Waterfalls have mesmerized people for millennia.
Even today, amid a fast-paced world driven by smartphones and social media, a waterfall can freeze us in time, causing us to pause and appreciate the simple beauty of water falling onto rocks.
Come visit the Dan River Basin today. Enjoy a variety of waterfalls and find a moment of peace and tranquility amid the stormy seas of daily life.
Halifax County, Virginia
1) Hyco Falls (historical)
Hyco Falls once fell on the Dan River just upstream from what is now Staunton River State Park. The falls no longer can be seen today, though, as they’re now submerged behind John H. Kerr Dam.
Henry County, Virginia
Sometimes you’ve just got to poke around to find a place like Eggleston Falls, a hidden treasure that fall on the Smith River just upstream from its confluence with Marrowbone Creek in Ridgeway.
Patrick County, Virginia
Little Mountain Falls is accessible via trail in Fairy Stone State Park. You can get there through a combination of trails, with 2.2-mile and 3.3-mile versions.
4) White Falls
The location of these falls on the Smith River make them a hot destination for kayakers.
Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, these falls are upstream from Townes Dam near Point Lookout.
Rockingham County, North Carolina
6) Fall Creek Falls
The Fall Creek Falls can be found in Mayo River State Park along Fall Creek, which eventually empties into the Mayo River. Hike to Fall Creek Falls from a trail beginning at the DeShazo Mill Road access parking lot.
7) Hidden waterfall at Governor Morehead Park
Sometimes falls just kind of sneak up on you. If you visit Governor Morehead Park in Eden, be sure to listen for the sound of the waterfall, and your ears will lead you to it.
Stokes County, North Carolina
8) Hidden Falls (Hanging Rock)
Hidden Falls are just one of several waterfalls to be found in Hanging Rock State Park. The hike to the smaller waterfall of the park is an easy 0.4 mile hike from a trail head at the corner of the Visitor Center Parking Lot near the trail head to Hanging Rock Peak. Begin your hike to Hidden Falls from the visitor center parking lot.
9) Lower Cascades (Hanging Rock)
Hike to the Lower Cascades on Cascades Creek from the lot on Hall Road. The falls has an overhanging bluff and a large plunge pool at the base. The shallow wading pool at the base is perfect for a spring or summer dip after a 0.4 mile moderate hike to the falls.
10) Tory’s Falls (Hanging Rock)
Tory’s Falls are located near an area called “Tory’s Den,” a cave purportedly used by Tories during the American Revolution. They’re located a few hundred yards up a trail from Charley Young Road.
11) Upper Cascades (Hanging Rock)
The Upper Cascades, logically enough, are located on Cascades Creek upstream from Lower Cascades, about a 0.3-mile hike from the main parking lot.
12) Window Falls (Hanging Rock)
Window Falls are named for a “window” in a nearby rock formation. They’re not far from Hidden Falls on the same trail that begins at the corner of the Visitor Center Parking Lot. Window Falls is unique for visitors as they can stand behind the falls and cool off in the warmer weather.
More ways to explore the Dan River Basin
Check out these additional trip ideas: