It’s classified a park, not a National Park, probably because it is much smaller than those, but here’s why we love Great Falls Park.
Great Falls Park is where the Potomac River tumbles over jagged rocks and flows through a narrow gorge. The falls have been popular for centuries — it was a trading place for Native Americans and early colonists — and it’s popular today with those living in or visiting Washington, D.C.
Great Falls Park is located in Virginia, and the other side of the river, of course, is Maryland. (There’s an overlook in the C&O Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side, but the two sides are not connected.) Our most recent visit was the perfect way to recover after a bit of consumer overload at nearby Tysons Corner but once you enter the park, you feel worlds away from pretty much everything.
The falls are breathtaking. There are three different overlooks that are easy to get to and just a short walk from the parking area – the farthest is about 10 minutes away. There are trails if you wish to get in a better walk. That said, I love this park because it is great for a shorter visit. You can feel like you’ve seen the highlights in a relatively short amount of time.
Sometimes you’ll see kayakers in the water. (Please follow the rules. Swimming and wading are not permitted.) It’s pretty amazing to watch them.
See the kayaker?
In addition to the falls, there’s some fascinating American history here. I love when nature and history come together. You can see the Patowmack Canal and locks. George Washington felt that canals that made the Potomac navigable by allowing boats to avoid features like the falls. I loved the explanations about the canal and what the canals meant to our nation in its infancy. The canal is “America’s greatest engineering achievement of the 18th century,” according to the NPS.
The area has flooded in the past and the High Water Marks pole shows you exactly how high the water has been. I’m exactly five feet tall, to give you a frame of reference.
The Visitor Center isn’t large, but it’s well done and gives you a bit more background on the area. Kids have their own special section may enjoy a chance to check out some of the animal bones and other exciting options in the please touch area, or be up for checking out the puzzle coloring options available to them. There’s also a Junior Ranger program.
Tips:
- If you’re going on a beautiful day, be sure to get there early. The park fills up and waits can form before lunch time.
- Speaking of lunch, there is plenty of space for a great picnic, but be sure to bring something to take your trash out with you. The park is a Trash Free Park. (Learn about what that means here.)
- Wear good shoes. To get to Overlook #1, you’re walking on rocks and that’s much easier and safer in decent shoes than it is flip flops.
- Check out the Calendar of Events to see if there are any events you want to enjoy when visiting.
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