ROSE RIVER LOOP TRAIL

Rose River Loop Trail in Shenandoah National Park is a great, moderate hike that showcases the natural beauty of the forest and features a few waterfalls!

DETAILS

• Length: 3.8 Mile Loop

• Elevation Gain: 843ft

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Fee: $30 per car

GETTING THERE

The trailhead for Rose River Loop is located in Shenandoah National Park off of Skyline Drive. Park in the Fishers Gap Overlook parking lot at mile marker 49.5. Cross Skyline Drive to access the Rose River Fire Road. Approximately 50 feet in, you’ll come across a trail marker with a trail to the left. This is the beginning of the Rose River Loop.

Note: You can take the loop either clockwise or counterclockwise. We recommend clockwise (taking the trail to the left) as the incline up the fire road is much less strenuous than going counterclockwise!

The first 0.6 miles of the trail is a horse trail and is marked with yellow blazes. It is a steady downhill grade, but not too strenuous. The horse trail will intersect with the Rose River Loop, marked with a trail marker and blue blazes. Turn right at the trail marker and continue descending further into the hollow.

A few hundred feet further, the Rose River appears on the left and runs alongside the trail. The stream provides a multitude of opportunities for long exposure photography. Approximately 0.2 mile further down the trail, you’ll come to the Rose River Falls on the left. A very steep bushwhack is required to get to the bottom of the falls.

Rose River Falls consists of the upper and lower falls. The upper falls features multiple cascades that plunge into a beautiful blue pool. Be careful descending to the base of the upper falls, as the terrain is very unstable and the rocks will slide from underneath you. The trail does not provide great views of the lower falls. To get a better view, cross the stream at the base of the upper falls and climb down the rocks on the left side of the lower falls.

The trail continues to parallel the stream and flattens out. You’ll pass some jagged rocks on the right and a giant concrete block. This is the remnants of an old filled-in copper mine. Approximately 0.1 mile further, a man-made foot bridge crosses the stream and the trail begins ascending out of the hollow. This is the most strenuous, but most beautiful part of the trail. We recommend taking breaks along the stream and exploring the different cascades as you continue upward.

After climbing upwards for 0.9 miles, you’ll reach the Rose River Fire Road and the trailhead for Dark Hollow Falls. A long, narrow waterfall cascades to a footbridge that leads to the fire road. If you want to take a detour and view Dark Hollow Falls, take the blue-blazed trail 0.3 mile to the falls. Return back to the fire road and continue upward until you reach Skyline Drive again.