Hiking in Shenandoah: Complete Guide to the White Oak Canyon & Cedar Run Loop

Planning on more hiking in Shenandoah National Park? In our opinion, this is one of the best hikes to complete. The 8-mile loop will lead you through lush forests, past six cascading waterfalls in White Oak Canyon, and several steep, rocky cliffs along the Cedar Run Trail.

With plenty of cascades along the entire hike, this one is a must-do for waterfall lovers. Plus, if you travel here in the summer, there are even some swimming holes that you can enjoy on a hot summer day. Ready for one of the best hikes in Shenandoah? Let’s go!

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Need to Know Info

• Pets ARE allowed on the trail and must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
• 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.
• There are two options to park to complete this hike, depending on where you are staying or where you are driving into the park from.

White Oak Canyon & Cedar Run Loop

Quick facts about the hike:

• Length: 8-8.2 miles, loop
• Elevation Gain: 2,800 feet
• Difficulty: Strenuous

As noted, there are two options to park here. The first one is along Skyline Drive at the Hawksbill Mountain Trailhead Parking Area. This is a great place to park for those who are staying near Skyline Drive or at the Big Meadows Lodge.

You also have the option to park at the Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead. This lot is a bit more off the beaten path and requires a nice drive along Weakley Hollow Road. This one is a good option if you are staying southeast of the park or not along Skyline Drive.

We parked at the first option – right near Hawksbill Mountain.

Cedar Run Trail to White Oak Canyon Trail – 3 miles

From the trailhead, follow the Cedar Run Trail and work your way through the forest as you descend the mountain. This section of the trail is about 3 miles, and be prepared for some stream crossings when the water is high.

This trail is known to be very rocky with some steep sections, so watch your footing. During the high water season, you’ll have the opportunity to view many small cascades along the trail. After hiking 1.8 miles, you’ll reach the first larger waterfall.

Then, continue hiking to pass the Halfmile Cliff on your left. Finally, you’ll reach the lower falls after a total of 2.5 miles. This trail is usually somewhat quieter compared to the more famous White Oak Canyon, which you’ll link up with next. That being said, it is a bit more strenuous.

These are some nice areas to take a quick dip in if you need a refresher during the summer months. Finally, continue the hike on the trail until you reach the junction with the White Oak Canyon Trail.

White Oak Canyon to White Oak Canyon Fire Road – 2.6 miles

Get ready to climb. The White Oak Canyon Trail heads back up the mountain past 6 great waterfalls as you work your way toward the fire road. The majority of this hike is right along the scenic Robinson River.

Initially, you’ll cross over the river twice, so use the rocks to hop across as needed. After hiking on this section of the trail for a little less than a mile, the trail begins to steepen as you climb back up the mountain.

At 1.5 miles on this trail, you’ll reach Lower Falls. This is another great place to take a dip in the water if you need a break. It’s also a great place to eat your PB&J or snacks, too!

Then, continue on the trail and follow the switchbacks up the mountain. After the switchbacks, hike along the trail and look to your left to try to spot 2 other waterfalls that make up the giant 6 waterfall cascade along the trail.

They might be hard to see depending on the greenery of the trees.

At the 2-mile mark, you’ll finally reach Upper Falls! There are some great lookout points here, so stop and take a rest to enjoy the scenery. Continue on the trail about another half mile to reach the final viewpoint of Upper Falls, just before the junction with the fire road. When you reach the fire road, make a left.

⛰️ Ready for some rock scrambling? Check out the Old Rag Trail!

White Oak Canyon Fire Road to Skyland-Big Meadows Trail – 2.3 miles

This is a fire road, so the trail will be extra wide with more room on both sides. Be on the lookout for horses along the stretch of the loop as well.

Hike 1.7 miles to reach the junction and take another left on the Skyland-Big Meadows Trail. Finally, hike another 0.6 miles, and this trail will eventually lead you back toward the parking area at Hawksbill Mountain.

That’s it! Your hike is complete! If you hiked this trail in the morning, it’s a perfect time to hit up one of the local wineries, or even hike up Hawksbill Mountain if you have not done so already.

Hiking In Shenandoah

If you are looking for some other great hikes in Shenandoah National Park, be sure to check out Old Rag, Hawksbill Mountain, Dark Hollow Falls, and Rose River Loop. We cover these in additional posts, so make sure to check them all out.

Where to Stay

Shenandoah National Park is fairly remote from populated areas of Virginia. For a variety of options, consider nearby Charlottesville, the closest big city. It’s about an hour from the park. Conversely, getting a cabin in the area is also a great option.

• 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.
• 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 an on-site dining.
• Lewis Mountain Cabins – Disconnect from it all with a stay at these cabins along Skyline Drive at Mile 57. These rustic cabins may have no TV or internet, but you’ll love the tranquility and natural beauty of your surroundings.
• 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.

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed this hike during our spring break trip to Shenandoah. When you are hiking in Shenandoah in the spring, it’s important to remember that due to the elevation, the trees might be out and green in the lower elevations, but they could still be bare at the top. This is exactly what we experienced.

We would have loved to have a bit more greenery along this trail, which would have added more depth to the waterfalls and cascades along the hike. That being said, this one was still one of our favorites!

The waterfalls were flowing nicely, and the scenery was great. If you think about it, another plus is that during spring, there are fewer bugs and lower humidity, and I’ll take that any day!

🛏️ Book your cabin on VRBO now. Stay close to the park in a nice cabin with a hot tub!