From hidden forest escapes to breathtaking natural swimming spots, these Virginia waterfalls prove that sometimes the best way to beat the heat is to let nature do the cooling. A longer loop connecting Doyles River Falls with Jones Run Falls is available for those who want to turn the outing into a proper adventure. The Saint Mary’s River Trail is a moderate 4.3 to 4.7-mile out-and-back hike, and wet feet are simply part of the experience. Those natural rock slides are the real draw here. Sliding down a rock chute carved by millions of years of erosion into a pool of cool river water is a summer experience that no theme park can replicate.