Saint Mary’s Falls Trail in George Washington National Forest

Saint Mary’s Wilderness is a designated wilderness area that covers nearly 10,000 acres. It’s just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in George Washington National Forest.  Our hotel was in Harrisburg, VA, and it was a 30-40 minute drive.

There are several miles of trail within Saint Mary’s Wilderness, including the Mine Bank Creek Trail, Cellar Mountain Trail, and Bald Mountain Trail.

The trail is an in-and-out.

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How To Find The Trailhead

The traihead is at the end of St. Mary’s Road. It’s a bumpy gravel road, and I would advise arriving fairly early. This is a very popular hike, and the lot only has about 20 spots. By the time we left, cars were lining either side of the road.

There is a trail kiosk with a large map of the wilderness area as you begin, and you will usually see hikers around it getting their bearings before they start.

There is no shuttle or public transport available.

I Was Not Excited About This Hike

I had a plan. I always have a plan. This hike was not my plan. The Frugal Rooster decided he wanted to do it when he saw how far the drive was to the hike that I picked. We had one granola bar to split, very little water, and were not dressed for what was ahead. This hike is also the longest I have ever done- it is almost five miles out and back. Fortunately, the elevation gain is only about 400 feet, so while it is a long hike, it’s not a ton of uphill.

What I was not prepared for was crossing the rivers.

Crossing the Rivers

This hike has five river crossings. Even the most experienced hiker would not be able to cross without their feet getting wet. Fortunately, I had on wool hiking socks and trail running shoes, so my feet dried very quickly. The Frugal Rooster was not so lucky. We saw people doing the hike in a variety of shoes, including many water shoes.

When you get to the river, you will have to look to the other side and find the trail. This is a wilderness area, so the trails are not as clearly marked as others we have done. We ventured off the path once or twice, but always managed to get back.

How Big is the Waterfall?

Saint Mary’s Falls is stunning. It is worth the walk (which I did not want to admit to The Frugal Rooster). When we got to the falls, we found a friendly group of James Madison University students who showed us how to move around, where to jump into the water, and where to swim. We probably spent an hour just watching the falls, drinking our water, and wishing we had more snacks.

If you have ever wanted to swim at the falls, don’t forget to bring your towel!

Camping Near Saint Mary’s Falls

During the hike, I noticed a few very primitive campsites. These are not legal campsites. You can camp in Saint Mary’s Wilderness, but not that close to the trail or the falls.

Was It Worth It?

I hate to admit he was right, but this hike was worth it. The round trip from the parking lot took about four hours. We were not in a hurry, got turned around, and didn’t fuel ourselves; most people could do it much faster.

And the price tag is perfect with no fees to park or enter the area!