Hike to Shamokin Falls

Starting from the Dripping Rock Parking area at MP 10 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, head north on the white blazed Appalachian Trail (trail leading into woods from parking lot- don't cross the road). In about 20 steps the trail splits- go right. In another 20 steps or so the trail splits again but this time it's harder to catch. You'll see a make-shift campground, this is where you'll need to stop and look for the trail. You'll have to go over a log but at this point go to the right again. The trail will be flat and covered with small little rocks. In 0.1 miles you should intersect with the road Laurel Spring Drive and if you don't you've gone the wrong way. Once you get to the road, cross and go straight on the yellow blazed trail. To the left you should see a little sign with different trail names and arrows. In 0.3 miles you'll come to a side trail on your left that will be marked by a wooden sign. Take a left down this trail. It's pretty straight forward from this point on- every so often you'll see wooden signs that will let you know which way the Upper Shamokin Falls are. I will say that you really, really need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure you're following the blazes (first yellow then red). The trail isn't heavily trafficked and transverses rocks so it's easy to lose it. Once you get down to the Upper Falls you can stay here or continue another .25 miles downhill to the lower falls.

After hiking this trail I went one mile up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Ravens Roost Overlook to catch the sunset - I highly recommend doing this!