Rockingham County, Virginia

Waterfalls Near Grottoes, VA

There are 11 named waterfalls within a 30-mile radius of Grottoes, 4 of them inside 10 miles. The nearest is Big Falls, 7.1 miles east of town. Rose River Falls earns the best visitor rating nearby (4.9 stars from 33 Google reviews). Most of the falls are northeast of Grottoes.

Distances are straight-line from the town center. Driving routes are longer.

Photo of Dark Hollow Falls in Madison County, Virginia
Pictured: Dark Hollow Falls, VA

Best Waterfalls Near Grottoes at a Glance

Photo of Jones Run Falls, a waterfall 0.0 miles from Big Falls
Pictured: nearby Jones Run Falls (0.0 mi)
Closest

Big Falls

7.1 miles east of Grottoes.

Photo of Jones Run Falls near Grottoes, VA
With recorded history

Jones Run Falls

Has a USGS description or naming history.

11 Waterfalls Near Grottoes, Ranked by Distance

  1. Big Falls

    Grottoes, VA · Rockingham County · 7.1 mi east of Grottoes
    4.5 (2 reviews)

    Big Falls is the closest named waterfall to Grottoes, 7.1 miles to the east in Rockingham County. It ranks 9th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes.

    Rating
    4.5 (2 Google reviews)
    Address
    Rockingham County, VA 22932 (GPS 38.2299, -78.7047)
    View details Directions

  2. Jones Run Falls

    Grottoes, VA · Albemarle County · 7.1 mi east of Grottoes
    4.1 (13 reviews)

    Jones Run Falls lies 7.1 miles east of Grottoes in Albemarle County, number 2 of 11 by distance. It ranks 5th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. USGS notes: On Jones Run, in Shenandoah NP, .5 mi upstream from the junction of Jones Run with Doyles River, 17 mi NW of Charlottesville

    Rating
    4.1 (13 Google reviews)
    Address
    Albemarle County, VA 22932 (GPS 38.2296, -78.7045)
    View details Directions

  3. Doyles River Falls

    Grottoes, VA · Rockingham County · 7.6 mi east of Grottoes
    4.3 (25 reviews)

    Doyles River Falls lies 7.6 miles east of Grottoes in Rockingham County, number 3 of 11 by distance. It ranks 4th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes.

    Rating
    4.3 (25 Google reviews)
    Address
    Rockingham County, VA 22932 (GPS 38.2382, -78.6914)
    View details Directions

  4. Big Branch Falls

    Crimora, VA · Augusta County · 8.2 mi southeast of Grottoes
    4.2 (5 reviews)

    Big Branch Falls lies 8.2 miles southeast of Grottoes in Augusta County, number 4 of 11 by distance. It ranks 8th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Crimora.

    Rating
    4.2 (5 Google reviews)
    Address
    Augusta County, VA 22932 (GPS 38.1661, -78.7467)
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  5. Cedar Falls

    Elkton, VA · Rockingham County · 18 mi northeast of Grottoes

    Cedar Falls lies 18 miles northeast of Grottoes in Rockingham County, number 5 of 11 by distance. Its own nearest town is Elkton.

    Address
    Rockingham County, VA 22827 (GPS 38.3948, -78.5414)
    View details Directions

  6. Dry Run Falls

    Elkton, VA · Rockingham County · 19 mi northeast of Grottoes
    3.0 (11 reviews)

    Dry Run Falls lies 19 miles northeast of Grottoes in Rockingham County, number 6 of 11 by distance. It ranks 7th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Elkton.

    Rating
    3.0 (11 Google reviews)
    Address
    Rockingham County, VA 22827 (GPS 38.3987, -78.5278)
    View details Directions

  7. South River Falls

    Stanardsville, VA · Greene County · 19 mi northeast of Grottoes
    4.7 (47 reviews)

    South River Falls lies 19 miles northeast of Grottoes in Greene County, number 7 of 11 by distance. It ranks 2nd for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Stanardsville.

    Rating
    4.7 (47 Google reviews)
    Address
    Greene County, VA 22973 (GPS 38.3796, -78.5011)
    View details Directions

  8. Lewis Spring Falls

    Stanley, VA · Page County · 27 mi northeast of Grottoes
    4.4 (12 reviews)

    Lewis Spring Falls lies 27 miles northeast of Grottoes in Page County, number 8 of 11 by distance. It ranks 6th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Stanley.

