photo by N. Lewis

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. – Thanks to the generous support from Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Arconic Foundation, and the 2025 AllTrails Stewards Fund, the Shenandoah National Park Trust has received $126,000 in full funding to launch a multi-year restoration of the Dark Hollow Falls Trail in Shenandoah National Park.

Located in the park’s Central District, Dark Hollow Falls is among Shenandoah National Park’s most popular hikes. The 1.4-mile circuit hike offers a unique blend of challenging terrain with captivating waterfall views, attracting more than 375,000 park visitors annually.

The project will feature a short trail reroute, add grading improvements to promote safer navigation, and optimize its resilience against trail erosion from severe weather. Work is set to kick off in 2026 and will not only improve visitor safety, accessibility, and natural resource conservation efforts, but will also serve as a model for future trail innovation.

As the official non-profit partner of Shenandoah National Park, the Trust is proud to support impactful projects like this that protect, enhance, and preserve the resources of Shenandoah National Park for all to enjoy- for this and future generations.

For all media inquiries, contact Communications Manager, Lee Tookes at ltookes@snptrust.org or (434) 951-0747.