Wouldn’t it be magical to be able to hike a trail where you could see 8 beautiful waterfalls? Oh wait… you can! Take a hike on the Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon Loop Trail in Shenandoah National Park. This 8-mile hike is absolutely worth every step! This is probably the best waterfall hike in Virginia… in my personal opinion.
Table of Contents
Know Before You Go
Shenandoah National Park – Entrance Fee
Entrance into Shenandoah National Park is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. If you have the Annual Park Pass (America the Beautiful Pass) then you get in for free. If you don’t have an Annual Pass and you visit National Parks frequently, we highly recommend making the purchase. It costs $80 but totally worth it!
Leave No Trace
Before you go, please make sure you understand the Leave No Trace principles. These seven principles help reduce our environmental impact from outdoor recreational activities. Nature is meant to be enjoyed and respected. 🌱
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
About the Trail
Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon Loop Trail
Location: Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon Falls are located within Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Length & Elevation Gain: It’s about 8 miles with an elevation gain of 2,800 feet.
Hiking Time: It takes an average of 4 to 6 hours to complete this hike.
Route Type: This hike is a loop.
Difficulty Rating: Hard to strenuous depending on fitness level.
Terrain: This trail has dirt, rocks, and stream crossing. The Cedar Run Trail portion is very rocky. The Whiteoak Canyon Trail portion has many rocky steps.
Pet-friendly? Yes! Your furry friend must be a on leash.
How to Get to the Trailhead
Parking is located at the Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (or also known as Hawksbill Loop Trailhead Parking) at mile marker 45.6 in Shenandoah National Park.
Put this address in Google maps: Hawksbill Loop Trailhead Parking, Luray, VA 22835
Trail Directions
From Hawksbill Loop Trailhead Parking, head to the left to get onto the Cedar Run Trail. Be careful on this section! It’s VERY rocky and after a good rain, the rocks become quite slippery.
After trekking along the trail and tackling a few stream crossings, and you will eventually get to two different Cedar Run Falls. Both absolutely beautiful! The first waterfall forms a natural slide which is where it got its name “The Slide”.
The second waterfall is THE Cedar Run Falls. It’s much taller than the first one and very gorgeous. You can hike to the top of the waterfall or go to the base of it and hang out at its swimming hole.
As you continue hiking, you will get to an intersection in the trail. Go left to get onto Whiteoak Canyon Trail. You will follow the stream for a little while until reaching the first waterfall.
On this section of the hike, you will see SIX waterfalls! How cool is that!? Whiteoak Canyon Falls is actually made up of an upper, middle, and lower falls. It’s basically just one GIANT waterfall but split up into six separate parts. The first one, a part of the lower falls, is a 60-foot waterfall followed by two more waterfalls back-to-back.
The next two are basically side-by-side. The second waterfall is 49 feet tall, and the third one is 41 feet tall. These two aren’t as easy to see unless you do a little bit of rock hopping to get closer. They both are a part of the lower falls.
If you hike up further on the trail, you will have a better view of the third waterfall.
Continue on until you reach two more waterfalls. I guess these are considered the “middle falls”. Not sure if that’s “official” but why not? They’re in the MIDDLE of the upper and lower falls. Anyway, these are number four and five. The fourth waterfall is 35 feet tall and the fifth one is 62 feet tall.
Hiking this trail counterclockwise – starting on the Cedar Run Trail – will save the best waterfall for last! Or at least the tallest waterfall for last. The sixth one, the upper falls, is an 86-foot waterfall. There is an overlook where you can get a nice view of it. It is quite far away and not easily accessible for a closer look, but still worth seeing regardless.
Continue a little bit past the Upper Whiteoak Canyon Falls and past the first intersection in the trail. There is at a sign at the first intersection that says “Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail”. Don’t go that way! Keep hiking to the left of that sign. You will quickly reach another intersection. Take a left on the Whiteoak Canyon Fire Road. That will lead you back to the Parking Area.
Congrats, you did it! 🥳
Alternate Routes
There are plenty of different out-and-back trails rather than completing the loop if that is what you’re looking for. I’m not sure of the mileage for each route, but just so you know there are other options.
Cedar Run Falls – Route #1: Starting at the Hawksbill Gap Parking/Hawksbill Loop Trailhead Parking, begin hiking on the Cedar Run trail until you reach both Cedar Run waterfalls. Then retrace your steps back to the parking area. This will be about a 4-5 mile out-and-back hike.
Cedar Run Falls – Route #2: Starting at the Whiteoak Boundary Parking/Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead, take the Cedar Run trail to the left and continue hiking until you reach two waterfalls – Cedar Run Falls. Retrace your steps back to the parking area. This will be about a 3(ish) mile out-and-back trail.
Whiteoak Canyon Falls – Route #1: This route takes you to the upper falls of Whiteoak Canyon Falls. Starting from Whiteoak Canyon Parking Area, take the Whiteoak Canyon Trail straight to the first (and tallest) waterfall. There will be an overlook where you can get a great view of Upper Whiteoak Canyon Falls. Retrace your steps back to the parking area for a total of 4.6 miles round-trip.
Whiteoak Canyon Falls – Route #2: This route takes you to the lower falls of Whiteoak Canyon Falls. Starting from Whiteoak Boundary Parking Area, take the Whiteoak Canyon Trail straight to the lower falls. You will have to cross a stream to get there! Retrace your steps back to the parking area for a total of 2 miles round-trip.
We hiked this trail on May 9th, 2022 and wrote a blog post about our personal experience. Spoiler: we accidently got lost! Interested in reading Our Adventure Journal post about hiking the Cedar Run and Whiteoak Canyon Loop Trail??
We Vlogged Our Experience!
More Great Waterfall Hikes in Virginia
Jones Run-Doyles River Loop – Take a hike to three of the most beautiful waterfalls in Virginia! Located in Shenandoah National Park is the Jones Run Falls and Doyles River Falls (upper & lower falls).
Rose River Falls and Dark Hollow Falls – This popular loop trail, located in Shenandoah National Park, will take you to see both waterfalls with one being 67 feet tall and the other being 70 feet tall!
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