Great Falls Park

We came here on a Sunday afternoon. The weather was great so it took us about 15 minutes before we were actually able to enter the park. The fee per private vehicle is $ 10. The outlook views of the waterfalls were gorgeous so definitely worth going at least once.
We didn’t have enough time to but heard the hikes there are on the less difficult side and the views that come with it are worth it.
It gets pretty hot so bring water bottles with you! (Or you can purchase onsite for $ 2 along with other snacks).

We went early on a Sunday (around 9:30) and it was a 25 minute wait to get into the park, and it was so crowded that it was not enjoyable. While I fully appreciate the «No trash» policy, meaning you have to bring any trash out of the park with you, I wish there were areas to dispose of pet waste. Had to carry a bag of dog poop around. Not fun! I don’t think this place lives up to the hype.

One of my favorite local parks/​hiking place. MD residents may claim that VA side has the lesser difficult hike and also have the lesser scenic view. That debate is for another day and I might agree also.
The drive up to the park through the wealthy neighborhood grooms you to be vowed by this place. The park is pretty expansive and proof is the amount of people who come here on weekends to have cook outs, bbq, picnics, hiking, you name it. Had one of the funnest birthday parties here myself so I can vouch for the park’s fun-​ness (I know it’s not a word but roll with it).
The beautiful fall is another plus point and the reason hoards of families come here to chill out. The only back draw is the fee which is $ 10 per private vehicle but I guess if you think about it, in the long run its worth it given this place’s popularity. I would happily pay $ 10 to have a birthday picnic over here. Don’t expect your phone to have service here. It magically disappears when you get here so be aware of that in case you are looking to snapchat your adventures. Been there done that. On the bright side, you can refresh your snapchat once you have left the park and still show the world that you do have a relatively interesting life.
Fun fact: Park is popular amongst yungins to stay back till dark fall and make out. Your welcome!

Amazing waterfalls. Great Falls Park is an amazing place to visit to take in some relaxing and beautiful sights of nature. The waterfalls are just astonishing and so tranquil to take in. There are a few paths that lead up and down the water’s edge to different vantage points. The park is well maintained and clean.

I love Great Falls. Sometimes I’m there almost every weekend in the spring and summer! As a hiker and climber, this place is great. There are a large number of climbs with a lot of different levels mixed in so everyone can climb together. Just watch out for high water if it rains a lot– this sometimes covers the bottoms of climbs.

One of the best part in the region for sure. It’s a nice day trip to spend a afternoon here. Near the national’s capital is also very nice.

Love, love, loved this park! I got there pretty late in the day so there was a pretty long line to get in but it was worth it.
I saw the falls first from one the overlooks then briefly did part of the river trail and hiked down the rocks to the river which was amazing!
Definitely bring lots of water especially if it’s a very hot day.
$ 10 per vehicle or $ 5 per person if you don’t have a vehicle.

Love, love, loved this park! I got there pretty late in the day so there was a pretty long line to get in but it was worth it.
I saw the falls first from one of the overlooks then briefly did part of the river trail and hiked down the rocks to the river which was amazing!
Definitely bring lots of water especially if it’s a very hot day.
$ 10 per vehicle or $ 5 per person if you don’t have a vehicle.

This was a really cool national park. When we arrived the line wasn’t too long. It took about 10min to get in and through the line. The cost per vehicle is $ 10, or $ 5 per person on foot. Military was free to enter.
This was my first time here and I wasn’t sure where to go for the best views. When we arrived me and the fam were already hungry so we stopped and ate at the benches you see when you first enter. We also went into the visitor center so the kids could get the stamps for their national parks passport!
Well, come to find out the place we were eating at had access to all three viewing points of the falls. From the picnic/​benches area the falls viewing area was a 3 min walk. And the view was AMAZING! We spent about 30min watching the water and taking pics.
As we were getting ready to leave we drove around to see more of the park. There really wasn’t much more to see driving, if you want to explore further you’d have to hike one of the trails.
The park is truly built around the falls and the viewing areas. It was super easy to find and a quick walk to see the water! I’d recommend taking a trip to eat, walk, and enjoy the views!

Easy to get to, there is ample parking, and there is plenty of space to enjoy.

