How many waterfalls are in Virginia?

Our map lists 72 named waterfalls in Virginia, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and OpenStreetMap as of 2026-09-23. That ranks Virginia 25th among the states. Unnamed falls and seasonal drops are not counted, so the real number is higher.

What is the tallest waterfall in Virginia?

Among falls with a height recorded in OpenStreetMap, Falling Spring Falls is the tallest in Virginia at about 262 ft. Published heights vary between sources, because some count every tier and some only the biggest drop.

How do I find waterfalls near me in Virginia?

Tap Find falls near me on this page, or type a Virginia town or ZIP code. The map lists the named waterfalls around you, nearest first, with height where recorded and a link to directions.

Which county in Virginia has the most waterfalls?

Madison County has the most named falls in the USGS record, 4.

Waterfalls in Virginia: 72 Named Falls on a Map

Q: What is the most famous waterfall in Virginia?

Crabtree Falls is Virginia's best-known waterfall. A series of cascades dropping about 1,200 feet in total in Nelson County, with overlooks along a steep trail. Others widely visited include Great Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, Overall Run Falls.

72 named waterfalls on one map. Tallest first until you share a location, then nearest first.

Where the waterfalls are in Virginia

Virginia's waterfalls are in the Blue Ridge and the ridges west of it. Shenandoah National Park has a string of falls in the hollows below Skyline Drive, and the George Washington and Jefferson national forests hold many more. The biggest river fall in the state is Great Falls of the Potomac, on the edge of the Washington suburbs.

Most Shenandoah falls sit below the drive, so the walk in is downhill and the climb comes on the way back.

Well-known waterfalls in Virginia

Crabtree Falls

A series of cascades dropping about 1,200 feet in total in Nelson County, with overlooks along a steep trail. .

Great Falls

Where the Potomac River pours through a series of steep rapids and falls, seen from overlooks in Great Falls Park.

Dark Hollow Falls

The most visited fall in Shenandoah National Park, about 70 feet, a short but steep walk from Skyline Drive. .

Overall Run Falls

The tallest waterfall in Shenandoah National Park. .

Falling Spring Falls

An 80-foot fall visible from a roadside overlook near Covington. .

The Cascades

A 69-foot fall on Little Stony Creek near Pembroke, at the end of a popular national forest trail. .

When to go

Spring is best, with March to May giving strong flow and wildflowers. Many Shenandoah falls are thin in late summer. See the best time to see waterfalls for how flow changes by region.

Virginia by the numbers

The map shows 72 named falls in Virginia. 42 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 30 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 18 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. MadisonCounty has the most, with 4.

Tallest recorded waterfalls in Virginia

Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.

Waterfall	Height	County
Falling Spring Falls	262 ft	Alleghany
Bent Mountain Falls	200 ft	not recorded
Big Creek Falls	151 ft	not recorded
Overall Run Falls	93 ft	not recorded
South River Falls	89 ft	Greene
Upper Whiteoak Falls	85 ft	not recorded
Lewis Spring Falls	79 ft	Page
Dark Hollow Falls	69 ft	Madison
Rose River Falls	66 ft	Madison
Lower Doyles River Falls	62 ft	not recorded
Lower Whiteoak Falls	59 ft	not recorded
Jones Run Falls	42 ft	Albemarle
Upper Big Creek Falls	33 ft	not recorded
Upper Overall Run Falls	29 ft	not recorded
Upper Doyles River Falls	28 ft	not recorded

Counties with the most waterfalls

From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.

County	Named falls
Madison	4
Giles	4
Patrick	3
Alleghany	2
Russell	2
Rockingham	2
Nelson	2
Rockbridge	2
Page	2
Warren	2
Amherst	2
Washington	1

Every named waterfall in Virginia

Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.

Albemarle County (1)

(42 ft)

Alleghany County (2)

, (262 ft)

Amherst County (2)

Bath County (1)

Botetourt County (1)

Craig County (1)

Floyd County (1)

Franklin County (1)

Frederick County (1)

Giles County (4)

, (10 ft), ,

Grayson County (1)

Greene County (1)

(89 ft)

Halifax County (1)

Madison County (4)

, , (69 ft), (66 ft)

Mecklenburg County (1)

Montgomery County (1)

Nelson County (2)

Page County (2)

, (79 ft)

Patrick County (3)

, ,

Rockbridge County (2)

Rockingham County (2)

Russell County (2)

Scott County (1)

Warren County (2)

(20 ft),

Washington County (1)

County not recorded (31)

(200 ft), (151 ft), , , , , , , , , (26 ft), , , (62 ft), (59 ft), , , (93 ft), , , , , , , (33 ft), (28 ft), (29 ft), , (85 ft), ,

Before you go

The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.

Waterfalls near cities in Virginia

Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Roanoke, waterfalls near Richmond.

Waterfalls in nearby states: West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio. Or see waterfalls in every state.

Waterfalls in Virginia