Parking
Parking is limited. On Thompson Hollow Road, park only on the right before the No Parking sign and private driveway; never block the drive. Walk the short access road to the park boundary.
Overview
About Overall Run and Beecher Ridge Loop from Thompson Hollow
Why go
- Overall Run Falls and cascades add a standout destination
- Creek valley and shaded ridge keep the scenery varied
Heads up
- Steep climbs, rough footing and repeated stream crossings
- Falls flow can fade after dry weather
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation837–2,382 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Shenandoah alerts
- ClosureOld Rag Trailhead main lot closedThe Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot is closed to vehicles and pedestrians for infrastructure improvements; use the existing overflow lots. - Work is expected to be completed by November 2026.Official details
- ClosureBackcountry camping and zone closuresBackcountry camping is prohibited on the Appalachian Trail from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, and the Naked Creek backcountry zone is closed.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Shenandoah Tour Guide
Your drive to Overall Run and Beecher Ridge Loop from Thompson Hollow, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Shenandoah National Park. 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 Shenandoah audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Thompson Hollow: The Short Walk to the Cascades0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching Thompson Hollow, a good starting point for a shorter hike to Overall Run's low cascades and shaded pools.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Shenandoah Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mathews Arm: The Hike to Overall Run Falls
- Hogback Overlook: A Quick Valley Panorama
- Piney River: A CCC Office and a Longer Walk
- Rattlesnake Point Overlook: Tiny Bubbles in the Rock
- 146 audio storiesacross Shenandoah’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Bald Eagle, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 163 trails, 142 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Overall Run and Beecher Ridge Loop from Thompson Hollow
The loopAllow about 8.4 miles and five to six hours.
Allow about 8.4 miles and five to six hours. From Thompson Hollow, the route follows the hollow to Overall Run, climbs to waterfall views, then returns on Mathews Arm and Beecher Ridge. The mapped loop includes the short road walk between parking and the park boundary.
Creek and fallsThompson Hollow and Overall Run have rough, sometimes muddy footing, exposed roots and rocks,…
Thompson Hollow and Overall Run have rough, sometimes muddy footing, exposed roots and rocks, and several stream crossings. A sustained climb reaches falls viewpoints. Overall Run Falls drops 93 feet, but flow can dwindle after dry weather. Wet rock is slick; stay on marked paths and skip off-trail scrambling.
Beecher Ridge returnA short gentler stretch on Mathews Arm leads to the wooded Beecher Ridge descent.
A short gentler stretch on Mathews Arm leads to the wooded Beecher Ridge descent. Brush can narrow parts of the trail. The connector rejoins Overall Run for a final streamside section before the road walk back to the parking area.
Access and suppliesPark only on the right side of Thompson Hollow Road before the No Parking sign and private…
Park only on the right side of Thompson Hollow Road before the No Parking sign and private driveway; do not block the drive. Walk the short access road to the park boundary. The entrance fee applies even when hiking in from the boundary. There is no food service or potable tap water on the route; treat stream water. Dogs may use these trails on a physical leash no longer than six feet.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Shenandoah
325 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
21 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
1,036 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
167 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
93 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
24 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Shenandoah. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
