Shenandoah National Park · Virginia

Cedar Run Trail

3.0 mi of trail, end to end · Cedar Run - Whiteoak Circuit: 8.1 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,200 ft of climbing · 1,138 ft–3,359 ft · earth surface · trail class Developed · hiking

1,138 ft 3,359 ft · 2.8 mi high 3,359 ft

Cedar Run - Whiteoak Circuit 8.1 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

6-7 Hours · dogs allowed

Start Central District (Mile 45.6)

A bridge over a mountain creek.

This hike is very challenging, although those who do it are rewarded with exceptional cascades and waterfalls. You will also hike through the Shenandoah Wilderness along the Cedar Run Trail. Be prepared for several stream crossings.

Distance: 8.1-mile round trip hike

Difficulty: Very strenuous ( hiking difficulty scale )

Hiking Time: 7 hours

Elevation Gain: 2,794 feet

Hike Description

From the Hawksbill Gap Parking Area (mile 45.6), descend via the Cedar Run Trail.

At the bottom of the drainage, go left on the Whiteoak Canyon Trail.

After having passed six waterfalls on your ascent, you will come to an intersection with the Whiteoak Canyon Fire Road/Horse Trail. Turn left.

Follow the road to the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail.Turn left once more to return to the parking area

Accessibility This trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 317 trails in Shenandoah National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.