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
The visitor center is open daily. Open 10 am to 4 pm during daylight savings time, and 10 am to 5 pm the rest of the year.
Visiting Tips
Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.
Camping & Lodging
Food & Drink
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
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.
Maps & Guidebooks
Gems in Great Falls Park - 1
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Gems
Recommended Routes in Great Falls Park - 2
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Recommended Routes
Great Falls Park Running
- 11 Miles 17 Kilometers of Trail
- 2 Recommended Routes
- 1 Gem
- 13 Easy Trails
- 9 Intermediate Trails
- 0 Difficult Trails
Weather Averages
High
|
Low
|
Precip
|
Days w/
|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Trails in Great Falls Park - 20
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails
1.3
mi
2.1
km
#1River Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 21 | ||
0.5
mi
0.9
km
#2Mine Run Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 1 | ||
0.7
mi
1.1
km
#3Difficult Run Trail
Tysons Corner, VA
|
Tysons Corner, VA | 4 | ||
0.6
mi
1.0
km
#4North River Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 5 | ||
1.5
mi
2.5
km
#5Old Carriage Road
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 3 | ||
1.1
mi
1.8
km
#6Matildaville Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 4 | ||
0.5
mi
0.7
km
#7Swamp Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 3 | ||
1.3
mi
2.1
km
#8Patowmack Canal Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 3 | ||
1.4
mi
2.3
km
#9Ridge Trail
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 2 | ||
0.5
mi
0.9
km
#10Old Carriage Road
Great Falls, VA
|
Great Falls, VA | 0 |
Photos of Great Falls Park - 14
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos