This
hike has some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Shenandoah National
Park. Combining two out-and-back hikes, White Oak Canyon & Cedar Run, this loop starts at the bottom of the valley and cuts over near the top of the ridge. With five major falls, numerous smaller cascades and pools, this circuit hike is one of the best.
Follow the blue blazed trail on the right side of WOC Run reaching the WOC/Cedar Run Connector Trail in 0.6 miles. Stay straight on the right side of WOC Run for another 0.7 miles, cross a small stream, then arrive the base of the first set of major falls.
The trail will now make several switchbacks as the grade gets steeper, then reaches the second set of falls in 0.6 miles. Again, the trail will switchback several times, then become less steep, and arrive at a concrete marker for the base of the main WOC falls. To see the falls from the base, follow the side trail straight for 100 yards. Continue uphill on the WOC Trail as it steeply climbs the last 0.1 miles to the main WOC falls overlook.
Continuing uphill from the main overlook, and shortly arrive at the yellow blazed Bridge Path Trail that comes in from the right. Stay straight, then cross WOC Run in another 40 yards at the horse rail. If WOC Run is high, continue up the right side of WOC Run and cross a footbridge in 120 yards.
After crossing the run follow the wide yellow blazed WOC Fire Road/Horse Trail. In 1.6 miles the WOC Fire Road/Horse Trail will veer right. Stay left on the narrower yellow blazed trail, marked on a concrete post as "Horse Tr To Big Meadows". In 0.6 miles the horse trail intersects the blue blazed Cedar Run Trail.
Turn left downhill on the blue blazed Cedar Run Trail, then in 1.3 miles cross Cedar Run. In 0.2 miles after crossing Cedar Run reach the top set of main falls at Halfmile Cliff known as "The Slide". 60 yards below the main falls is a pool where Cedar Run passes through a narrow gorge.
Continue downward on the Cedar Run Trail for 0.5 miles where the blue blazed trail makes a sharp left to cross Cedar Run for the last time. After crossing Cedar Run follow the trail for 0.3 miles to the intersection of the WOC/Cedar Run Connector Trail. Turn right downhill on the Cedar Run Trail towards RT600, and in 0.4 miles arrive back at the WOC Trail intersection. Turn right, re-cross the steal footbridge, and arrive back at the parking area.
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Hiker
Reviews For The White Oak/Cedar Run Hike (5 Most Recent)
Hiked the described route clockwise and added a loop to the top of Hawksbill and around it. There was 3-4 ft of snow in some places, so showshoes would have helped. Winter boots are a must. It was comfortably warm, but so far this winter wonderland has not turned into watery mess.
By:
Hikegirl78
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 06, 2010
Great hike! We did the entire White Oak/Cedar Run loop on Sat in a counter clock wise direction. The White Oak side was easily manageable despite some patches of snow. The Cedar Run side was a different story! There was so much snow it took us over an hour to go 1.6 miles on the fire road (from the footbridge to the fire road/trail split)! I could have used a pair of snowshoes! It would have been a miserable hike if it were not for the super sunny skies and 50 degree temps all day. Even the hearty golden retrievers were looking at me wondering "What in the world are we doing in all this snow?" The fire road was covered in snow but manageable with patience. The decent down the trail back to the parking lot was slippery and difficult to navigate in some sections. It can be done, just not rushed.
Overall we enjoyed the waterfalls and all the water. Makes me wish for spring to hurry up!
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 28, 2010
http://www.meetup.com/CharityHikers/calendar/12717071/ Snow sure makes a difference. Hats off to Kyle & Michael who did the entire trail counterclockwise in 5 hours. They said Cedar Run was very slippery & slushy. Jennifer & I made it to the top of White Oak Canyon and decided we'd had enough exercise so turned around. All of had hiking shoes/boots. I was the only one with yaktrax. Many had been here and there were a number of parking spots.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Kyle and I completed the full circuit, ascending White Oak Canyon and descending Cedar Run in about five hours. Of the two, White Oak is in much better shape. There was a lot more snow along the Cedar Run trail (the little canyon gets less sun, I think), and the combination of steep trails and slushy snow made the descent quite slippery. I believe I must've fallen five or six times, and I was very happy to have had my poles, especially at the crossings. I did wish I had brough my yaktrax along. I definitely had a few moments when I was wondering how I was going to find footing heading down something steep. Overall, White Oak was beautiful in the snow and the ice, but Cedar Run is pretty treacherous. It would not be too difficult for a hiker to get injured. Hiking up Cedar Run would probably be advantageous since the Whiteoak trail had less hazardous conditions.
By:
Sam and Thunder
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Took a friend new to hiking today and the scenery of snow and ice on the falls didn't disappoint. Saw several deer and a unlucky turkey that had been something's lunch. We tried to go up Cedar Run trail, but with about 2 feet of snow drifted across the path and only a set of ski tracks, we turned around and took the spur trail over to WhiteOak canyon. It was much easier on packed, but slushy snow. We talked to a couple at the lookout near the foot bridge who was going to try and go down Cedar Run. I was afraid of trying to go down this way today and of trying to explain to my wife why I was late for dinner, so just turned around and went back down Whiteoak canyon to the parking lot.
Waterfalls, waterfalls, waterfalls! This has to be the most spectacular waterfall hike in Shenandoah National Park. With three sets of falls on the way up White Oak Canyon and three smaller falls heading down Cedar Run, this circuit is among the mid-Atlantic's most popular. Lots of company on the trail.
Usually, the ideal time for this hike is in early spring, but with the rain we've had in the last month, all the falls were near their best. The wildlife was also out; we came across several black snakes, this guy (vid) was a local celebrity with hikers on Saturday, and we also saw a juvenile black bear on the trail.
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