Shenandoah National Park · Virginia

Doyles River Trail

2.1 mi of trail, end to end · Doyles River Falls: 3.3 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · 1,400 ft of descent · 1,474 ft–2,874 ft · earth surface · trail class Developed · hiking

2,874 ft 1,474 ft · 2.1 mi high 2,874 ft

Browns Gap the Park Service's write-up

7-8 Hours · dogs allowed

Start South District (Mile 83)

A waterfall is surrounded by a dense, green forest.

This circuit hike leads you to Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls, as well as Jones Run Falls.

Distance: 6.5-mile circuit hike

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous (explanation of our hiking difficulty scale )

Hiking Time: 7 hours

Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet

Hike Description

From the Browns Gap Parking Area (mile 83), cross Skyline Drive and take Browns Gap Fire Road to its intersection with Doyles River Trail.

Turn right and connect with Jones Run Trail.

At the Jones Run parking area, take a right onto the Appalachian Trail.

Follow the A.T. back to your starting point.

Accessibility This trail does not meet ADA accessibility guidelines.

This hike on nps.gov

Doyles River Falls 3.3 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

2-3 Hours · dogs allowed

Start South District (Mile 81.1)

A waterfall is surrounded by a dense, green forest.

This beautiful trek takes you along cool, clear mountain streams to two unique waterfalls. Be prepared for a stream crossing.

Distance: 3.3-mile round trip hike

Difficulty: Moderate (explanation of our hiking difficulty scale )

Hiking Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Elevation Gain: 1,189 feet

Hike Description

From the Doyles River Parking Area (mile 81.1), take the blue-blazed Doyles River Trail.

Cross the Appalachian Trail and pass the access trails to Doyles River Cabin and Browns Gap Road.

Trail posts mark the locations of Upper and Lower Doyles River Falls.

Retrace your steps 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.