recommend sturdier hiking shoes. It was fun going all the way down, going back up on that incline was another story. It was starting to pick up as we were heading out so go early. Enjoy! read more
We did this hike at the end of October. It was cloudy and drizzling that day but I still enjoyed this hike throughly. The autumn color was perfect. I would rate this hike as easy. The trail went downhill in the beginning but on the way back the incline was gradual through out the hike. One of my friends who did this hike with me was pregnant and was able to do this hike with breaks intermittently. Parking lot could get busy. I saw some people parked on the grass, just be careful not to get stuck in the mud if it's raining. read more
8 years ago
Did not love Dark Hollow Falls. The falls themselves are not much to look at from the bridge. You have to walk up to really appreciate the steep water drop. My issue is that this place is so freakin' popular that it is often overcrowded. Hey! I like people and all. But nature just gets lost in the sea of screaming tourists who aren't paying attention. We really struggled to find a spot to enjoy these falls with constant bustling and nudging from others. It's just another waterfall. Here is the alternative. And I hate to tell you about it. Because I'm giving away a great secret. Take the Rose River Falls trail and walk along the most beautiful currents and babbling waters for a good 4+ miles until you reach Dark Hollows. Park at Fishers Gap Overlook between mile markers 49 and 50. Cross the street and take the Rose River Loop trail (not the fire road). Actually, I think the small but mighty Rose River Falls are ten times better than Dark Hollow. Plus you can dip your toe or go for a swim or have a lovely little picnic with as much seclusion as you want. We saw a baby bear so beware you are in bear country. Luckily, we didn't see mama bear. Well if you continue along the Rose falls trail and cross the bridge on your trek eventually you will rise the the trailhead of Dark Hollow. You can go up the Dark Hollow Falls or take the Rose River Fire road back to the parking. read more
4 years ago
Shortest Trail - downhill is more enjoyable, uphill is a bit challenging. Or at the bottom take the longer but flatter Rose River Fire Road to Fishers Gap Overlook read more
10 years ago
SMALL MODERATE HIKE, PLENTY PARKING, BEAUTIFUL FALLS! We had an or so more left for sunset so we decided to try the dark hollow falls trail as well. PARKING: Parking is not an issue for this trail. There is plenty of parking spaces in the parking lot, if not then you can also park on the grass on the side of the road. HIKE: Its a small hike with 2.7 miles loop. be sure to wear good slip proof shoes because there are several wet patches along the way. The hike is downhill all the way to the falls with spring flowing along side the trail. The trickling sounds is very soothing. Once you reach close to the bottom, there's kind of an overlook where you can see the head of the falls. Continuing down, you will start seeing the beautiful falls. The falls was very pretty especially after all the rain we had from hurricane Matthew. The only negative point was it was fairly crowded even near the dusk. There are lots of stairs on the way back so I would not recommend taking the stroller like one couple was doing when we were hiking. Ultimately they realized its not possible and had to retract after 0.5 miles along the hike. read more
The views alone make this trip an easy 5/5. The hike itself is only 1.5 miles round trip which doesn't sound bad until you actually start hiking it. It is very steep with 564 feet in elevation gain. Going down to the destination is about 90% down mountain while coming back is 90% up mountain...a good workout for your legs for sure. I would recommend wearing hiking boots that cover your ankles for extra support as it is very rocky on the paths. There were people of all ages on this trail with the youngest being 5 and oldest in their 80's. It doesn't matter how old you are - you will be stopping for rest/water breaks so enjoy the views when you see them! We stopped along the way to give us ample resting time and absolutely loved it. There is also a visitor center/gift shop less than a half a mile away in case you need food or a restroom. Very much worth the trip out! read more
==Quick Notes== Distance: 1.4 miles roundtrip Rigor: Moderate Terrain: Rocky with some steep steps/incline **saw a bear on the other side of the river** Parking: small lot at Mile 50.7 Can get crowded ==The Experience== It was an extremely foggy weekend in July so the only attractions worth visiting are the waterfalls in this weather. The park rangers recommended Dark Hollow Falls and it's probably the shortest waterfall hike in the park. Though it's short, the trail is a lot steeper than I expected. I did Old Rag the day before, so I ended up using my hiking poles for this one. It was actually pretty handy since the trail has a lot of rocks and tall steps, which could be slippery in lightly rainy weather. The falls are a big attraction even in 'bad' weather, so there will be quite a few hikers on the trail. Getting a picture without other people in it is a challenge, so if you don't like crowds, this probably isn't the greatest spot. What was surprising was that we saw a BEAR on the other side of the river by the falls! What I didn't know is that you could keep going on the trail to Rose River Falls, which were a few miles further (4 miles roundtrip), more secluded, and had easier stretches on its trail [still moderate overall though]. I liked this better, but I'm not sure if it would be as impressive in dryer weather. read more
8 years ago
Great trail. The steps can get a little steep so be careful if it's wet out but going right after a big rain made the waterfall at the bottom so pretty. read more
5 years ago
10 years ago
Great hike. 3 mile round trip. Start out going downhill. Normally, you would be walking beside the creek the whole way, however we've had about a 3 week heatwave so mostly it was a trickle. I'll bet it's Beautiful after a week of rain. Take your time as the entire trip back to your car is straight up. Good spots to stop and snack. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
More info about Dark Hollow Falls Trail
skyline Dr.
Shenandoah National Park
syria, VA 22727
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Dark Hollow Falls Trail - hiking - Updated September 2026
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