Season Visited: Spring
Trail Length: 4.7-mile loop. Variations available.
Time to Hike: Three to four hours.
Difficulty Level: 4-5
South River Falls Trail is located in Shenandoah National Park, one of the two National Parks that I've visited and the only one that I can make a weekend trip out of due to distance. It takes between four and five hours to get to Shenandoah from where I live. I've done it twice on my own and have driven up on Saturday morning and back on Sunday evening. It's a little exhausting, but it can be done. If you're really nuts and live in South Jersey you can even make a day trip out of it, but you have to about as insane as I am :)
Although Shenandoah is most popular in the fall for its spectacular fall colors, I've made a tradition of going in the spring. The first time I went in late March when most of the campgrounds in the park weren't even open. It was great to see the first buds of spring, beat the crowds (there was next to nobody there), and see the early trillium in bloom, but it was also freezing at night. I'm pretty sure I've never been as cold as I was the night I spent in a tent on Lewis Mountain in March. Not recommended.
Trillium grandiflorum
Last year I went in May, which was much more pleasant. The weather was beautiful, I saw tons of deer and five black bears, and the millipedes were everywhere! Note that I am an insect enthusiast so this was very exciting for me. Also note that it was terrifying for my husband and sister who went with me since I swerved the car on Skyline Drive every time I saw a millipede so I wouldn't run it over. Gosh, I love millipedes! They are just so adorable. But I am getting off track...
A bit blurry, but it's a millipede!
The Shenandoah NPS organizes the map of the park into different sections. South Falls Trail is located in the Lewis Mountain Area. Here's a map. Park at the South River Picnic Area, between mile marker 62 and 63 on Skyline Drive. Enjoy the ride - Skyline Drive is one of the most beautiful drives in the country. Be sure to stop at any lookouts you'd like.
View of Old Rag Mountain. I plan to conquer that one soon!
Once you've made it to the picnic area, you can start on the trail. The beginning is relatively easy. It's not long before you come to the lookout at the top of the falls. Photo opportunities abound.
The impressive South River Falls.
The hubby and me at the top of the falls.
It's nice to see the falls from above, but the real beauty is at the bottom. To get there, take the spur (included in the mileage listed at the top). It's worth it. Just remember the beauty of the falls on your way back up, because that's when the hard part starts.
There's also this really great rock formation to the right of the falls that you can relax on if you have the energy to climb it. It's also a great photo spot. Chill on it for a while. You're going to need it.
Alderfly near the falls.
Now comes the tough part. The journey to the falls is moderately easy. The falls are beautiful. You now have two options. You can either re-trace your steps back up, or you can make this a loop via the South River Fire Road and the Appalachian Trail. I have never re-traced my steps, but have rather taken the loop. I can say, without a doubt, that the South River Fire Road is the single most unpleasant hike I have ever taken. I have never been as miserable on a hike as I was the last time I took that damned fire road. I think they call it that for a reason: it closely resembles Hell. I really can't tell you why I find the fire road to be so exhausting. It's not terribly steep and there are no rock scrambles or anything like that. It's just a mile and a half or so up the exact same uphill climb. I realize I'm not in the best shape, but my legs feel like Jello after that fire road. My main motivation in taking the loop is that I have had a love affair with the AT since childhood, so I'll do pretty much anything to hike it's sacred footpaths even for a moment, and you have to do the fire road to take the AT back to picnic area. However, I'm really not sure that I'll ever take that loop again because I hate the fire road so much. If I ever do South River Falls Trail again, I'll re-trace my steps. I guess all I can say is that if you take the fire road - you have been warned. And for God's sake, wear some good shoes.
After that awful fire road, the AT is a very welcome sight.
No matter what you decide to do, I can tell you that you're going to feel both amazing and exhausted at the end of this trail. You'll probably feel like a warrior who's just been through battle, but you'll know you've seen some amazing beauty and conquered the South River Falls Trail.
I'm probably heading back to Shenandoah in May, so maybe I'll see you there! In the meantime, keep wandering, and enjoy your hike!
No comments:
Post a Comment