Cedar Run Falls

Cedar Run Falls is a modest waterfall in a narrow, wooded gorge along Cedar Run. The rocky creek setting is the draw, not a towering single drop. Save it for a hike day: this is not a roadside stop. The Cedar Run–Whiteoak circuit starts at Hawksbill Gap Parking Area on Skyline Drive, mile 45.6, and covers 8.1 miles round trip, about seven hours with 2,794 feet of climbing. It follows Cedar Run downhill and returns by Whiteoak Canyon. Other routes use different approaches and have shorter totals, so check which trailhead your route uses.

The creek spills through a tight channel of dark rock and mossy boulders, with a pool below the larger fall and smaller cascades along the drainage. For a photo, include the rocks around the falling water so the narrow gorge reads in the frame. A smooth rock chute draws people to slide, but skip it: the park warns that wet rock around waterfalls is dangerously slippery and has caused serious or fatal injuries.

The documented circuit is very strenuous and does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. A park entrance fee applies. Food service, toilets, and drinking water are not listed for the falls or Hawksbill Gap trail access, so check facilities before you start a long outing.