Great Falls Park

Great Falls is also peaceful in the winter months (less crowded, you can hear the sound of the rushing Potomac River). In late January 2025, I came here for a Saturday mid-afternoon hike along the River Trail. Would not recommend it for young kids (due to the refrozen areas with ice), but if you're careful and take your time, the trail will reward you.

On the day I hiked the weather was a bit cloudy. But in the winter, the Potomac River turns a beautiful cobalt blue color. It's a lovely contrast to the traditional brown color of the river in the summer months after a heavy rain. However, please note that the restroom facilities are closed in winter. So be sure to find somewhere else (outside the park) for a restroom break in the winter months before you enter GFNP!

I came here initially on the Maryland side then after exploring drove over to the Virginia side. My photos detail the differences but I would recommend more hike-y like hikes through Maryland and more casual walks + a better scenic view (in my opinion) through Virginia.

Parking is $20 per vehicle (lasts 1 week), they do accept the national park pass, I purchased a $35 one year pass for this park as I intend to return in the Spring for a hike + birding. The pass lasts 12 months from the END of the month you purchase in. I bought my pass Nov 5th 2024 so it will expire Nov 30th 2025 so I would recommend going toward the beginning of a month if you plan to buy the 1 year pass so you can get slightly more than a year. The visitor center is closed on both states side until Jan 2025 per their website however if you are a stamp collector, they do have the MD Great Falls National Park Stamp available upon request at the pay station on the MD side!! Parking is easily accessible but of course this is popular so I'd recommend coming earlier in the day especially if you go on a weekend.

Maryland side: after entering and parking, turn left and proceed past the visitors center. There is a clean restroom facility here. Then cross over the bridge and walk straight ahead to see signage directing you to the Great Falls overlook. Currently (Nov 2024) the Billy Goat trail that I was interested in is closed, I will coming back in the Spring to hike here. You can also walk down an open well traveled path to get some steps in nearby the river.

Virginia Side: after entering and parking, proceed past the visitors center under the artificial bridge. There are signs directing you to 3 outlooks, 1-3. Outlook 1 comes up almost immediately on the lefthand side of the path and is a rock section you have to climb up to see the views but this was my favorite view of all. Outlook 2 and 3 direct you to the same spot so maybe I just never found outlook 3? But this view is nice as well.

Great place for a stroll or hike and to take in the scenery. The restrooms seem to always be down or having issues so keep that in mind when planning your trip. The first view point is probably the best one in my opinion with a great view of the falls. May be difficult for handicap or walking disabilities. Parking gets crowded, but it's a popular place for the area. Enjoy seeing the kayakers!

This is more of a casual walk type of place. There's 3 designated lookout spots with great views of the falls. Great day with nice weather when I went!

Excellent park for hiking and sightseeing. Scenic views of the river and the waterfalls. Numerous long trails to explore. Dog friendly.

My partner and I had a wonderful time at Great Falls Park (the Virginian side). It's a great place for a quick 1/2 day (or even less) getaway with some nice sights. The fee is $20 per car (I think it's $10 for bike), which I thought was a little pricey for one visit. However, if you are local to the area, it might be in your best interest to get a annual pass for about $35. This will allow you to fully explore the area on multiple occasions. I guess you technically will make back your money during the second visit...I hope that's the case since I purchased the annual pass, I thou

There are three viewing areas to see the falls, which are about a five-minute walk from the first parking lot. These site are pretty accessible for folks of all physical levels. Speaking of parking, it's highly recommended to go early in the day or during a weekday, because parking fills up pretty fast. We arrived around 11 am on a cloudy, 48F Sunday, and the 1st parking lot was about 98% full. Unfortunately, I do not know if there is a way to check what's going on with the parking situation prior to arriving to the park.

As of April 2024, the visitor center was closed, but the bathrooms were operational. However, there is a small concession area that sells small food items like pizza, hot dogs, and soft drinks.

Be aware that cell phone reception is VERY spotty in this area, so be sure to download anything you might need (e.g., park passes, tunes for your hike, directions, etc.).

Fun for the whole family! It's got a great bang for your buck and is accessible to everyone of all ages.

There is a gate fee of $20 which makes this trip less casual but still an amazing place to go if you want a half day trip with your family.

The parking lot was busy but we still got a spot quickly.

You walk maybe 30 minutes to the very end and pass a lot of cool sights along the way. There's a couple exhibits and visitors center if you're into a tiny museum experience as well.

There's a Maryland and Virginia side to Great Falls and I prefer the Maryland side. However, I recently decided to revisit the Virginia side. About a 30-minute drive (it's not accessible via public transit) from D.C., there's a large parking lot after you pay the $20 entrance fee. (It's free for National Park pass holders.)

Just a few minutes from the parking lot is the educational center and a path leading to three clearly marked overlooks of the rapids. There are restrooms in the center.

Keep right for the River Trail that takes hikers and rock climbers along the Potomac River with many lookout areas. This part of the trail is not stroller friendly but pretty easy for most. Leashed dogs are welcome.

DO go chasing waterfalls... and Great Falls Park is a tremendous place to chase! Thirty minutes outside of the city, it's an easy and scenic trail that's fine for kids, dogs, people who overdid it at brunch earlier in the day, anyone...
But if that's too much, you can still stick to the rivers, as the Potomac is the genesis of those falls. So you can have it your way, and not have to settle for nothing at all.

Great falls is not a vacation destination National Park in the vein of a Yellowstone or Grand Canyon instead it is a park run by NPS. Your NPS pass still gets you in and if you are in the area it is a fantastic way to spend a morning. There are a few easy trails and the falls are really cool. Again don't think of this as going to Shenandoah instead think of it as a five star way to spend a couple hours in nature.