Complete information about visiting Great Falls Park is now on National Park Planner!
Great Falls Park is an outdoor recreation area located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River’s Great Falls. The park offers a smorgasbord of outdoor activities that will appeal to everyone from those in a wheelchair to extreme sport athletes. Trail are open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. Highly experienced whitewater kayakers, canoeists, a rafters can access the Potomac River at two locations below the falls. Rapids on this section of the river range from Class 2 to 4. Rock climbers can scale the cliffs of Mather Gorge between Overlook 2 and Sandy Landing. Fishing is allowed above the falls, and plenty of great spots can be accessed along the flat and easy Potowmack Canal Trail and North River Trail.
Of course scenic beauty is another big draw to the park. There are three overlooks where you can get views of the Great Falls, all located near the Visitor Center and main parking areas. When it comes time to eat, the park has one of the largest picnic areas—complete with grills—of any National Park. There is even a concession stand located on the lower level of the Visitor Center. And last, but not least, there are a few historical sites within the park, including the ruins of the defunct Potowmack Canal and the town that grew up around it, Matildaville.
DIRECTIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
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Last updated on March 23, 2019