    Rating
    4.4 (12 Google reviews)
    Address
    Page County, VA 22851 (GPS 38.5204, -78.4495)
    Known for
    hike, waterfall
    View details Directions

  9. Big Rock Falls

    Stanley, VA · Madison County · 27 mi northeast of Grottoes
    5.0 (1 reviews)

    Big Rock Falls lies 27 miles northeast of Grottoes in Madison County, number 9 of 11 by distance. It ranks 10th for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Stanley.

    Rating
    5.0 (1 Google reviews)
    Address
    Madison County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.4954, -78.4228)
    View details Directions

  10. Dark Hollow Falls

    Stanley, VA · Madison County · 28 mi northeast of Grottoes
    4.7 (159 reviews)

    Dark Hollow Falls lies 28 miles northeast of Grottoes in Madison County, number 10 of 11 by distance. It draws more Google reviews than any other waterfall near Grottoes. Picturesque series of cascading waterfalls over greenstone, accessible by a moderate 1.4-mi. hike.

    Rating
    4.7 (159 Google reviews)
    Address
    Madison County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5190, -78.4233)
    View details Directions

  11. Rose River Falls

    Stanley, VA · Madison County · 29 mi northeast of Grottoes
    4.9 (33 reviews)

    Rose River Falls lies 29 miles northeast of Grottoes in Madison County, number 11 of 11 by distance. It ranks 3rd for review count among waterfalls near Grottoes. Its own nearest town is Stanley.

    Rating
    4.9 (33 Google reviews)
    Address
    Madison County, VA 22743 (GPS 38.5315, -78.4083)
    View details Directions

Where the Waterfalls Are

Grottoes sits in or near the Shenandoah and the Northern Blue Ridge area of Virginia. Shenandoah National Park covers the crest of the northern Blue Ridge, and dozens of hollows drop steeply from Skyline Drive to the Shenandoah Valley on one side and the Piedmont on the other. Dark Hollow Falls in Madison County cascades over greenstone along a moderate trail of about 1.4 miles, and Lower Whiteoak Falls and Overall Run Falls are among the park's favorites. South River Falls in Greene County and Jones Run Falls are farther south along the Drive. Most of these falls lie below their trailheads, so hikes go downhill first and climb back out on the return. Read the Virginia waterfall guide.

By direction from Grottoes: 7 to the northeast, 3 to the east, and 1 to the southeast. They are spread across Rockingham County (4), Madison County (3), Albemarle County (1), Augusta County (1), Greene County (1), and Page County (1). The average distance is 17.8 miles.

By Distance

Within 10 miles of Grottoes

Big Falls (7.1 mi), Jones Run Falls (7.1 mi), Doyles River Falls (7.6 mi), Big Branch Falls (8.2 mi)

10 to 20 miles of Grottoes

Cedar Falls (18 mi), Dry Run Falls (19 mi), South River Falls (19 mi)

20 to 30 miles of Grottoes

Lewis Spring Falls (27 mi), Big Rock Falls (27 mi), Dark Hollow Falls (28 mi), Rose River Falls (29 mi)

Nearby Towns With Waterfalls

Waterfalls Near Grottoes: FAQs

How many waterfalls are near Grottoes, VA?

11 named waterfalls lie within 30 miles of Grottoes: 4 within 10 miles, 3 10 to 20 miles, 4 20 to 30 miles. Distances are straight-line from the town center.

What is the closest waterfall to Grottoes?

Big Falls in Rockingham County is the closest, about 7.1 miles east of Grottoes.

What is the best-rated waterfall near Grottoes?

Rose River Falls has the highest Google rating among nearby falls with at least 10 reviews: 4.9 stars from 33 Google reviews. The most reviewed is Dark Hollow Falls.

Which counties are the waterfalls near Grottoes in?

Rockingham County (4), Madison County (3), Albemarle County (1), Augusta County (1), and Greene County (1).

How does Grottoes compare with other Virginia towns?

Grottoes ranks 6th of the 29 Virginia towns in our directory for the number of waterfalls within 30 miles.