Falls of Dismal Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Falls of Dismal is a waterfall in Giles County, Virginia, about 11 miles southwest of Narrows. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Giles County, VA

Nearest town

Narrows (11 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.6 from 88 reviews

Crowds

Moderate

Coordinates

37.18845, -80.90036

USGS topo

Mechanicsburg quad

Getting there

Falls of Dismal sits about 11 miles southwest of Narrows in Giles County. Navigate to the coordinates 37.18845, -80.90036, which mark the waterfall itself; the trailhead or parking area may be some distance away.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Falls of Dismal listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Most of Virginia's waterfalls are on public land. Shenandoah National Park requires an entrance fee, and Skyline Drive is the primary access for its falls. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests manage most of the falls along the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor and in the Valley and Ridge, with some trailheads requiring parking fees, such as at Crabtree Falls and The Cascades. Weekends during spring and fall can bring full parking lots at popular falls, so arriving early helps. Hazards include slick rock near falls, which has led to fatal accidents at Crabtree Falls, steep return climbs, and fast water after heavy rain. Many falls have swimming holes, but water can be cold and currents strong in spring.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Falls of Dismal based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Virginia. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 37.18845, -80.90036 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Camera and a small tripod. Visitors have shared 299 photos of it; a tripod lets you shoot silky water in low light.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Spring, from roughly March through May, is the classic season for Virginia waterfalls, when rain and snowmelt keep streams high and wildflowers bloom in the hollows of Shenandoah. Early summer still offers good flow, especially after storms, along with dense green foliage and rhododendron and mountain laurel blooms in the higher mountains. By late summer, many falls in Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge thin out considerably. Fall color usually peaks in the mountains in mid to late October, bringing heavy traffic on Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially on weekends. Winter can be beautiful, with icicles and frozen falls after hard cold snaps, but ice on trails and occasional closures of mountain roads during snow and ice events can complicate access. 88 Google reviews suggest steady but manageable traffic outside peak weekends.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Falls of Dismal holds a 4.6-star average across 88 Google reviews, and 76% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the number 2 waterfall by review count in Giles County. Visitors have shared 299 photos.

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Falls of Dismal was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on September 28, 1979, and it appears on the USGS Mechanicsburg 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Pearis Thompson Branch (stream, under 0.1 mi), Standrock Branch (stream, 0.7 mi), Double Mountain (summit, 0.8 mi), and Hiram Thompson Branch (stream, 0.9 mi).

Alleghany Highlands and New River Valley. In the Valley and Ridge, long sandstone ridges are separated by limestone valleys, and waterfalls form where streams cut through the ridges. Falling Spring Falls in Alleghany County is fed by warm springs and drops over a limestone cliff. In Giles County, The Cascades, on Little Stony Creek near Pembroke, is one of the most popular hikes in southwest Virginia, ending at a broad fall in a rocky amphitheater. The Falls of Dismal in Giles County is a wide, low fall with a swimming hole. Craig, Bath and Montgomery counties have smaller, quieter falls in national forest.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Falls of Dismal about 11 miles southwest of Narrows is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 88 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Falls of Dismal listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.