Overall Run Falls
While camping at Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah National Park we noticed a trail marker pointing to “Overall Run Falls” on an old fire road leading from the back side (North end) of the campground. We followed the fire road, labeled as Mathews Arm Trail on the park maps, for about ¾ of a mile until it approached Overall Run (Creek). The creek flattened out in that area and we were able to cross over to Overall Run Trail running along the east side of the creek. Several rock out-croppings along the trail offered nice views of the creek below. A few hundred yards after crossing the creek is Upper Overall Run Falls, a 29’ cascade on a short side trail to the left. A few hundred yards past the upper falls is the 93’ high Lower Overall Run Falls, the highest waterfall in Shenandoah National Park, where the creek empties into Overall Run Gorge.
Just past the lower falls the terrain opens up a bit providing nice vistas of the valley through which Overall Run flows west to the south fork of the Shenandoah River. This image was taken from a rock outcropping atop the gorge wall overlooking the valley. I would like to say that I selected that spot because it offered an unobstructed view of fall colors in the valley to the west, the waterfall of course, and also a portion of the rock face surrounding the gorge that the creek emptied into. The truth of the matter is I selected that spot because the rock ledge was wide enough at that point to set up and use a tripod without having to hang on to tree roots or branches for fear of falling off. ☺
According to Google Maps, the fire road (Mathews Arm Trail) is about ¾ mile long. The trail marker at the beginning of the road indicated it was two miles to the falls, which seems about right. There is a parking area for non-campers near t the campground entrance and trails that bypass the camping area. The park service brochure describes this trail as a moderately difficult, 4.7 mile round trip from the parking area to the observation point.
Overall Run Falls
While camping at Mathews Arm Campground in Shenandoah National Park we noticed a trail marker pointing to “Overall Run Falls” on an old fire road leading from the back side (North end) of the campground. We followed the fire road, labeled as Mathews Arm Trail on the park maps, for about ¾ of a mile until it approached Overall Run (Creek). The creek flattened out in that area and we were able to cross over to Overall Run Trail running along the east side of the creek. Several rock out-croppings along the trail offered nice views of the creek below. A few hundred yards after crossing the creek is Upper Overall Run Falls, a 29’ cascade on a short side trail to the left. A few hundred yards past the upper falls is the 93’ high Lower Overall Run Falls, the highest waterfall in Shenandoah National Park, where the creek empties into Overall Run Gorge.
Just past the lower falls the terrain opens up a bit providing nice vistas of the valley through which Overall Run flows west to the south fork of the Shenandoah River. This image was taken from a rock outcropping atop the gorge wall overlooking the valley. I would like to say that I selected that spot because it offered an unobstructed view of fall colors in the valley to the west, the waterfall of course, and also a portion of the rock face surrounding the gorge that the creek emptied into. The truth of the matter is I selected that spot because the rock ledge was wide enough at that point to set up and use a tripod without having to hang on to tree roots or branches for fear of falling off. ☺
According to Google Maps, the fire road (Mathews Arm Trail) is about ¾ mile long. The trail marker at the beginning of the road indicated it was two miles to the falls, which seems about right. There is a parking area for non-campers near t the campground entrance and trails that bypass the camping area. The park service brochure describes this trail as a moderately difficult, 4.7 mile round trip from the parking area to the observation point.