Great Falls and the Potomac Gorge

Beautiful scenery and some great hiking/​bouldering trails along the Potomac River. The only downsides to note are that if you’re coming by car, the line to get inside the park itself can be ridiculous on busier days (30 or more minutes), and if you park up the road and walk in on foot, they still charge you.

This park is beyond beautiful. The views are amazing. My husband and I stood for the sunset and it was breathtaking. I wish I lived near by so I can come more often.

«Great Falls» was geologically formed where the plateau region met the plains. Beautiful and fun! Anytime of year, Great Falls on the Maryland side is a fabulous place to visit. The Maryland side has a fun walking path bridge that takes you over part of the Potomac River falls so that you can see the ‘great’ part of «Great Falls,» which is closer to the Virginia side. The view from the lookout point on the bridge is spectacular. It is fun to see kayakers trying to make their way up the tortuous falls, and to waive to folks on the Virginia side. The walking bridge has an interesting history. An older version of the bridge existed in the 1970s but during a strong storm, the force of the rising water against the railings on the bridge and the debris that go caught up against those railings (like uprooted trees) caused the bridge to collapse. The walking bridge was rebuilt in the 1980s such that the railings on the bridge can be removed with advance notice of a storm. A bummer is that no dogs are officially allowed on the ‘new’ walking bridge, but folks still bring their dogs. Also, the Maryland side has a working canal filled with water and working locks. There is a canal boat demonstration and ride that one can take, whereby the canal boat is pulled through a working lock with a donkey — and you can be on the boat or just watch from the side. Great for kids or adults young at heart!

Cool place just outside the city. Don’t think it took us more than 20 min from DCA. Was a little icy on the footpaths, but amazingly quiet during the winter mornings, which allowed us quiet enjoyment of the towpath and the falls. Good for maybe 1+ hour as a casual visit, and more if you are planning on taking 1 of the trails.
USD5 entrance fee per car

I shall admit, I have been spoiled by all the waterfalls I’ve seen in life. The best being Igazu Falls in Argentina.
Nothing in Northern America has really compared until I saw Great Falls from the Virginia side. There’s also a Maryland side but I haven’t been to it. Getting to the Falls is actually very easy as there’s a boardwalk set out that guides you to the falls… took me about 10 minutes to get to the end.
It is quiet picturesque to be standing on top of one of the cliffs overlooking at the water rushing in to the Potomac River. It’s huge and expansive and you can see tons of wildlife all around.
Do note there is a parking fee of $ 5 which you can reuse for 2 days, but I think you can by pass that if you start closer to the Billy Goat Trail and make your way up.

Veey cool park. Like most things east coast its crowded. If you are into rock climbing they have some great spots along the potomac. Such a beautiful area and great family or date time here.

Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any better, I was wrong! The information center (white building) now offers free bicycle rentals for 2 hours! Including helmets! I cannot believe that it is free, and there were very nice bikes ranging from all sizes including kids tricycles too. The volunteers told me that they just started the program in May and that they will try to offer free bike rentals year round but it will depend on the demand. I went last weekend to see the foliage and it was exquisite. FYI, if you can drag your parents out there, seniors 62+ can purchase a lifetime parking pass for only $ 10! I highly recommend going early around 8 – 9 in the morning to avoid the large crowds.

Wow, what an amazing place so close to the city. We were in need of some reconnection time with nature and this was the first place almost everyone suggested. Starting off at the short trails near the main parking lot, we walked out to see the falls. They really are magnificent. This was so unexpected! We then proceeded down the canal trail to find Billy Goat Trail section A. The trail makes you feel like a kid again– scrambling over rocks and jumping from ledge to ledge. The views all along the cliffs of the river and minor falls are a perfect backdrop for the whole hike too. One caveat maybe is that the park and popular trails apparently get fairly crowded on the weekends when the weather is nice. Really though, this didn’t take away much from our visit. This was a great day adventure, we were so happy we came.

