A 70-foot waterfall in Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows area, reached by a short, steep trail off Skyline Drive.
Dark Hollow Falls drops 70 feet in Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows area, reached by one of the park's most popular trails because the trailhead sits right off Skyline Drive. According to the National Park Service's own trail map, it's a 1.4-mile round trip taking about 1 hour 15 minutes, rated moderate with a 440-foot elevation gain. The park is direct about the catch: the trail is short but very steep and rocky, and the map warns that "the return climb is challenging."
Pets are not permitted on this trail. Entry to Shenandoah National Park costs $30 per private vehicle, valid for seven consecutive days. The park also cautions, as it does for its other waterfalls, that climbing on the rocks near the falls is dangerous and potentially deadly, so plan to view from the trail and designated areas rather than scrambling onto the ledges.
Know before you go
Dark Hollow Falls parking area off Skyline Drive near Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park.
Year-round; park notes the descent is steep and rocky, with a challenging return climb.
1.4-mile round trip, about 1 hour 15 minutes, moderate, 440-foot elevation gain. No pets.
$30 per private vehicle, valid 7 consecutive days (current NPS rate).
Short but steep and rocky; not suited to wheelchairs or strollers.
2026-10-12. Conditions and requirements can change; confirm with the land manager before travelling.
Sources & further reading
- National Park Service — Shenandoah: Big Meadows Area Trail Map (PDF) ↗
- National Park Service — Shenandoah: Fees ↗
- USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗
This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.
