Tucked away in the breathtaking Shenandoah National Park awaits a seriously underrated trail with a magnificent feature. The Rip Rap Trail is a challenging undertaking at 9 miles round trip, but along the way you’ll enjoy stunning mountain scenery and a hidden turquoise lake at the base of a waterfall. In terms of natural beauty, it just doesn’t get much better than this wooded trek through the mountains.

Rip Rap Trail is a gorgeous loop in Shenandoah National Park that intersects with the famous Appalachian Trail. The parking lot can be found at mile marker 90 along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Jackson Kramer/AllTrails
The 9.8-mile trail is narrow and rocky at places, but there are countless attractions and overlooks to enjoy along the way.
Matt Muhlenkamp/AllTrails
One of the trails most noteworthy features is a turquoise swimming hole located at the base of a waterfall.
Melissa Hopson/AllTrails

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After a few miles on the hike, it's hard to imagine anything more heavenly than a quick dip in these mountain waters. There are also campsites nearby to the waterfall for those looking to break up the trek.
Jill Williams/AllTrails
And along the way, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy scenic overlooks. Can you imagine a more perfect place for a picnic lunch?
Melissa Hopson/AllTrails
Be sure to allot plenty of time -- the Park recommends at least seven hours -- to enjoy all that this trail has to offer.
Astrid Emond/AllTrails
So as warm weather slowly arrives in Virginia, you can daydream about venturing out to one of Shenandoah National Park's most beautiful loops.
Outside Is Awesome/AllTrails.com

For more information about the Rip Rap Trail, including maps and more, you can visit the AllTrails site here. Have you completed this trail before? We’d love to hear about it!

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