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Shenandoah National Park closes sections of Dark Hollow Falls, Story of the Forest trails

Rebecca Barnabi
Courtesy of Shenandoah National Park.

A section of Dark Hollow Falls Trail in the central area of Shenandoah National Park will be closed for repairs for approximately two weeks starting today.

Sections of the trail have washed out and pose a fall risk for hikers.

The Dark Hollow Falls Trailhead is at mile 50.5 on Skyline Drive. The popular trail draws the attention of hikers for its scenic waterfall and proximity to Big Meadows. Rose River Trail, which features several waterfalls including Dark Hollow Falls, will not be affected by the closure. Hikers will still be able to access Rose River Trail but will not be able to ascend Dark Hollow Falls Trail. The Skyline Drive Trailhead for Rose River Trail is mile 49.4.

Shenandoah’s trail crew will begin work on today and hope to complete work by Tuesday, September 10, 2024. The washed-out sections of the trail do not allow a safe way to circumvent the area so the section of the trail will remain closed while crews work to repair the trail.

A trail closure was issued for Story of the Forest Trail, located in the Big Meadows area on Saturday, August 10, 2024, following a damaging wind-rain event associated with Hurricane Debby. A bridge on the trail has completely washed out, and trail crews are working to provide a temporary crossing so the trail can be reopened.

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.