Updated July 2026
South River Falls
South River Falls is the third-tallest waterfall in Shenandoah National Park at 83 feet, reached from the South River Picnic Grounds at Skyline Drive milepost 62.8. A stone-walled observation point overlooks the falls.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check National Park Service (Shenandoah National Park) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
South River Falls drops about 83 feet. That makes it the 255th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 62% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The South River Falls Trail (to observation point) reaches it about 2.6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 850 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Stanardsville. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with National Park Service (Shenandoah National Park) for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Virginia waterfalls
- Apple Orchard Falls · 200 ft
- Bent Mountain Falls · 200 ft
- Cascade Falls · 69 ft
- Comers Creek Falls · 15 ft
- Crabtree Falls · 1,000 ft
- Dark Hollow Falls · 70 ft
- Devils Bathtub
- Doyles River Falls · 63 ft
Sources
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