Lewis Falls - Shenandoah National Park
N 38° 31.214 W 078° 27.009
17S E 722295 N 4266620
Lewis Falls is the 4th highest waterfall in Shenandoah NP.
Waymark Code: WM6TFA
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 07/18/2009
Views: 18
Lewis Spring is the source of Hawksbill Creek which forms Lewis Falls (also known as Lewis Spring Falls) and eventually flows through the town of Luray and joins the Shenandoah River. The falls starts with 2 streams before hitting rock halfway down and fanning out. During dry seasons and summer, one of the stream may disappear while at other times, it can be a spectacular sight of gushing power.
It is approximately 1 mile from Skyline Drive at MP 51 and can be accessed by trail from Big Meadows or a small parking area on the Drive at Mile 51.4. An excellent synopsis of the hike is outlined in Henry Heatwole's Guide to Shenandoah National Park which is no longer in print, but can be viewed online here
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There is a flat viewing area which looks back at the falls. The GPS coordinates are taken at this point since it is the safest place. There is a very narrow steep trail that descends to the bottom, but in summer, it is overgrown and hard to see and navigate. NOT recommended except for the hardiest and most sure-footed of adventurers under any circumstances or time of year and at one's own risk. Ironically, it starts near the warning sign of 'Falls Can Kill'. (Even though this trail is mentioned in Heatwole's printed guide, it has been deleted from the online version.)