Dark Hollow Falls Trailhead — Attraction in Luray

Really enjoyed this hike as a novice hiker. It's marked as a moderately strenuous hike, but it's really not that bad if you take your time. I am not conditioned at all. I went slowly with frequent stops and it took almost 2 hrs round trip. You can do it in far less time, but don't know why anyone would wanna rush through it.

I went in mid August right before the lunch hour and I saw about a few dozen other hikers. Wasn't crowded, but wasn't alone either.

The hike back to the trailhead is harder with more inclines. The trail is well worn with natural stairs (with logs) for inclines/declines. You do have to move over on a few narrow parts, but it's not very dangerous at all.

The entire trail is next to steams and tumbling water over rocks with a small swimming hole before the mid point and a medium size fall towards the end. If you're careful, you can even find a spot to sit on the rocks next to the tumbling water for some serenity and contemplation. But do be careful. I dropped my sunglasses into the tumbling brooks and slipped on wet rocks trying to get it (didn't fall, but ankles didn't enjoy it).

No bugs in my face and lots of shade from the sun. Still liked having a wet bandana around my neck.

P.s. A sign at the trail head clearly says, No Pets (even though some reviewers here insist that dogs are allowed - flat out wrong). That said, I did walk past a couple with a dog on a leash and then a ranger who was recording a video next to the trail. I guess the ranger saw the dog, but didn't bother to stop...

Dark Hollow Falls Trail – A Hike That Stays With You

Visited Dark Hollow Falls Trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and it was hands-down one of the most rewarding hikes I’ve ever done. The drive leading up to the trailhead itself was stunning. Spring really brings the area to life with scenic mountain roads, light foliage, and that fresh forest vibe that just makes you feel alive.

The hike starts at around 1,000 ft elevation and dips down to about 600–640 ft as you approach the waterfall. The trail itself is short but packed with beauty, lush greenery, the sound of flowing water, and finally, the sight of the falls cascading down the rocks. It was genuinely a breath of fresh air and a peaceful break from daily life.

But the real workout starts on the way back up. The return trail is definitely a challenge (in a good way), especially for those not used to incline hikes. My friend and I made it back up in about 45 minutes, while the rest of our group took around 90 minutes but honestly, every step was worth it. We were all exhausted but equally fulfilled by the end.

What really stuck with me was seeing families, even older hikers, taking on the trail with such grace and determination. It kind of gave us the push we needed to keep moving one step at a time really does get you to the top.

There’s a quote that sums it up perfectly: “It’s not about the destination, it’s the journey.” But with Dark Hollow Falls, both the journey and the destination were equally beautiful and memorable. Would 100%...

Well maintained trail. It is a moderate hike with a lot of elevation drop and gain. Took us around 1:30 hour with small pit stops. 3 main points along the path that offer different water falls and several spots with smalls falls. A lot of places along the route to rest and have a snack.

Trailhead has parking for around 20-30 cars. It was empty at 8:30AM however got filled by 10:30AM when we returned. There is overflow parking at nearby visitor center. Lot of parking there. Adds about 10-15mins hike each way.

EV BONUS Visitor center has an EV charger with max 7kW speed. Only ONE outlet. It was worth leaving our EV plugged as we had more juice to go around Shenandoah as it charged up a bit while we were on the hike. The charge cable was long and had adjacent parking space...