Everything here is great. Those in the know skip out of the $ 5 parking by going downstream a bit and checking out the Billygoat Trail on the way up. But really, it’s not expensive for what it is. There are innumerable spaces, but during peak summer times they seem to fill somehow.
The views are tremendous, and the boardwalk through Olmstead Island gives you a great opportunity to see the local ecology while keeping it preserved. Educational signage is pretty ample on the island, and there’s a respectable visitor center will exhibitions on the history of the place. There’s bathrooms and water fountains near the visitor center, but not anywhere else in the area, so keep that in mind.
The canal and accompanying towpath continue almost indefinitely in either direction and there are plenty of trails through the woods, as well as the famed Billygoat. There is a boat on the canal that will take you on a brief ride through a lock (for free) which is an interesting experience.
All in all, one of the essential landmarks of the DC area; a place you can and should visit repeatedly.

As soon as I showed up, I fell in love with Great Falls.
It is so picturesque with loads of history behind it. The park makes a point to have signs up everywhere going into great detail of how the park came to be. One of the signs for example for the Billy Goat Trail overly emphasizes that ‘if you do go on this trail, it is highly recommended you be physically fit…’ I appreciate the emphasis I suppose, even though I’m not in perfect fit condition, I didn’t have much difficulty walking a mile and a half of it before turning back since it was getting late in the day.
The views of the gorges and water are immaculate. I literally sat on some rocks for nearly 45 minutes just reflecting on things. I’d say it was one of the most tranquil feelings I’ve had in a long while. They have walks and views of all sorts for all people. It does handicap accessibility trails as well which I see as a definite plus. I can’t think of any negatives here.
Bring cash for parking. It is a $ 5 per car. Also, if you do not come early in the day, brace to have a line to wait in for an hour or so. I avoided this because I came around 11am on a Sunday. When I left, the line was intensely long for over two miles.
Nature lovers come here and enjoy!

One of the most beautiful places to take a photo in the region. Helpful hint: don’t lean on the metal railings on the bridge crossing the river. They are not all that stable.

Things you’ll see when you visit Great Falls park on a sparkling gorgeous fall day:
A long line of cars paying $ 5 to park
A clean, modern visitors center 500 feet from your parking spot.
People walking dogs of every imaginable breed.
Hikers in REI gear, families and Asian tourists with Coach bags.
Gorgeous trees with yellows, oranges and reds that rival upstate NY.
A well-​kept boardwalk that leads you out to…
A SPECTACULAR view of the falls and the river, and…
Kayakers, hikers and people repelling down the gorge walls.
Easy and challenging trails for hikers of every level.
Ruins of the river town and boat locks from the 1800s.
And most importantly…
Friendly, happy people waving hi to you and enjoying the natural beauty around them… just like you. So go!

Absolutely beautiful. It’s a must-​see in the fall and spring. The views are breathtaking and the park is so well-​kept.

A group of us came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was surprisingly quiet and not crowded at all. You park and walk a little ways to get the the start of the waterfall trail. They had a boat floating on the water with horses pulling it, which was cool to see.
The hike to the waterfall is really easy to get to and you are on a «boardwalk» so you don’t even really touch the dirt. They have bags for trash and a pack it in pack it out mentality, which is great. I didn’t see much trash at all. TIP: The sides of the metal bridges that go over the water move when you lean on them. Its totally freaky if you aren’t expecting it and we kept saw people lean on them and scream cause it feels like you might fall over. Funny but a bit scary!
The falls themselves are really gorgeous and larger than I thought they would be. You can see across to the Virginia side and people at the lookouts there as well. This is a great place to come for an easy hike and lots of scenery. Perfect spot for a tourist to see the beautiful area and take some pictures. We saw lots of runners out there too.

Went to the Maryland side of Great Falls recently and it’s amazing. It’s a fairly short walk from parking to the Overlook. I don’t particularly like to walk so if I say it’s not bad it’s not too bad (you’ll be walking on gravel part of the way so comfortable shoes are a good idea). The view is absolutely beautiful. It’s only $ 5 per car to get in – there is a typical park snack bar with hot dogs, chips, bbq, etc.; a picnic area, a small museum, and canal barge rides. The barge, pulled by mules, only goes a few times a day so check on-​line or call for the schedule; but if you do get there in time it’s a nice «go back in time» ride up the canal a little way and back. Have been to the Virginia side years ago and don’t remember it as quite as interesting, but again it has been a while.

