Parking
Primary parking is at the White Rock Gap parking area near Parkway Milepost 18.5; The Slacks Overlook has a smaller alternative lot for the shorter waterfall outing. Cross the Parkway carefully to the signed/marked access area.
Overview
About White Rock Falls Trail
Why go
- Waterfall, cascades, and a natural pool along White Rock Creek
- Complete loop links the falls with Slacks and White Rock Gap mountain views
Heads up
- Requires crossings of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the parking-area access points
- Rocky, steep, and slick sections near the creek and waterfall
White Rock Falls Trail is a moderate 4.7-mile loop near Milepost 18.5–20 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It links the yellow-blazed White Rock Falls Trail (Forest Trail 482), the Slacks Overlook Trail, and the White Rock Gap Trail for a waterfall, creek, gorge, forest, and mountain-view outing. Plan about 2.5 hours at a relaxed hiking pace, including time for the falls and overlooks.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike this trailMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Blue Ridge Parkway map
Full mapElevation2,182–2,861 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
2 active Blue Ridge Parkway alerts
- ClosureNorth Carolina Helene-related closuresAvoid the closed Parkway section from MP 344.2–355.3; recreation of any kind is prohibited there.Official details
- ClosureVirginia Parkway closures and detourFollow the signed detour around the closed James River Bridge and avoid the closed Roanoke Mountain Loop. - James River Bridge (MP 63.5–63.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Your drive to White Rock Falls Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
White Rock Gap: A Ravine and Waterfall TrailheadListen
“You're pulling up to the White Rock Gap parking area. This is one of the main starting points for the hike down to White Rock Falls. The trail from here immediately drops into a scenic, rocky ravine.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- 20 Minute Cliff Overlook and Its Natural Clock
- White Rock Falls: A Hike to a Shady Wading Pool
- The Priest Overlook and Its Backcountry View
- The 'Mine Banks' of the Blue Ridge
- 277 audio storiesacross Blue Ridge Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Elk, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 112 trails, 232 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Trail guide
Hiking White Rock Falls Trail
Route and distanceStart at the White Rock Falls Trailhead at the White Rock Gap parking area near Parkway…
Start at the White Rock Falls Trailhead at the White Rock Gap parking area near Parkway Milepost 18.5. Cross the Blue Ridge Parkway to the subtle trail entrance in the gully, then follow the yellow-blazed route through the forest to White Rock Falls and its pools. The loop continues toward the Parkway near The Slacks Overlook, crosses to the blue-blazed Slacks Overlook Trail, joins the White Rock Gap Trail, and returns to the White Rock Gap parking area. The final mapped line is about 4.786 miles; the visitor distance is rounded to 4.7 miles. The falls are about 1.7 miles from the White Rock Gap start. A shorter access from The Slacks is a separate roughly 2.2-mile round trip to the falls, not this loop.
What you’ll seeThe route follows White Rock Creek through shaded forest, former hemlock habitat, rocky gorge…
The route follows White Rock Creek through shaded forest, former hemlock habitat, rocky gorge sections, and several cascades leading to the roughly 30-foot White Rock Falls and a natural pool. The loop’s upper sections add two mountain-view overlooks and a quieter walk through hardwood forest.
Difficulty and footingThe loop is moderate overall, with roughly 896 feet of elevation gain.
The loop is moderate overall, with roughly 896 feet of elevation gain. Expect dirt, roots, rocks, steep switchbacks, creek crossings on bridges or stones, and a short scramble on slick rock near the waterfall. Allow extra time for the climb out of the gorge and take care around wet surfaces.
Logistics and accessUse the White Rock Gap parking area as the primary trailhead; The Slacks Overlook is another…
Use the White Rock Gap parking area as the primary trailhead; The Slacks Overlook is another access point for the shorter waterfall outing. From either parking area, the trail begins across the Blue Ridge Parkway, so cross only when traffic allows. White Rock Gap has a larger lot and a trail kiosk; The Slacks lot is smaller. Dogs are allowed on leash.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Blue Ridge Parkway
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
