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Summary: If you like water this is a great hike. If you want a great view at the top, pick another trail. You can go clockwise or the reverse. The Whiteoak Canyon trail is a much better trail so if you prefer coming down on the best footing trail, go clockwise. That is go up Cedar Run. If you do this just remember to look back a lot while coming down the White Oak Trail because it has most of the waterfalls. Cedar Run has some beautiful emerald green pools. Both trails stay very close to the streams. The connection at the top is partly by fire road and partly by a trail that parallels the scenic highway on top of the range. If you come up Cedar Run the trail will go off to the right just before a parking lot. It will take you to the fire road where you turn right. At the end of the fire road you will be at White Oak Canyon. There is a trail that heads up on the South side but you want to cross over the foot bridge and then head down along the stream on the north side. Trailhead: Pick up route 231 just south of Sperryville, headed south. At Etlan turn right on Rte 643 and about 4.5 miles down 643 turn right on Rte 600. 4.7 miles up Rte 600 is the parking lot on the left. (Lat:38.32305 Lon:-78.20862) Trail Guides for White Oak Canyon and Cedar Run Trails - Looped : Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah Park by Michael Barreda (PATC) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: National Park Service - Park Emergency 1.800.732.0911 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Keith Ferguson, who has posted 10 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by CAK on 10/22/2009 Oct 21 - The colors fall leaves were wonderful, trail well maintained and traveled. From the bottom to the half-way point is 2.5 miles, on the topographical map, it shows something less than 2 miles. The switchbacks add mileage so allow more time and effort for the round trip. Awesome waterfalls but the rock formations and colors were equally cool.
Reviewed by Viewer on 5/25/2009 Started at RT600 and didn't make it to the top, on the return we took the off shoot on the other side of the creek. Turned out to be a very nice and less rocky trail, not as scenic though.
Reviewed by RyanW on 7/31/2008 I did this last Friday with a buddy of mine. We started out around 9:30 am at the bottom of White Oak Canyon, crossed over to Cedar Run on the fire road, then came down cedar run and ended around 3 pm. Both streams had the perfect amount of water in them for swimming. The waterfalls on White Oak are more spectacular that those on Cedar Run, but Cedar Run has a waterfall that you can slide down! Cedar Run also had more deep pools so we found it to be better for taking a dip in. The entire trail is beautiful, and not nearly as strenuous as it's neighbor Old Rag. We saw a small bear along the fire road which was cool. If you want to see waterfalls and swim, this one is great, but it doesn't offer the views or exciting climbing of Old R 
Reviewed by DocTao on 3/14/2008 White Oak Canyon is an excellent Hike. If the Lower Falls are your forte enter from Va 600 parking area. The Trail here is moderate but easy to traverse.The payoff is the Cascade pools on the lower 2 Falls. Cool, in the late spring or summer, Frigid in the Fall, Winter months. If you can not bear the uphill trudge spend your day here. The crowd during the summer shows up in the Hot,Humid afternoons. Plan accordingly. If you want the whole enchilda it can be rough on the knees climbing out toward the Skyline Drive. Circuit info in my next Post.
Reviewed by BrianR on 2/19/2008 It was drizzling and 54 when I arrived at Hawksbill Parking at 1 p.m. By the time I reached White Oak, the sun was out and danced on the water most of the way down the canyon. Recent rains resulted in spectacular flow. Water on the trail demanded some caution. At the lower creek crossing I started the 3.5 mile, very difficult climb to the top of Cedar Run. The pleasant sound of the roaring creek boosted my spirits even as a cold wind blew down the canyon. The climb took more than two hours and required frequent use of hands to prevent slipping on the steep wet trail. Though the sun was out, the temp had dropped to 40 by the time I reached my car at 5 pm. Next time I'll start at the bottom. My 62 yr old knees didn't like the last mile.
Reviewed by EPB on 12/26/2007 You can definitely do summit here. If you go UP Cedar Run (easier to go up CR and down WOC, as the latter is better-maintained), at the top, just cross over Skyline Drive to the HUGE sign that identifies the short Hawksbill Summit loop. It is a steep climb but not nearly as difficult as the sign implies (it says 2 hrs round trip - it usually takes us about 20 minutes up and 15 down). If you really want a longer, more challenging hike - don't return via Hawksbill Summit trail. Instead, take the AT about 3 miles to the TOP of the WOC trail ... it's 13.3 altogether. Right now (Dec 2007) the upper part of the WOC is a mess - probably due to the recent ice storms. Downed tree limbs everywhere.
Reviewed by Viewer on 8/5/2007 Really pretty drive out and hike. The waterfalls arent spectacular (not like the cascades) but they are still really pretty and its definitely worth the time to do the entire 8 mile circuit. I would recommend taking white oak up and then return on cedar run. It took me about 5 hours to do the entire loop (I'm pretty fit but it was 95 and super humid). Beware there was a large bee's nest on cedar run on the ground right were the trail crosses the river. I would definetly recommend this hike to a friend!!!!
Reviewed by MartinB on 1/7/2007 Great Hike, somewhat challenging, beautiful waterfalls, and excellent swimming holes! We (two 18 year old fit men) did the looped hike in about three hours, while rock-hopping most of the way up the white oak trail. I definatley recommend this hike to both novice and advanced hikers. (hint: if advanced hikers want more of a challenge, try rock -hopping up to the falls) Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Virginia Hiking, Virginia Trails, Virginia Hikes, Madison County Hiking, Madison County Trails, Madison County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||