A magnificent park in the midst of the DC Metro!
You don’t want to miss this spectacular display of simple nature.
We started off, just across from the Anglers Inn.
There’s a fair amount of free parking.
This time of year the trees are just beginning to bud so you get some great vistas of the river and the falls without the foliage blocking the view.
The eco system supports the Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher and Double Crested Cormorant.
The Chesapeake and Ohio canal trail is gravel and easy to walk on.
There are many benches along the way to stop off & take a rest.
There are also many picnic tables near the Potomac Tavern Museum.
Stop off to check out the Frederick Law Olmstead commemorative plaque and the panaromic view of the Potomac River from the vantage point of the boardwalk.

This is a great place to go to get a different DC area experience. This is my second time at the Great Falls, but my first time on the Maryland side. I like both locations, but there are pros and cons for each one. let’s go through the list:
Maryland side
pros: the hike is more adventurous, it feels more dramatic once you finally reach the falls, you can see the start of the falls and even spots upriver before the falls, less crowded, great place to jog or bike or walk your dog
cons: in my opinion the view is not as nice as the VA side, backside view, requires more time to hike and see the view
VA side
pros: nicer drive to the falls, better views of the falls, can hike down to the water for another view of the falls at water-​level (this hike is a bit challenging but worth it), easier short hike to all 3 viewstations, frontside view, great for picnics
cons: more crowded, hike is not as fun or adventurous,
Tips: free parking if you arrive within 1 hour of closing time, bring bug repellent if staying till sunset or going near the water

One of my absolute FAVORITE parks in the area — I come here at least 4 or 5 times a year, but that’s probably a gross underestimation.
When the weather is nice, this is the perfect place to be for a picnic, a hike, or just a walk out to enjoy nature. The park is in very clean condition; you won’t see much littering going on here on the sides of the trails. Don’t hesitate to bring your bikes or your kids or your pets, as this park is definitely friendly for all of that. Also a good idea is a cooler — there’s lots of places where you can lay down a blanket, but they also have picnic tables set up for your convenience.
Parking is easy — the lot is pretty big, and I’ve never seen it completely full, even on a more crowded day.
The views of the Potomac River are amazing, and the overlooks are definitely worth checking out, as well as the smaller hiking trails if you are feeling adventurous. You can also bring your own kayak, but I’ve never done that so I don’t know how that works.
I’m usually not one to be particularly fond of parks, because I get bored pretty easily, but I’ll be visiting Great Falls as long as I live in the area… it’s a great, easy way to escape just for a little bit and be surrounded by some awesome scenery.

The ‘geek’ in me visited Great Falls a couple of years ago in search of the best lichens that side of the river…
The ‘hippie’ in me visited to feel the breeze in my hair and get some soil between my fingers…
The ‘yogi’ in me loved the stretching and the trek I got around the woods…
The ‘foodie’ in me couldn’t take more than a few hours on that trip ’cause that packed sandwich was not cutting it… at all…
The ‘yelper’ gives it five stars — serene nature, no concrete, no protesters, no pollution (well, not completely accurate)…
If you like walking (even the most basal attempt — don’t have to be a hiker), then you’ll love the trails. If you like the calming sound of water, you’ll embrace the Potomac. If you need a moment to get away and don’t have that Southwest ticket or Twix bar nearby, then Great Falls is your premier destination — right outside the District.

I’ve been to Great Falls, MD quite a number of times, but this past weekend, it was gorgeous out and deserved another visit. I really love the park and the nice walk along the Canal, but the one big complaint about this park is the crowds. Of course parks are going to busy on nice days, but this park, in particular, always is crowded.
The trail/​bridge/​overlook of the falls is beautiful and worth checking out, there’s no question, but I enjoy finding smaller trails that wind down to the Potomac and provide other views and areas to sit in a bit less crowded setting.
Another great thing about this park are the picnic tables available before the canal and there is actually a small building where you can buy food and refreshments. I never have, but its nice to know its available. There is also a ferry ride along the canal which does provide a nice history of the area, though I haven’t been on the ride since I was about 4.
Overall, this park provides both breathtaking views of the river that separates Maryland from Virginia, a path along the Canal, and areas for the whole family to enjoy. This park is a must-​visit location for tourists and DC natives alike. The $ 5 parking fee is well worth it the money, especially if it pays for the upkeep of such a fabulous weekend (or weekday) destination.