When & Where
The U.Sl National Park service manages Great Falls Park. It is an eight hundred acre park located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22102. You can also access it by walking in from the pull off area on Old Dominion Drive east of Riverbend Road or from Riverbend Park. The park is open all year usually from 7am until dark. Please check the website for specific hours and possible closures.
The Main Falls
The actual falls are spectacular. In less than 1 mile, the river drops 76 feet into Mather’s Gorge. In the summer the water levels vary. It there has been a drought, then not much water is flowing over the falls. After significant rainfall, you could see flooding.
Frozen Great Falls
The falls are also amazing in the winter. Some of the slower flowing areas freeze and create dramatic ice formations. The crowds are much thinner in the winter!
The Trails
There are lots of trails along the river and around the park. The footing ranges from rocky to easy to travel dirt paths. Great Falls Park is easily accessible for people of all ages. You can make your adventure as physically difficult or easy as you want. The overlooks and several trails are wheelchair accessible.
Mather Gorge
Mather Gorge is almost as impressive as the falls. The gorge is a narrow rock sided track of the river formed by erosion along the fault line where the river flows over. There are trails along the river’s edge that lead to other interesting overlooks along the gorge. Due to erosion, the trail is actually on what used to be the riverbed. Rock climbing and kayaking are popular activities along this section of the river.
Mather Gorge
The History
Great Falls isn’t just about the falls. There is a substantial amount of history associated with the area. On the Virginia side of the river, there are remains of several canals that run parallel to the river. They were the early attempts at making the river passible for boats. On the Maryland side, the C & O canal is still mostly intact. It is a more sophisticated system of locks used to move boats up and down the river.
Great Falls Park is a great place to visit. Check out the National Park Service website for hours and closures. Maybe choose an off time to go to avoid some of the crowds.