Date: 06/08/2021 – Distance: 5.7 mi – Elapsed Time: 3.5 hr – Ascent: 1325 ft – Descent: 1316 ft – Difficulty: Difficult
This is part 5 and final post of a series (Campground, Blackrock Summit, Hawksbill Summit, Dark Hollow Falls) I am doing on my trip to Shenandoah National Park. Wes and Nick left early to head to another leg of their trip, but I stayed an extra day. This hike is to find another waterfall called South River Falls. Similar to the hike to Dark Hollow Falls, this one descends the same side of the mountain ridge for about 1300 feet, then loops all the way back up. I think it was about 900 ft down, however I had to climb back up a little to get to the bottom of the waterfall.
This sign is on Skyline Drive. You have to drive back this road to the picnic area.
This sign is at the northeast corner of the picnic area.
Parking.
The trailhead kiosk. The red trail goes to the overlook near the top of the falls, and the V shaped trail above that leads to the bottom of the falls. Don’t miss the bottom, it’s much better than the overlook.
Some rules on this backcountry trail.
Learn to identify Poison Ivy.
The Appalachian Trail crosses this trail near the top.
The trail is well maintained.
It’s a fairly steep descent.
It’s one of the Rue Anemones, possibly the False variety.
This is the South River, and I was concerned about the amount of water, but I had a lot of valley to go down.
Watch your step.
A few side streams join in.
Water levels are increasing.
Whoa, that is a drop.
Getting closer to the overlook.
I can hear the falls down there.
South River Falls overlook.
I was amazed that this rock didn’t keep going and fall off the cliff.
You can barely make out the top of the falls on the right of that hole in the canopy.
Wild Rose with some Poison Ivy.
The trail continues beyond the overlook.
At this intersection, the red trail from the map turns left and ascends back up. However turn right here to get to the bottom of the falls.
This trail is a wider acces trail(fire road).
Flowering Raspberry?
Wild Hydrangea.
Hawkweed.
The access road ends here.
The stones on the right is a trail to the falls.
It’s blazed.
It’s tough footing.
But the reward is the bottom of South River Falls.
I bet it’s really intense after a heavy rain.
There is a deck up there in the middle.
A view from the side.
I didn’t want to risk climbing too much.
Looking downstream from the base.
Foxglove Beardtongue.
Back at the intersection where the overlook is left.
The trail from here is a steady climb back up.
It follows the fire access road.
One of the Buttercups.
At the intersection of the AT, turn left to return to the picnic area.
I stopped at an overlook along Skyline Drive for a view of the South River Valley.
It’s a good overlook looking east.
I spotted this Coral Honeysuckle growing on the cliff along the road.
I also stopped for a pic of a small portion of Big Meadows.
Leave a Reply