Rose River and Dark Hollow Falls Loop

The walk starts at the Fishers Gap parking area on Skyline Drive, at mile 49.4. Cross the Drive and start down the fire road. Just after the chain, turn left on the yellow-blazed Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail, and in about 0.6 miles take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail. It drops to the river and passes the 67-foot Rose River Falls, then reaches a bridge and climbs a steep, rocky stretch beside a run of cascades. At the fire road, turn right over the bridge. The Dark Hollow Falls Trail goes off here: walk up it to the foot of the falls and come back. Then follow the fire road uphill for about a mile to Skyline Drive.

It is 4.4 miles (7.1 km) around with 1,010 feet (308 m) of climbing; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy on our scale, which goes by time; the park rates it moderate and allows four to five hours.

The rocks by both waterfalls are wet and slippery: stay on the trail.

You need a park entrance pass: $30 a vehicle for seven days, paid by card only. Dogs are allowed on the loop on a leash, but not on the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, so leave out the side trip if you have one. Skyline Drive is closed at times in snow and ice.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.