How To Hike Hawksbill Loop and Dark Hollow Falls in 1 Day

Panoramic mountain top views and waterfalls await on the Hawksbill Loop and Dark Hollow Falls Trails in Shenandoah National Park.

First, hike to the highest point in Shenandoah National Park: Hawksbill Mountain. This can be done as an out-and-back hike or a loop trail for more fun. When you reach the summit, enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valley below.

Then, a trip to Dark Hollow Falls can’t be missed. One of the most picturesque waterfalls in Shenandoah, hike the trail to the waterfall and continue on the Rose River Loop trail to make it an all-afternoon event. Keep reading to learn how to hike both in one day.

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Need to Know Info

• Pets ARE allowed on the Hawksbill Loop and must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
• Pets ARE NOT allowed on the Dark Hollow Falls Trail.
• An entrance fee is required at Shenandoah. We recommend getting an annual pass if you plan on visiting multiple parks in one year. Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website.
• Each of these trails can be hiked as short out-and-back trails or can be extended with other trails to make a loop. You’ll get to hike on part of the Appalachian Trail on the Hawksbill Trail Loop.

Hawksbill Loop

Quick facts about the hike:

• Length: 3 miles, loop
• Elevation Gain: 700-800 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

The trailhead starts at the Hawksbill Gap Parking area near mile marker 45.5. It’s best to get to this trailhead early, as multiple hikes start from this area of the park. Here, there is no parking lot per se, so you’ll have to park in the areas on the side of the road.

Lower Hawksbill Trail to the Summit

Time to get hiking! From the trailhead, follow the Lower Hawksbill Trail and work your way through the forest to the summit. This section of the trail is short and steep, so get those legs ready and that heart pumping.

It’s only about 0.7 miles, and you’ll be feeling it as you climb to the Hawksbill Mountain Summit. Once you arrive, you’ll spot the Byrd’s Nest 2 Shelter, and just past this is an amazing overlook spot that you can’t miss. Panoramic views all around!

Spend some time here and enjoy the views. You’ve now reached the highest point in Shenandoah National Park. From here, you can turn back the way you came toward the parking lot for a nice, quick out-and-back hike. We recommend hiking on to complete the Hawksbill Loop!

Continue along the trail until you reach the junction. Here, take the Upper Hawksbill Trail to the Salamander Trail. You’ll lose quite a bit of elevation as you continue to hike the short section of trail.

Salamander Trail to Appalachian Trail

The Salamander Trail zig-zags down the mountain toward the Appalachian Trail for 0.6 miles. When you reach the junction, take a right on the Appalachian Trail.

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Appalachian Trail to The End

A section of the Appalachian Trail is the last part of the hike as you head back toward the Hawksbill Gap parking area to complete the Hawksbill Loop.

After hiking for a little over a mile, you’ll reach a spur trail on your right that leads to the Hawksbill Gap Parking area. Don’t miss this turnoff, or you’ll stay on the Appalachian Trail forever…or until you realize “Oops! We went too far!”. 😂

Dark Hollow Falls

This is a great out-and-back hike to see one of the best waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park. There are a few different ways to see the waterfall. Let’s start with the out-and-back hike.

• Length: 1.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

Start at the Dark Hollow Falls trailhead, right off of Skyline Drive. This is one of those hikes where you’ll lose elevation first, and you’ll have to hike back up, so keep that in mind. Parts of the trail can be rocky, so be sure to stay on the trail.

The path leads away from the stream and back again as you reach the waterfall. Enjoy some time here before heading back to the parking lot or continuing hiking on the Rose River Loop.

Rose River Loop

If you choose to continue hiking, you can pick up the Rose River Loop Trail right after Dark Hollow Falls. This will add on more miles and elevation gain. Here’s a quick summary of what to expect:

• Length: 4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 800-900 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

Dark Hollow Falls to Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail

From Dark Hollow Falls, continue on the trail for 0.3 miles until you reach the Rose River Fire Road. Then, take a left here and hike up the road, heading toward Skyline Drive for about 1 mile. Be on the lookout for wildlife here!

Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail to Rose River Trail

When you are near the end of the trail, look for the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail (yellow-blazed). Take this trail and hike for about 0.6 miles. Then, take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail on your right.

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Rose River Trail to Dark Hollow Falls

Continue along the trail and follow it past the 67-foot Rose River Falls. Eventually, you’ll approach the filled-in shaft of an old copper mine. Less than a tenth of a mile beyond the copper mine, cross the footbridge over Hogcamp Branch and turn right. Then, head toward the Dark Hollow Falls Trail on the left and continue on this trail.

From here, pass by the waterfall again and take a rest before continuing the climb back up and out using the Dark Hollow Falls Trail to the Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area.

There you have it! A great morning or afternoon loop hike. Additionally, if you only want to hike the loop trail and skip Dark Hollow Falls, you can begin the Rose River Loop hike from the Fishers Gap Parking Area.

Where to Stay While Visiting Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is a bit secluded from the more populated areas of Virginia. If you are looking to stay in an area with numerous amenities, consider nearby Charlottesville, which is just about an hour from the park. Conversely, getting a cabin in the area is also a great option for some peace and quiet.

• Explore the cabins near Shenandoah on VRBO. Reserve one with a hot tub, or something with views overlooking the amazing scenery. You can’t go wrong there, but you might have to do some light cooking. Book your stay now.
• Big Meadows Lodge – Located right on Skyline Drive in the middle of the park near Big Meadows, this is the most convenient option. Main Lodge rooms and detached cabins, along with on-site dining. Reserve your room on Expedia.
• Skyland – Ranging from updated premium rooms to charming, detached cabins, stay at 3,680 feet, the highest elevation on Shenandoah National Park’s scenic drive. Find the best room for you on Expedia.
• Stay in Charlottesville if you are looking for plenty of amenities, but know that you’ll have to make the trek to Shenandoah each day. Discover a place to stay on Expedia or Booking.com.

Final Thoughts

We completed these two hikes in one day using the route we discussed above. It was a great way to see Dark Hollow Falls twice in one hike. During our visit here, we did not have any parking issues, and the trail was pretty quiet, which was nice!

Although these waterfalls aren’t something you’d see at Yosemite, they are still beautiful. As the trails follow some creeks and rivers, there were plenty of nice, smaller cascades as we enjoyed our time in the Virginia wilderness.

Additionally, we saw plenty of wildflowers coming out as we hiked, but we didn’t see any wildlife. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of a black bear! Maybe next time.

🛏️ Book your cabin on VRBO now! We enjoyed staying close to the park in a peaceful cabin in the woods.