Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (7-day park pass).
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Open. The NPS alerts feed had no alert for Dark Hollow Falls or the Big Meadows area of Skyline Drive on October 29, 2026. Since October 10, 2026 the park emergency line has been out of service, so call 911 in an emergency. What the status labels mean
Dark Hollow Falls is a 70-foot series of cascades in Shenandoah National Park, reached from Skyline Drive at mile 50.7 near Big Meadows. The trail is 1.4 miles round trip with 440 feet of gain, and the steep climb comes on the way back. Pets are not allowed on Dark Hollow Falls Trail. You need a Shenandoah entrance pass, $30 per vehicle in 2026. The NPS alerts feed had no alert for the falls on October 29, 2026.
About Dark Hollow Falls
Dark Hollow Falls drops about 70 feet as a series of cascades, according to the NPS Big Meadows map and Wikipedia. Wikipedia calls it the falls closest to Skyline Drive. NPS calls the trail one of the park's most heavily traveled.
The hike is in Shenandoah's Central District, near Big Meadows and Byrd Visitor Center. It starts at the top and goes down to the falls first, so the hard part is the climb back to your car.
Dark Hollow is unusual in one way. Pets are banned on this trail. It is one of a short list of Shenandoah trails closed to pets, according to the NPS pets page; most other trails allow pets on a leash. If you have a dog with you, the nearby Rose River Loop is the pet-friendly option.
Repairs have closed the trail before. Washouts closed part of it from August 27, 2024, for about two weeks of repairs, NPS said in a news release at the time.
Getting there and parking
Park at the Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area at Skyline Drive mile 50.7. Byrd Visitor Center is at mile 51. An archived 2024 NPS release gave the trailhead as mile 50.5, but current NPS pages say 50.7.
There is no separate fee for the hike, but you need a Shenandoah entrance pass. For 2026, NPS charges $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person age 16 and older on foot or bike. Each pass is good for 7 days, and kids under 16 get in free.
Shenandoah has been cashless since July 1, 2025, so bring a card or pay by phone. A $55 Shenandoah annual pass and America the Beautiful passes are accepted. NPS said it planned to begin installing card-only automated entry stations at all four entrances in fall 2026.
The last fee-free day of 2026 is November 11. NPS says it is for US citizens and residents only.
See our waterfalls in Virginia guide to compare Dark Hollow with Crabtree Falls and Great Falls.
Map and nearby falls
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The hike
Dark Hollow Falls Trail is 1.4 miles round trip, out and back, with 440 feet of elevation gain, according to NPS. You walk 0.75 mile down to the falls, then return the same way. The NPS trail sheet estimates 1.25 hours, and its things-to-do page says 1 to 2 hours.
NPS rates the hike moderate and calls it 'short, but very steep and rocky'. Its trail sheet adds, 'The return climb is challenging!' Save energy for the uphill, and carry water even on a short walk.
Wikipedia calls the trail a 1.4-mile loop, but NPS describes it as out-and-back, so plan to retrace your steps. The trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines, according to NPS.
For a longer hike, the Rose River Loop starts at Fishers Gap Overlook at mile 49.4. NPS lists it as a 4-mile circuit with 910 feet of gain, taking about 4.5 hours. It passes 67-foot Rose River Falls and allows pets on a leash of 6 feet or less.
From the Rose River Loop, a side trip of about 0.25 mile reaches the base of Dark Hollow Falls, according to the NPS trail sheet. Pets are not allowed on Dark Hollow Falls Trail, so ask the park before taking a dog on this side trip.
When to visit
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but NPS says sections of Skyline Drive may close in bad weather. We found no official guidance on the best month for flow.
Services at Big Meadows are seasonal in 2026. Byrd Visitor Center closes for the season on November 29. Big Meadows Wayside runs March 25 to November 29, and Big Meadows Lodge runs May 4 to November 29.
As of October 29, 2026, the NPS alerts feed listed no alert for Dark Hollow Falls or the Big Meadows section of Skyline Drive. The Naked Creek backcountry zone has been closed since October 7, 2026 because of wildlife interactions, but that closure is not on this trail. The same alert keeps Appalachian Trail camping closed from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, though the AT stays open for day hikes.
