South River Falls Trailhead — Attraction in Elkton

I wanted to check out one of the falls while we were in the area so I picked this one because it was the closest. Obviously I haven't been to any of Shenandoah's other waterfalls so I can't compare this one to them. I must say the trail is not easy, but not too terribly difficult either. We did the loop, which takes you along the fire road and onto a portion of the Appalachian Trail. I wouldn't recommend this trail for little kids unless their parents want to carry them some ways. Mine are teenagers and they were still whining. Lol I can definitely see where if there's been some rain in the area the waterfall would look amazing with the extra water flowing down, but I still loved it regardless. We hiked to the top of the falls and to the base of it. Be careful if you decide to hike down to this rock that hangs out so you can view the top of the falls without trees obstructing your view. It's off the main trail before you get to the observation area. And as with any natural area, beware of animals...

By far our favorite hike! Yes, it is a bit challenging on the way back up/out about a 1000 elevation change but well worth it! There is a large parking and picnic area plus primitive bathrooms. The loop is a little over 4 miles total, the trail is well maintained with some rocky sections. Half the trail runs along the stream and ends in a tall waterfall overlook. The view is ok but I recommend the additional 0.8 mile or so the base of the falls. The extra hike to the falls is a little more challenging than the rest since it is rocky and requires a little bit of climbing over rocks. The result is a beautiful 83-foot split fall. On the way up/out we took the fire road trail, it is a steadier incline and smoother terrain which we apricated. Beautiful day and...

An amazing hike that has a gem of a waterfall at the end to relax your legs before heading back up. There are two routes to choose from getting down and up. We went the more direct route down which had some step steps and rocks to navigate. It wasn’t too difficult but it will beat your knees up a bit for sure. Once you are 3/4 way down you merge onto a dirt road that navigates a couple switchbacks to get to the base. Once the road ends there is about a 150 yard trek over some rock steps and rocks to get to the base. On the return route we took the road the entire way and connected with the AT. The route was a lot smoother but was a steady incline the entire time minus the AT section. well worth the effort and...