Friday, Sep 20th Hike, Overall Falls Loop, Shenandoah NP

Although the hike was great, the stream was just a trickle and the waterfall was a very small stream cascading over the rocks but any day on the trail is a better day than in the office.

This is a 6.4 mile round trip up-and-back hike. The hike is not too hard and starts with a pleasant mountain top stroll making our way down the slopes of Hogback Mountain entering the Overall Run Fall watershed.

We’ll pick up the Appalachian Trail heading south as it skirts the south side of Hogback Mountain overlook parking area and turn right at the AT heading south.  We'll climb up through Fern carpeted woodlands passing a few Rocky outcrops. At mile 0.4 we’ll turn right on the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail for reaching another trail junction at mile 1.1

Turn right staying on the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail and pass a large embedded rock on your left. The path will drop off and level off again several times continue this pattern until the trail intersects Mathews Arm trail at Mile 2.7.  Continue on the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail coming to some waterfalls at Mile 2.9.  A side trail leads to the top of this waterfall hear the overall run is split by a large bold or forcing the creek to divide resulting in two streams dropping 29 feet. Continue on the side of the canyon descending again come to another Cliff at mile 3.2.  To your left will be Overall Run Falls, which at 93 feet, is the park’s highest and it drops over sheetrock into the gorge below.

Bring 2 liters of water, hiking poles, lunch/snacks, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sweat rag.  It is a very good idea to have a RAIN PONCHO just in case!