Whether you’re looking for quick walks or longer treks, these waterfall hikes across Northern Virginia allow you to explore natural wonders in stunning settings. Be sure to plan out your hike beforehand and adhere to all safety rules and regulations.
Dark Hollow Falls
For a 1.4-mile circuit hike, head to one of the Shenandoah National Park’s most frequented trails. Dark Hollow Falls is known for its beautiful cascading waterfall and mossy rock structures. This is a moderately challenging hike with a steep and rocky trail, so take your time and wear proper hiking shoes. Pets are not allowed. Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville
Great Falls National Park
Inside this 800-acre park, you can see the stunning 76-foot cascade that runs into one of the nation’s first canals. Great Falls has three overlooks. Overlook 1 gets the closest to the falls themselves. Overlook 2 can be found farther down the path, with a large wooden viewing platform and an accessible trail. A small footbridge just past Overlook 2 will lead you to Overlook 3, where guests can see the High-Water Marks pole, an indication of flood water height. Great Falls National Park, Great Falls
Hazel River Falls
Step into the breathtaking Shenandoah wilderness at Hazel River Falls for a 5.3-mile round-trip hike. Beginning at the Meadow Spring parking area, this trail leads to two small waterfalls, cascades, and caves. This moderately difficult hike takes roughly five hours and makes for an ideal day trip in nature. Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville
Overall Run Falls
Home to the tallest waterfall in the Shenandoah National Park at 93 feet, Overall Run Falls takes you through multiple trails for a 5.1-mile hike. Views of the upper falls and three overlooks allow visitors to see the waterfall from multiple angles. Overall Run Falls is moderately strenuous with a hiking time of approximately four hours. Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville
Quantico Creek at Prince William Forest Park
Travel through Quantico Cascades Trail for views of wildlife ending at a small rapid on Quantico Creek. Visitors can have a picnic by the large rocks at the very end of the trail and even stick their feet in the cool stream. Walk along the South Valley Trail, the longest trail in the park, to see cascades of different sizes. Prince William Forest Park, Triangle
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve
A popular destination for its unique wildflowers and rare plants, Scott’s Run is also home to a section of the Potomac Gorge, one of the rarest biological ecosystems in the mid-Atlantic. Trails with varying difficulty are available to fit your hiking preferences. The main creek begins under the parking lots of Tysons Corner Center — one of the highest elevations in Fairfax County — and flows into a 15-foot waterfall that spills into the Potomac River. Scott’s Run is currently closed for construction and expected to reopen early this summer. Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, McLean
Feature image of Great Falls National Park courtesy National Park Service/Christopher Vuille-Kowing
