Backpack - St Mary's Falls (9.5 Miles) - 1 Night

Name: Backpack - St Mary's Falls (9.5 Miles) - 1 Night
Start: 2026-08-08T13:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-08-08T16:00:00.000Z
Location: Fairfax, VA, Fairfax, VA, Fairfax

Fairfax, VA, Fairfax, VA, Fairfax, Vienna Metro South Park & Ride LotSaturday, Aug 8 · 9:00 AM

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Free

RSVP — it's free

3% Flock fee · You keep 97%

Doors 9:00 AM

The Story

**NOTE -** Max group size is 10 for this wilderness area. If you are not 100% committed please do ***not RSVP.*** \*\*Due to low mileage and modest difficulty, this would be a good trip if you are a first time backpacker and want to try it out.\*\* This trip heads into the Saint Mary's Wilderness in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest for an easy-access overnighter to St. Mary's Falls, a 15-foot waterfall with a deep plunge pool that's one of the most popular swimming holes in central Virginia. The route sits inside the Saint Mary's River gorge, which was heavily mined for iron ore and manganese from the early 1900s until the mines were abandoned in the 1950s — you can still spot old tailings piles, flattened mining-road benches, and concrete foundation remnants along the way (Mine Bank Creek, Mine Bank Mountain, and the trail itself are all named for the old mining operations). Expect multiple creek crossings, some rock-hopping, and possibly wet feet, so trekking poles and a change of socks are strongly recommended. ## **Trail Facts** * **Difficulty Level:** Moderate * **Length:** 9.4 Miles * **Duration:** 2 Days * **Elevation Gain:** 1,883 Feet * **Bear Canisters:** Not Required * **Permits:** None * **Dogs**: Allowed * **Meetup/Carpool:** Vienna Metro South * **Trailhead Parking:** Mine Bank Trailhead (37.911886, -79.086941) * **AllTrails Map**: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/st-mary-s-falls-via-mine-bank-creek-trail-1b07211?u=i&sh=rak641 **Trail Details:** We will meet at The Vienna Metro station on Saturday morning at 9 am and drive to the Mine Bank Trailhead parking lot (off Blue Ridge Pkwy). The drive is about 3 hours. I will drive and am happy to have others carpool with me - but please note, I will have my small black labrador in the back seat. **Day 1** After we park, we will hike about 4 miles (mostly downhill) to our campsite. Option A for camp is a large site situated where the St Mary's and Sugartree Branch rivers