We love to explore the area around us because it is so beautiful and we love going on family hikes, especially a waterfall hike! Saint Mary’s Wilderness is a great hike in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. I’m always looking for new hikes to try out that the kids would be able to handle.
Waterfall hikes are a family favorite
Saint Mary’s Wilderness is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A bonus of this hike is it’s not too far out in the woods (aka you don’t have to drive to the middle of nowhere for an hour) and you’re back in civilization quickly after.
Getting started
When you arrive, there is a small parking lot with a few spots. It is not very large and when we left people had made their own spots. As you walk in, you will come across this sign that gives you a general overview of the trail. There is a map, but it is easy to get a little lost as you go. My biggest tip is follow the red blaze.
The trail follows a clear, cool, beautiful stream. It was so clear you can see fish and all the rocks. The kids loving throwing rocks and sticks in and touching the cool water. The path is mostly shaded so it doesn’t get too hot.
Through the trail, there were a few elevation changes and we noticed many rock formations. It was a nice change in the scenery.
Great swimming hole
This is your reward for making it to the end of the trail! Make sure you bring your suit. When you get there, you will need to climb down some rocks to get to the waterfall. We went across and changed behind our towels, but you could also hike there in your suit if you didn’t feel like messing with it.
I felt safe going up on the slippery rocks because I brought my tevas. Also, I was the only one who didn’t bring a suit but my shorts and sports bra worked fine in a pinch. The water was a little chilly, but no one seemed to mind!
Splash area
Looking down from the waterfall, there was lots of room to play! The kids loved the shallow water to play around in and we didn’t have to worry about a big current taking them away.
Watch out for unwanted guests at Saint Mary’s Falls
One little warning though, we were not alone. We saw two nonpoisonous snakes in the water while we were up there. Even saw one swimming and that freaked me out a little bit.
This waterfall was gorgeous and we really enjoyed the hike to it. It was about a 2 mile hike to get to the waterfall. My husband had to carry our 4 year old a lot of the way back because she was tired, but overall they did well. Make sure you bring lots of water and snacks!
Tip: Take a picture of the map at the trail head
There were a few places where the trail gets a little strange. For example, we had to cross the stream several times and a couple of times we had a little trouble finding the trail. Oops! But we were able to navigate our way when we looked around for the red blaze.
Final thoughts
Overall, we enjoyed the hike and will be doing it again. It was not crowded but we did pass a few people every once and a while. I would recommend water proof hiking boots for the trail if you have a pair. Some of the spots were a bit muddy or had puddles. I won’t make that mistake again.
It took us around 4 hours with 2 small children. We fueled up afterward at the McDonald’s in Fairfield with some soft serve!
When the weather cools off, it would be perfect to come home to some Crockpot Lasagna Soup!
Do you have any hikes you enjoy in the Shenandoah Valley? Feel free to share 🙂