Parking
Use the authorized roadside spaces at the Thompson Hollow boundary access; parking is limited. Follow posted NPS signs and keep the private driveway clear.
Overview
About Thompson Hollow to Overall Run Cascades
Why go
- Several small cascades and pools without the long high-falls hike.
Heads up
- The junctions are easy to miss, and the creekside spur is rough.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Shenandoah map
Full mapElevation938–1,184 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 Thompson Hollow to Overall Run Cascades, 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 Thompson Hollow to Overall Run Cascades
A short route to the lower cascadesThompson Hollow to Overall Run Cascades is a 2.
Thompson Hollow to Overall Run Cascades is a 2.2-mile round-trip out-and-back from the Thompson Hollow boundary access. A wooded climb and short spur lead to low cascades and pools along Overall Run. It is a good choice for a quick creek stop; it does not go to the separate 93-foot Overall Run Falls. Plan on about 60–90 minutes and roughly 430 feet of total climbing.
Follow the markersStart along the gravel road. After about 0.
Start along the gravel road. After about 0.2 mile, a chain marks the end of vehicle access; follow the blazes onto a dirt path with rocks and roots. The route climbs mildly through the woods, with wooden steps around 0.6 mile. Pass the Tuscarora trail marker at about 0.8 mile and stay on Thompson Hollow Trail to Overall Run Trail, around mile one.
Take the short turn to the waterAt the junction, turn right onto Overall Run Trail. In roughly 0.
At the junction, turn right onto Overall Run Trail. In roughly 0.1 mile, turn left at the four-way intersection onto the short creekside path. The other branch leads toward Overall Run Falls, about two miles farther one way; the first dead end is not the cascades. The destination is a series of small falls across pale rock, with shaded pools and large rocks beside the water. For a photo, include the rock shelf to show the stepped cascades as well as the pool.
Access and effortParking is limited at Thompson Hollow.
Parking is limited at Thompson Hollow. Follow posted NPS directions, use only authorized roadside spaces, and keep the private driveway clear. An entrance fee applies even when hiking in from the boundary, so bring a valid park pass. Dogs may come on this route on a physical leash no longer than six feet. The creekside ending is rocky and uneven.
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.
