About this spot
Cedar Run is a rugged creek in Shenandoah National Park with a string of small swimming holes, a natural rock water slide, and modest cliff jumps (mostly under 15ft). Reach it from Syria via Hoover Rd, VA-231N, Old Blue Ridge Turnpike, and VA-643/Weakley Hollow Rd to the Whiteoak boundary parking lot; a ranger station there collects the park's per-vehicle entrance fee. From the lot it's a steep, rocky hike upstream to the pools. The main hazard is the slick, algae-covered rock around the water slide and jump ledges — falls and scrapes are common, and pool depth varies with rainfall, so check before jumping.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.