Great Falls National Park Maryland

Using a rideshare service Uber, Lyft, etc. A scenic trail near the river travels upstream starts at the mouth of Difficult Run, climbs to the top of Mather Gorge, continue pass the falls, the dam, and a reservoir before ending in Riverbend Park Fairfax County. In the evenings, a searchlight illuminated the falls.

184.5 Miles of Adventure

Feel free to leave a message. The park is roughly around acres Great Falls National Park Maryland includes one of the oldest canals in the United States U. The Patowmack Canal is the first canal in the US that used locks to raise and lower boats.

It contains a large picnic area, but Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt only open during the daylight hours.

The park sometimes closes because of the lack of parking space creating delays and temporary closures lasting for several hours. The NPS operates a visitor center near the falls. A scenic trail near the river travels upstream starts at the mouth of Difficult Run, climbs to the top of Mather Gorge, continue pass the falls, the dam, and a reservoir before ending in Riverbend Park Fairfax County.

Kayaking at the Great Falls The park is ideal for white water kayaking. The falls total 76 feet 20 m over a series of major cascades. Tom McEwan was the first kayaker to make a run Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt the river on The popularity of the falls for expert white water kayakers only started in the early s. Below the falls, through Mather Gorge, the river is rated class and has been a very popular kayaking run since the s.

The NPS does not permit camping or swimming in the park. Entry into the water above the falls from the Virginia side is illegal. George Washington partially funded the Patowmack Canal and this one-mile 1. Two wooden canal lock Great Falls National Park Maryland located on the park visitor center was excavated in the s. You can also see stone mason marks found on the stones unique to each artisan along the canals. Blasting powder was used during the construction of the canal.

The project was abandoned in due to the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on the opposite side of the river and the popularity of railroads. The canal is a Civil Engineering Landmark as well as a Virginia Historic Landmark along with several ruins of the small town of Matildaville, Virginia.

The park contained picnic grounds, a dance Great Falls National Park Maryland, and a carousel at the end of an electric trolley line that starts in Georgetown, Washington, D. In the evenings, a searchlight illuminated the falls. There was a proposed bridge to span the falls but, due to a strong lobby to eliminate additional bridges over the Potomac and concerns over environmental impacts, the project was never undertaken.

Available Maps.

Alerts In Effect

The snack bars are open seasonally. Be aware that dogs and other pets are allowed, but must be on a six-foot leash. The NPS operates a visitor center near the falls. Last updated: January 10,