If you are building a Virginia trip, Crabtree Falls in George Washington National Forest has a paved path to its first overlook. Near Washington, DC, Great Falls Park has three Potomac River overlooks a short walk from its visitor center.
| Height | 70 ftNote: per the NPS Big Meadows map and Wikipedia; it falls as a series of cascades |
|---|---|
| Trail | 1.4 mi round trip, out-and-back: 0.75 mi down to the falls, then back up the same way, with 440 ft of elevation gain (NPS) |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Time needed | About 1.25 hours (NPS trail sheet); the NPS things-to-do page says 1 to 2 hours |
| Entry fee | Shenandoah entrance pass (2026): $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per person age 16+ on foot or bike, each valid 7 days. Cashless. No extra fee for the hike. |
| Permit / reservation | No hiking permit; Shenandoah entrance pass required (cashless) |
| Parking | Lot at Skyline Drive mile 50.7 |
| Hours / season | Park open 24 hours, year-round; sections of Skyline Drive may close in bad weather (NPS) |
| Dogs | No. Pets are not allowed on Dark Hollow Falls Trail (NPS). The Rose River Loop allows pets on a leash of 6 feet or less. |
| Swimming | NPS allows swimming in park streams, but most are shallow, rocky and very cold. NPS says never to climb on or around waterfalls. |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No. The trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines (NPS). |
| Crowds | One of the park's most heavily traveled trails (NPS) |
| Managed by | National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park |
Safety and swimming
NPS says swimming is allowed in all park streams, but most are shallow, rocky and very cold. NPS also says to 'never climb on, or around, waterfalls.' Its trail sheet calls climbing on rocks near waterfalls 'dangerous and potentially deadly.'
Stay on the trail and off the wet rock at the falls. The steep, rocky path is harder going up, so pace yourself and turn around early if anyone in your group is struggling.
Know the right emergency number. Since October 10, 2026, the park's emergency line, 1-800-732-0911, has been out of service, NPS says. Call 911 instead.
Pets are not allowed on Dark Hollow Falls Trail, so leave dogs for the Rose River Loop, and never leave one in a parked car. Our waterfall safety guide has more on slick rock near falls.
Where to stay near Dark Hollow Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls.
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Photos
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Dark Hollow Falls FAQ
How long is the Dark Hollow Falls hike?
1.4 miles round trip, per NPS: 0.75 mile down to the 70-foot falls, then back the same way. There is 440 feet of elevation gain, and NPS estimates about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Is Dark Hollow Falls hard?
Yes, for its length. NPS rates Dark Hollow Falls Trail moderate. It is short but very steep and rocky, and the uphill climb back to the parking area is the hard part.
Can I bring my dog to Dark Hollow Falls?
No. NPS does not allow pets on Dark Hollow Falls Trail. The nearby Rose River Loop allows pets on a leash of 6 feet or less.
How much does it cost to visit Dark Hollow Falls?
$30 per vehicle in 2026, for a Shenandoah entrance pass good for 7 days. There is no separate fee for Dark Hollow Falls. Payment is by card or mobile pay only.
Can you swim at Dark Hollow Falls?
NPS says swimming is allowed in all park streams, but most are shallow, rocky and very cold. NPS also says to never climb on, or around, waterfalls, so stay off the rocks at the falls.
How do you get to Dark Hollow Falls?
Drive Skyline Drive to the Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area at mile 50.7, near Big Meadows; Byrd Visitor Center is at mile 51. There is no parking fee beyond the Shenandoah entrance pass, $30 per vehicle for 7 days in 2026.
Is Dark Hollow Falls wheelchair accessible?
No. NPS says the trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.
Should I hike Dark Hollow Falls or Rose River Falls?
It depends on your time (about 1.25 hours vs about 4.5 hours) and your dog. NPS lists Dark Hollow as about 1.4 miles round trip to 70-foot falls, with 440 feet of climbing on the way back. Pets are not allowed. The Rose River Loop is a 4-mile circuit with 910 feet of gain past 67-foot Rose River Falls, and leashed pets are allowed.
Nearby waterfalls
Crabtree Falls58 mi straight-lineOpen1,200FT
Blackwater Falls70 mi straight-lineOpen57FT
Elakala Falls71 mi straight-lineOpen40FT TALLEST OF FOUR
Great Falls Park71 mi straight-lineOpen76FT
On these lists: Waterfalls you can swim in
Sources
- NPS Shenandoah: Dark Hollow Falls (things to do)
- NPS Shenandoah: Rose River Falls (things to do)
- NPS Shenandoah: Big Meadows Area map and trail sheet (PDF)
- NPS Shenandoah: Fees & Passes
- NPS Shenandoah: Operating Dates & Hours
- NPS Shenandoah: Alerts feed (JSON)
- NPS Shenandoah: FAQs
- NPS news release: Partial closure for Dark Hollow Falls Trail repairs (Aug 2024)
- NPS Shenandoah: Pets
- Wikipedia: Dark Hollow Falls
- USGS GNIS: Dark Hollow Falls (feature 1465614, Madison County)
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.