Waterfall Hero Hikes: Whiteoak Canyon Waterfalls (Shenandoah)

There are six waterfalls on Whiteoak Run and another one on a tributary in the Whiteoak Canyon in Madison County, Virginia. The waterfalls are located in Shenandoah National Park.

Hike Length: 7.2 miles
Estimated Time: 4 to 6 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Location: Central District of Shenandoah National Park
Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (7)
Crowds: Very High
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 38.55603,-78.38671
Waterfall GPS: 38.56351,-78.36384 (Waterfall 1), 38.56074,-78.35939 (Waterfall 2), 38.55949, -78.35696 (Waterfall 3), 38.55700,-78.35447 (Waterfall 5), 38.55595,-78.35317 (Waterfall 6), 38.55671, -78.35184 (Tims River Falls)

Directions:

From Charlottesville, head north on US-29 for about 12 miles and turn left on US-33. Drive 14 miles and turn right to Skyline Drive. The park admission gate is here. Turn left onto Skyline Drive northbound and go 19.7 miles to Hawksbill Gap Parking at milepost 45.6.

Map:

Hike Description:

Pick up Cedar Run Trail and immediately turn left on Skyland-Big Meadow Horse Trail. Go just over a 0.5 miles and turn right on Whiteoak Canyon Fire Road and follow this for about 1.5 miles to where it crosses Whiteoak Run above the the first waterfall. Cross the creek on a bridge and turn right on Whiteoak Canyon Trail. In about 0.1 miles there will be an overlook with views of the waterfall. This is the first and tallest waterfall in Whiteoak Canyon at 86 feet high.

Continue on Whiteoak Canyon Trail about another 0.5 miles. You can see the second waterfall from the trail, but continue a short ways to creek level and follow the creek upstream to the base.

Follow the trail for another 0.2 miles and there will be a rock overlook with views of the third waterfall.

From here, go another half-mile and the trail will begin to descend towards the base of waterfall #6 on switchbacks. Just before the end of the switchbacks, follow an obvious path on the right that leads to the top of waterfall #6. Follow the creek upstream a quarter-mile or so to the base of Whiteoak Canyon Falls #5.

From here, go back to the main trail at the end of the switchbacks and follow to the base of the sixth waterfall.

Just past the 6th waterfall, the trail crosses Tims River. Cross the river to the opposite side and scramble up the bank and follow a path to the base of the waterfall.