Great Falls Park

Overview

Located only 15 miles from the nation's capital, Great Falls Park is a beautiful 800-acre park with many opportunities to explore nature and history. Explore the narrow Mather Gorge where the Potomac River builds up speed and falls over a series of steep and jagged rocks. The scenic falls feature several 20-foot waterfalls and cascading rapids, with a total 76-foot drop in elevation over a distance of less than a mile. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Nearly a half million people come to Great Falls Park each year to explore one of the nation's first canals, see the Great Falls of the Potomac, or enjoy an outing along Mather Gorge's dramatic clifftops.

To learn more about Great Falls Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Please Note: There are no singletrack trails within Great Falls Park that are open to mountain bikes. Five miles of the park's trails are open for bicycling. Cyclists may use the Ridge Trail, Difficult Run Trail, and the Old Carriage Road Trail, but must yield to pedestrians and horses. This page serves as a general overview of the area. If you're visiting the park and looking for places to ride, check out the following areas:

• Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Rockville
• Northern Virginia

Visiting Tips

Great Falls Park is open year round from 7 am to 30 minutes after sunset. The park is closed December 25.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping & Lodging

Great Falls Park is a day use only park with no camping permitted. There are many options for camping in the area. Visit the park's website for recommendations on nearby camping.

Food & Drink

A snack bar is located in the visitor center courtyard. The snack bar is open seasonally from March through November and offers light snacks, hot dogs, pizza, french fries, and drinks. The snack bar is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Bottled water is sold in the park's bookstore during visitor center hours on Monday and Tuesday only. There are no vending machines in the park. There are a variety of restaurants and dining options in the nearby towns, the closest of which are McLean and Great Falls.

Other Activities

The park offers many recreational opportunities, from a picnic with family and friends, to a run, ride, or hike along the Potomac River. Enjoy bird watching or fishing along the river, or if you are feeling adventurous, head out onto the Potomac for some whitewater kayaking or canoeing. Note that the Potomac River has many challenging currents, standing waves, and hydraulics. Swimming, wading, and tubing are not allowed.

Additionally, Great Falls Park has some of the best rock climbing in the immediate vicinity of Washington, D.C. Visit Great Falls Park's website for more information on the park's other activities.