White Oak Canyon Trail

White Oak Canyon contains Shenandoah National Park’s highest concentration of waterfalls, with six major cascades plunging through a deep, forested gorge. The trail descends from Skyline Drive through a hemlock and hardwood forest, passing waterfall after waterfall as the canyon deepens. The upper falls drop 86 feet over moss-covered cliffs, while the lower falls create swimming holes popular on summer days. The steep return climb rewards fit hikers with constantly changing perspectives of the cascades. A loop option via Cedar Run Trail creates a challenging circuit past additional waterfalls. This is Shenandoah’s premier waterfall hike, showcasing the dramatic scenery carved by millennia of flowing water.