A must-​visit National Park if you live in the D.C. metropolitan area! The Virginia side has lots of picnic tables and space, hiking trails, and opportunities to kayak, rock climb, or go horseback riding. There are two large parking lots which are both within a short walking distance to the picnic areas. On nice weekends, it can be a bit backed up getting into the park so be prepared. The picnic tables and grills are first-​come, first-​serve.
Great Falls has three overlooks that provide spectacular views of the Potomac River spilling over steep rocks and flowing through the Mather Gorge. The three overlooks are also located within walking distance to the parking lots, so for those who don’t want to hike or walk too much, this is ideal. Overlooks 2 and 3 are also handicap and stroller accessible.
This is a day use park only, so there is no overnight camping available. There’s also no swimming or wading allowed for safety reasons. Great Falls allows leashed pets on their trails, parking lots, falls overlooks, and picnic areas, so you can definitely bring a well-​behaved Fido here. Just, please, don’t forget to pick up after your pets.
There are fifteen miles of hiking trails, some of which are multi-​use for biking and horseback riding. The most popular are the River Trail (1.5 miles one way), Patowmack Canal Trail (1.25 miles one way), Matildaville Trail (1.1 miles one way), and Difficult Run Trail (0.7 miles one way). You can check out all the trail descriptions on their website. Old Carriage Road, Matildaville Trail, Ridge Trail, Difficult Run Trail, and Mine Run Trail allow horseback riding. Only Ridge Trail and Difficult Run Trail allow bicycling. Overall, none of the trails are very strenuous or long, perfect for families to hike together. I usually hike the River Trail or Difficult Run Trail when I’m here, and it’s a good hike that’s not all in the sun and with plenty of spots to take breaks.
Admission is for 3 days. Individual permit (entering by foot, bike, or horse) is $ 5. Cars are $ 10. There are several fee free days, usually on MLK Day, National Park Week, National Park Service Birthday Weekend, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.

Decided to come here with the boyfriend P and our dog Toby. We came early at around 9:30AM and had no issues finding parking at all. APPARENTLY, this week is national park week so we didn’t even have to pay for parking WOO! Normally, I believe it is $ 10 per vehicle or $ 5 per person if you show up without a vehicle.
There are 3 overlooks into the Potomac River. It was super nice and you can smell the water. You can also see the overlooks on the Maryland side with people in it.
We took the Old Carriage Road trail which is 1.6 miles one way and then on our way back, we took the Potowmack trail so that we could walk near the water and check out the scenery. All in all, this place is such a beauty and it’s amazing that it is located so close by. I recommend wearing lots of sunblock if you come on a sunny day. The trails we walked on were only partly shady because most of the trees don’t have any leaves yet.

Beautiful waterfall and fun hiking area! We came with my 2 young kids and they had a great time scrambling onto giant boulders. It is absolutely worth the $ 10/​car admission fee.

Beautiful view of nature. We waited an hour just to get to the entrance from the street light intersection. Go earlier than noon on a nice day, otherwise you will wait in traffic… forever. Easy hike trails.

Never knew this place existed when we moved to the NoVA area! This place absolutely amazes me! They have many different trails you can walk around, lots of things to see (esp the view of the falls). There are picnic areas where you can bring your own food and eat. Lots of benches and open spaces for a picnic. The area is clean, rarely see any trash around the area.
Entrance fee for vehicles are $ 10 (if you’re military, you get free parking!)
This place is a great place to go to during warm days and if you want to explore nature and ruins! Highly recommend to go early to get front row view of the falls and walk around the trails.

Beautiful!
The great falls are really close to the information center and one of the parking lots. I tried going a little bit farther and caught rain. But I got to see a beautiful rainbow. It was worth getting soaking wet in an out of blue shower.
Wanna go back there soon:)
Admission fee: Usually $ 10. $ 0 for militaries.
Parking lots: Plenty.
Trails: Many easy ones.
View: Great water falls. Kayaking ppl. Many sweet couples and families.

