Lewis Spring Falls
Page County, Virginia
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 79 ft (24 m)
- Location
- Page County, Virginia
- Access status
- Official park loop to a viewing platform; entrance fee
- The walk
- 3.3-mile circuit hike per the National Park Service
- Ground & access
- Steep, rocky descent with loose rock and a stream crossing; a long steady climb back. Only a side view of the falls from the platform.
Lewis Spring Falls, which the National Park Service calls Lewis Falls, is an 81-foot waterfall below Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park. From the Big Meadows amphitheater parking area, walk downhill from the concrete marker post and turn left on the Appalachian Trail. Stay right onto the blue-blazed Lewis Falls Trail. It descends steeply over rocks to a fenced viewing platform beside the falls. To return, take the trail up to a fire road and turn right, then in a few yards turn left onto the Appalachian Trail and follow it uphill to the parking area. Virginia Trail Guide says there is no good, safe way to reach the base of the falls and that there have been fatalities at this waterfall.
Plan your visit
Big Meadows amphitheater parking area, Skyline Drive mile 51.2, Appalachian Trail and Lewis Falls Trail to the falls viewing platform
The National Park Service gives a 3.3-mile circuit with 990 feet of elevation gain. Virginia Trail Guide reaches the post just before the viewpoint at 1.2 miles.
Steep, rocky descent with loose rock and a stream crossing; a long steady climb back. Only a side view of the falls from the platform.
Where to start
Big Meadows amphitheater parking area at Skyline Drive mile 51.2, behind the Big Meadows picnic grounds.
Timing & water
The National Park Service lists the trail as open year round.
Before you go
No activity fee or reservation. An entrance pass is required for Shenandoah National Park; the National Park Service lists $30 for a private vehicle.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Dark Hollow FallsNational park trail route and parking documented69 ft (21 m) · Page County, VA1.4 miE- Naked Creek FallsPartial guide: off-trail creek descent; exact drop not confirmedPage County, VA1.9 miS
- Big Rock FallsPublished hike route and national park parking documentedMadison County, VA2.2 miSE
Rose River FallsGuide: 4-mile park loop past the falls66 ft (20 m) · Madison County, VA2.4 miE- Upper Big Creek Falls33 ft (10 m) · Page County, VA4.2 miS
- Big Creek Falls151 ft (46 m) · Page County, VA4.2 miS
- Climbing Rose FallsMadison County, VA4.5 miE
- Cedar Run FallsGuide: wilderness trail to a falls with a swimming holeMadison County, VA4.7 miE
- Upper Whiteoak FallsNational park trail from a Skyline Drive parking area; entrance fee85 ft (26 m) · Madison County, VA5.5 miNE