Great Falls National Park in a Morning

Instead of visiting a great American city, we decided to showcase another wonder of America...a national park. Since 2016 is the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, this seemed very appropriate too. Great Falls Park is located in both Virginia and Maryland, and is about 20 minutes from Washington DC. Both sides offer spectacular views, visitor's centers, and lots of outdoor activities. Swimming and wading are prohibited at the park though, so those activities are not an option. The Virginia side is more of a leisurely hike, with three great overlooks for the falls, while the Maryland side has one of the most difficult trails on the east coast, the Billy Goat Trail.

 Water from the Maryland Side

 Views from the Virginia side

We decided to go hiking on the Maryland side of the park, to attempt the Billy Goat Trail section A, and to see the spectacular views. There are multiple parking sections, with a small one being free, and then another a little further in where there is ample parking, a large visitor's center, restrooms, and when the temperature is warmer a refreshments stand. The entrance fee is $10 per car, but active military can get in for free! Once we parked the car, we went to the visitor's center to grab a map. It was really chilly outside when we went, so going into the warm visitor's center was great. On the weekends, there is a bike share where you can rent a bike and helmet for free for two hours to use. All you have to do is fill out a waiver, and sign out the bike. Volunteers run this program, and even lysol the helmets so everything is sanitary and in great shape!

 Bike Share Program

Following the map, we started walking toward the Billy Goat Trail Section A entrance. To get here you walk on part of the C&O Canal trail. On this trail you see the historic canals, animals(including blue herons), and beautiful nature scenes. This trail is shared by walkers, runners, and bikers so it is best to be cautious of them, especially in the early morning. The bikers will ring a bell if they are behind you to give you a heads up they are coming.

 Fun sights along the trail

 Multiple signs to show you information about the area

Upon entering the Billy Goat Trail entrance you will see multiple warning signs saying how strenuous the hike is. It was quite the climb as you have to move over large rocks, climb a small cliff, and be pretty high above the water. The path is not paved, so you just follow the blue marks on the rocks or trees to know which way to go. This hike probably isn't the best for people afraid of heights either, as there are some points where you are very high up. Getting past that though, the views are spectacular. You can see the pristine waters, the colorful leaves(if you go in the fall), and when we went the sky was a brilliant shade of blue.

After about an hour and a half we made it to the "Emergency Exit" trail cut off for the Billy Goat Trail Section A, and we decided to get off there. The A section of the trail is incredibly difficult, and we didn't feel like testing our limits anymore. The Emergency Exit trail just takes you back to the C&O canal trail so you can walk back on a mild trail and still see some serene scenery. On the way back we saw another blue heron looking for fish, and then successfully get some fish, and we saw some vultures. Great Falls Parks really lets you get to see nature, which after being in a city all of the time can be a needed change.

Paying the entrance fee to Great Falls Park allows you to come back for two more days. If you are looking for something more challenging then hiking and have experience check out the rock climbing options! We were able to see some people climbing, and it looked fun. If climbing isn't your thing, you could always bring a picnic meal! Both sides offers picnic tables, so if you don't want to sit on the ground, you have tables! It is a trashless park though, so there are no trashcans available. They do have some plastic bags that you can use, but any trash you bring in, you have to take it out with you.

Great Falls Park was beautiful! Whatever side you visit, you are guaranteed to have majestic views that help to show you the beauty and wonder of America. On the map below you can see where Great Falls is in relation to DC, and the major airports in the area. Be on the lookout for our posts on Old Town Alexandria, Raleigh, and Las Vegas! We are currently using Skyscanner to look up trips to Phoenix, Nashville, New Orleans, and Dallas! What is your favorite national park that you think we should visit? Be sure to check out our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see more pictures and ideas from Great Falls!

Blue skies,

K&L