Work is really stressful this time of year so I find myself seeking interesting yet tranquil spots to exercise, explore nature, and get away from the noise. Getting great pics along the way is icing on the cake. During a recent day off, I decided to explore this treasure. My GPS guided me there without incident. I pulled out my wallet prepared to pay the $ 10 entry fee, but nobody was there to collect it. It was a Tuesday, so I expected an empty park. Not! The park was full of hikers, large families, children, and professional photographers. I stopped in the Visitor Center to grab a map and after the NPS volunteer shared some of the park’s history, I was on my way.
I immediately noticed how clean the park is even in the picnic area that was full of kids on a field trip. I’m guessing the Trash Free Park policy has a lot to do with that. The park has trash bag dispensers throughout, but you must take those bags with you, even if you’ve collected dog poo so plan accordingly.
The 3 overlooks are close to the Visitor center and give you the safest views of the falls. I got some stunning shots without a lot of work. In between overlook #2 and #3, I climbed down rocks of Fishermans Eddy to get another view but it was slippery. It’s a boating launch area, but of course folks were on the rocks taking selfies and playing around. There are several trails, so I started my hike down the Potowmack Canal then continued on the River Trail. Parts of the River trail are not distinct, but as long as you see rocks and trees with the turquoise blue «blaze» you’re still on the right path. As I got further into the woods, I started seeing less people. After about 20 minutes of complete silence and a very active imagination, I retreated. This visit surpassed my expectations as the park is simply beautiful.
Tip 1: Great Falls & Mather Gorge look peaceful, but don’t underestimate its speed, force and currents. Danger signs are everywhere since almost everyone who falls in drowns.
Tip 2: Beware-it’s copperhead city

Beautiful! My fiancé took me on a hike for my birthday in Great Falls, VA this past weekend. We absolutely loved the stunning views of the Falls — there are three overlooks and they afford a wonderful view of the Falls and the Potomac river generally. Overlooks 1 and 3 are definitely my preferred overlooks, as the view from Overlook 2 is fairly obstructed. The overlooks are only a 5-​minute walk from the parking lot, which is very convenient for those who don’t want to hike.
We decided to go on one of the easier hikes, the Potowmack Canal Hike, which is 1.25 miles each way. I absolutely loved this hike, especially as a fall hike when there is so much lovely colorful foliage all around. It took us about an hour total, at a leisurely pace. The hike was all on level ground (no steep inclines or rock climbing or anything) and you can get fairly close to the river as well. Beautiful!
The visitors center near the parking lot has plenty of flush bathrooms and also has a small store too, if you want to get a souvenir.
Overall, a lovely place to hike and spend a weekend! Next time we may do a more strenuous hike there — we just didn’t want to get too sweaty, since we had dinner reservations at L’Auberge Chez Francois later that evening for my birthday! :)

There are two issues I have with Great Falls Park that I want to mention right off the bat because, other than these two items, I have nothing but glowing things to say. The first one, there are no garbage cans with the exception of in the bathrooms. The thinking is this discourages people from creating trash with the mantra «bring out what you brought in». After observing numerous picnics and gatherings going on, let me tell you, this was not the case. There was less trash being left than I thought there would be but still, if they are trying to protect the environment, they should offer trash cans to dispose of said things that can ruin the environment. I didn’t bring in anything, so obviously I didn’t take out anything, but you have to wonder how many people are going to carry around their trash after a huge picnic. Just sayin…
The second thing worth mentioning, I believe, was a fluke during my visit. The women’s restroom was «closed for cleaning» and, although the sign said 20 minutes, I heard several women saying «It’s been longer than 20 minutes» and I can attest we walked around the visitor’s center for 20 minutes before returning to the bathroom area, and it was still not open. Women started going in the men’s room, and yes, I joined them because, ah, sometimes nature calls and you just can’t wait anymore. What an uncomfortable experience for both the men and the women!
Now that I have those two items off my chest, I can give praise where it’s due! We took the River Trail to the dam to, what looked to us, like a mini waterfall. We were both pretty underwhelmed, thinking THIS is Great Falls-​luckily we were horribly mistaken. We went down the other direction and came upon the three overlooks, each one giving a more stunning view than the last! There were a few kayakers and a SUPer which was pretty cool to watch. While you can kayak, you cannot swim in the water, which judging by the rapids, would not be a good idea anyways. Lots of trails to hike around on, some have a more treacherous terrain than others. There are also a lot of rock formations that I highly encourage exploring that offered a fun climbing experience. You can also boulder or rock climb here too. The park is very dog friendly as well, and there are lots of open spaces for running around. Just note the line can get backed up for entry into the park, which is $ 10 per car. I imagine the line is much worse during the height of the summer. Given the wide variety of trails and places to explore here, I highly recommend visiting here. I can’t wait until next summer when I’ll have more time to discover this beautiful gem just 30 minutes away!

