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Two is always better than one, so combine two out-and-back hikes into the White Oak Canyon Cedar Run Loop, which offers hikers and photographers some of the best waterfalls in the Shenandoah National Park.
This route combines Cedar Run Falls and White Oak Canyon Trail (one of the more popular hikes in SNP, with separate adventures detailing those hikes). Parking is easy, but gets very crowded due to the popularity of White Oak Canyon (WOC). When starting from the parking area/Shenandoah ranger station, you will cross a steel footbridge that will bring you to the intersection of Cedar Run Trail and WOC.
Stay to your left up Cedar Run Falls (blue blaze) and leave WOC trail for your return route. On Cedar Run, you'll avoid the bigger crowds that tend to clog up the trail on WOC. You'll follow Cedar Run up a consistent (but manageable) climb. Just off the trail are plenty of little swimming holes, waterfalls, and shallow pools. At the top of the trail, you'll see Skyline Drive, but turn right onto the Skyland/Big Meadows Horse Trail before reaching Skyline Drive. After about a half mile, the trail will connect with the WOC Fire Road. Stay on this fire road for 1.6 miles, which will connect with WOC trail. From there, just take the trail back down to the parking lot and enjoy the numerous waterfalls, photo opportunities, and swimming holes along the route.
Leave No Trace
