Big Rock Falls - Swimming Hole near Syria, Virginia
Syria,Virginia
38.4954, -78.4241
5.3 miles W of Syria, Virginia
GPS: 38°29'43.4"N 78°25'26.8"W
Maps | Directions
State: Virginia
Trails/Routes: 0.3 mi

Rivers Waterfalls Trails

Hike and Swim

Big Rock Falls is an easy hike to a beautiful cascading waterfall. The hike follows Mill Prong River giving hikers a beautiful view of the flowing water, forests and rock formations for the entire hike.  The hike to the Falls is 1.5 miles and is considered moderately difficult. There is a steady change in elevation and the trail is rocky. The trail is also well marked and easy to follow. 

When the water is at higher flow there is a spot on Mill Prong river before you reach big falls where the water pools into a decent swimming hole. This gives visitors an opportunity to cool off and enjoy the clean water. Swimming is done at your own risk and swimmers should check water safety before swimming.

The fee to enter the park is $30 per vehicle. This pass is good for a week from time of purchase.

4.2K Edited by tasiawhicker

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Syria, Virginia

  1. Head southeast on VA-670 toward Bohannon Rd (1.7 mi)
  2. Turn right onto State Rte 649 (2.4 mi)
  3. Continue onto Rapidan Rd (5.2 mi)
  4. Continue onto Rapidan Fire Rd
    Restricted usage road
    (0.4 mi)
  5. Turn left
    Restricted usage road
    (0.6 mi)
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Big Rock Falls; Shenandoah National Park, Virginia by Chris Sanfino

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