Pocosin, Dry Run, and Saddleback Circuit

This is a self-supported backpacking circuit from South River Picnic Area, linking South River Falls Trail, Pocosin and Dry Run fire roads, the Appalachian Trail and Saddleback Mountain Trail. The mapped line is 12.79 miles, including a representative half-mile Pocosin camp leg out and back and a one-mile Dry Run leg out and back. Camps are flexible, so your total will change. The written total is 10.1–15 miles, though the daily ranges add to 9.1–16.1. Its directions say the Pocosin-to-road connector is under a mile (the mapped segment is 1.2 miles) and Saddleback is 1.4 miles (the complete mapped path is 1.74). Use your chosen camp locations to plan each day. Allow roughly 10 hours of walking over four days; that is an estimate, not an official timing.

The trail leaves the east side of the picnic-area loop and descends to a stone-walled viewpoint at South River Falls, about a mile in. The falls drop 83 feet into a wooded gorge. Flow varies with rain, and spring brings trillium and returning songbirds; early fall color is another reason to choose this trip. From the wall, frame the water with the gorge rather than shooting the falls alone. After the viewpoint, the itinerary leaves the waterfall trail for road and ridge walking.

On day one, fire-road connectors lead to Pocosin Trail and a dry-camp area within the next mile. Day two retraces that Pocosin spur, then follows South River Fire Road across Skyline Drive before turning down Dry Run Falls Road to camp. Day three retraces Dry Run, reaches the Appalachian Trail and heads south for about two miles to Saddleback. Day four completes the full Saddleback loop and follows the AT north back to the picnic area. Most of the distance is on trails and unpaved roads; the multi-day pack, camp-finding and water planning are the real commitment.

Shenandoah requires a backcountry permit through Recreation.gov. Campsites are dispersed and unmarked: favor existing sites and stay at least a quarter-mile from paved roads, the park boundary and facilities, 100 yards from huts, 50 yards from buildings or another party, 20 yards from trails and fire roads, and 10 yards from water. The Pocosin camp area is dry, so carry the water you need to reach it; filter or treat stream water. Fires are limited to park-built fireplaces at AT huts and shelters, so plan to cook with a backpacking stove. Dogs are allowed on this route but must stay on a physical leash no longer than six feet. Wear blaze orange during hunting season; the itinerary crosses a small part of Rapidan Wildlife Management Area.

The name Dry Run Falls Road can suggest a direct waterfall stop, but the stored route stays on the road. Dry Run Falls requires an off-trail bushwhack, while Lost Cliffs is an unsigned detour with a slippery descent. Neither is included in the mapped mileage, so verify those approaches separately before attempting them. On Pocosin, this itinerary turns back within a mile rather than continuing to Pocosin Mission or Cabin.