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)
Beautiful weather, great views/sounds of the waterfalls/runs, and good company equal a great dayhike. My wife and I did this as an out and back from the rte. 600 parking lot to the yellow blazed horse trail and back. The trip took us about 3 hours with lunch at the top portion of the falls. We actually thought we were doing the moderate to easy White Oak hike listed on this site, but we soon figured out that that hike was referencing starting from Skyline drive instead. Basically, it just made this one seem a little more on the moderate/sometimes difficult scale, especially with a loaded daypack. Either way, it was a great day and a decent challenge and warm up for a stab at Three Ridges in a couple of weeks.
Tom
By:
James
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, July 20, 2008
This is a great hike if you like waterfalls and swimming! It is NOT a scenery hike, but about seeing many cool (but small) waterfalls. Went clockwise and hiked up the Cedar Run trail in about 2 hours, on a very hot and humid day. This turned out to be a great idea...so we took our time on the way down, hitting most of the swimming pools and waterfalls on WOC. With the exception of the rock slide on Cedar Run, WOC has much more to see and do as you are closer to the water. WOC is also much more trail like, and therefore has many more people on it as well. There was lots of wildlife out as well; saw several snakes, spiders, and a bear cub when we were coming down the horse trail. Make sure you bring lots of water/gatorade when its hot as I went through over three liters. Be sure to get the Shenandoah NP year pass ($30) to avoid the $8 per use charge. I spent about 7 hours...all together and still wanted more time!
By:
Michelle
Rating:
Date of Hike: Wednesday, July 02, 2008
What a great surprise! I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this hike because it was listed as 'easy to moderate.' It was a nice little stroll at first but once you get past the lower falls, it was rocky and got my heart rate elevated. There's some great views of the BR mountains and the scenery along the trail is nice (falls, rockfaces, etc). There are many great spots for a quiet lunch and many of the small pools looked inviting (wish I'd brought my suit). Overall I loved the hike! Can't wait to go back and do the Cedar Run loop along with it.
By:
Sarah
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 22, 2008
One of my favorite hikes in the area for the length, workout, views of waterfalls and the lovely swimming holes. We hiked up White Oak, stopping at the second falls for the view, perfect place for lunch. The ascent is a bit steep, but a nice workout. The connecting horse trail to the Cedar Trail is a bit boring, but provided a nice, fairly easy grade, which was a good break because the Cedar Run train is quite steep (downhill) and rocky, and a little hard on the knees. I suggest good boots for this one. The best part of the day was when we stopped at the last swimming hole on the cedar run trail and played on the natural waterslide--it was FREEZING, but lots of fun. We didnt see much wildlife, but saw a few bears on our way into the park, and a big black snake along the trail. The total time was 5, hrs 15 minutes, with a stop for lunch and a stop for playing on the slides. We'll come back in august when the water is a bit warmer......
By:
MclaughlinFamily
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Great Hike -- awesome waterfalls! My group of two 13-yr-olds and two 10-year-olds (+ me) hiked the loop counter-clockwise. Moderate grade at first led to a steeper and steeper hike throughout. The wildlife made the hike more and more exciting. About 1/2 way up the WOC I sidestepped around one of my slower hikers and a hand assist on a nearby rock found me about 10 inches from a basking coperhead who fortunately didn't have any interest in me. Did scare me abit. On the fire road leading to the Cedar trail an adult black bear ambled across the path about 30 yards ahead of our gaggle. Always exciting to see. On the way down the cedar run trail we enocuntered a large coiled rattle-snake in all its 'Discovery Channe' glory. Scary, but fascinating after we moved out of striking range. It had two full coils underneath its raised head and was a wide as my forearm. Its rattle resembled and ear of indian corn with 90% of the kernels off and it made an unexpectedly loud hissing noise as it warned us/threated us off. We'll remember it forever. The water in the pools was wonderful/frigid and the entire hike took about 6.5 hours.
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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