This is an absolutely gorgeous park. The views were breath taking. There is a per car entrance fee, so one or four people it should be the same price.
This is not the place to get in the water. There are a surplus of warnings about rip currents throughout the park.
As far as trails go, there are several to choose from. The trails are mapped out and well labeled. As you go along the traila there are colored indicators to keep you on the correct path.
If you are looking to make a mess or goof around, this is not the park for you. There is no alcohol permitted, however some inconsiderate people left broken beer bottles around the trails. This is bad for the environment and potentially dangerous to hikers.
There is a huge open area for kids to run around and with picnic tables. I’d suggest you eat there as many of the trails are rocky, and it’s a trash free park (Meaning there aren’t trash cans along the trails so you must keep up with your stuff until you’re back.)
The bottom line is that Great Falls park is a gem that is to be well treated and enjoyed. If you are into nature or a short hike this is the place to go!

Such a beautiful place to come for a hike! I was so surprised at how large the national park was. With so many different trails and so many different views, I had an amazing time. Also, you can get a year pass for I believe $ 30 so if you live in the area, I think its totally worth it. With so much to see and so many beautiful trees, rivers, and waterfalls, I could probably keep coming over and over again!

Love this place and come here once in a while with friends and my pup. Only some trails are dog friendly, so do your research. I’ve been to both VA and MD sides. Billy Goat Trail A is a serious trek, but well worth it. I also enjoy the River Trail on the VA side, which I bring my pup on often.
They recently raised the entry fee from $ 5 to $ 10. I believe there is an annual pass for $ 30, so great deal for that instead.
Make sure to come early on the weekends. Around noon, the line goes on forever and the wait can exceed 45 mins.

Wow! What a beautiful gem only a half hour away from our nation’s capital.
The perfect scenery to go hiking, spend quality time with a special someone or your family, this park is bound to exceed your expectations. The Virginia side charges $ 10 per car and they were well spent. They have tons of space, benches and grills that make for a wonderful picnic. Just make sure you bring your own disposal bag, as they don’t have any thrash cans in the picnic area.
The falls really are beautiful and the hiking trails are quite scenic. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen. As you walk along the trail you’ll encounter tons of spiders but also butterflies and some ducks. It’s a popular park for fishing too.
I really enjoyed my Sunday here and will be coming back in the fall. I imagine the foliage during the crisp autumn weather must be something beautiful to watch.

Great Falls National Park is one of the local gems in Northern Virginia. Came here on a Sunday for a Mother’s Day hike with my wife and mother in law.
For starters, the entrance is a ridiculous wait and they really need to improve it. Expect to wait 25+ minutes to get in. And please have your money or park pass ready to help alleviate the traffic that is created at the entrance. My hope is that one day they can expand the entry way to allow more cars in but I doubt it since we’re talking about the federal gubment.
Other than the wait time the park is absolutely beautiful and well worth the visit. The views are epic and one of a kind. It’s a great place to get pictures, enjoy a picnic, go for a hike, launch kayaks, rock climb and more.
The parking lot was busy but there was plenty of spaces in the overflow lot, not to mention that traffic is a steady in and out kind of situation.
The visitors center is nice, but nothing to write home about. The gift shop inside was a little disappointing when I compare it to other National Parks. The restrooms were nice and clean for a National Park.
Something important to note is that you must secure your own trash as they no longer maintain trash cans at the park. They provide bags, but you must take it with you.
Like I said before the park is great to visit, so go see it if you have the chance to.
*This park is gun carry friendly, however carry in federal buildings (except restrooms) is against federal law. Watch for the signs that clearly state this.

So, typically, when people in or around DC say they are going to Great Falls, they are not going to Great Falls Park (the Virginia side); they are usually going to the Maryland side, which is part of the C&O Canal Park. The Maryland side has a canal with working locks and a boat, a boardwalk through Olmstead Island, some great hiking and climbing, and easy driving access up the Clara Barton Parkway. The Virginia side does not. Evaluated on its own merits, though, it’s still very nice.
Among the unique features of the Virginia side:
Where you drive and park is actually right next to the falls themselves, which are more of a sideshow on the other side. You can see them immediately, and the viewing areas are high up and very nice.
The trails are a modest workout, but there is a swamp trail which runs through an oddly calming tract with some kind of cabbage growing in abundance.
There are ways to skip out on the fee (hey, you already paid taxes, right?), such as by parking and walking in through Difficult Run.
Surprisingly to me, there are ruins of a canal and associated infrastructure that was built on this side.
The elevation in some places is significantly higher than anything on the islands or the opposite side, allowing some unique views.
All things being equal, I’d still rather be hiking the billygoat trail, but if you have occasion to see the falls from this side, they are quite impressive, and there’s plenty of space to enjoy the history and the natural surroundings.