Amazing hiking trails! Trails are pretty accessible for all levels…read more The trail maps need updating as there are some new trails.

It's closed for months to repair a sewage siphon in spring, which is ridiculous. There's a sewage…read morepipe that empties into the waterfall area, but people don't seem to care and they swim, even though you can smell the sewage. The whole place and even the forest is littered with hard lemonade and beer bottles, babies diapers, dog poop and all kinds of food wrappers.

I visited Great Falls NP on a spring-like day on May 30, 2026. This is a fantastic place to enjoy…read morenature on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. What are the pluses? First, the park includes waterfalls, pine trees, granite cliffs, and babbling brooks. Second, the Visitor's Center area has restrooms, staff who can answer questions, and a simple "old-school" ice cream and snack shop. Third, the river trail and waterfall outlooks provide amazing scenery without much effort - just a bit of walking. What more can you ask for? It's $20 per vehicle (for 7 days of use), or if you have an annual national park pass ($80), it's valid here. On the last Saturday of May 2026, it was crowded but parking was still available in the additional parking lot (second one past the visitor center) around 11:50am.

Great Falls & National Parks, Oh my!! (US National Parks) worth an Annual Pass…read more Do you like easy walking trails? Beautiful views? A front seat to nature...ducks, frogs eagles and other animals await your visit to Great Falls Park. It's really 2 parks in 1, or is that 1 park cut into 2? Let me explain, Great Falls is a national park that sits in the border of Maryland and Virginia. The trails were relatively easy, in regular sneakers. Apparently, if you get up in the morning you can see an amazing array of wildlife and a huge amount of birds. There's even a man made waterfall, areas to enjoy water sports and fishing. It cost $20 per car, $15 per motorcycle and $10 on foot. It cost $35 for Annual Pass (only for Great Falls Park and C&O Canal National Historical Park). There's also an America the Beautiful--the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which cost $80 for US residents and citizens. For nonresident it cost $250. There are even a senior citizen resident annual pass for $20 and lifetime resident pass $80. For the cost of a one year annual pass, you can visit many times in a year. It's cheaper than paying each time you go...if you are into physical fitness, trails, nature and the great outdoors. Did you know the US National Parks include a rainforest and a Spanish Fort located in Puerto Rico, a US territory. Yes, for such a small area Washington, DC has 30 National Parks (including historic sites, memorials, and parkways). But wait there's more, The Greater Capital Region (DC, MD and DC) has 86 Parks in total with all parks and sites maintained by the US Parks Department. Are you going to Great Falls or will you hit all the US Parks this summer? Get a pass and get out in nature.

Grading on the curve of "it's in Maryland", this is a fantastic trail!…read more If this were west of the rockies though, it would be A-OK. There is one tiny section where you actually have to scramble. The rest of it is pretty much a moderate hike with some lite route-finding. We saw multiple snakes on the way in, which were the highlight. Definitely worth doing if you're in the area, but probably not worth a dedicated trip if you're in DC proper.

Not a reflection of the trail as a whole, but when I stopped back on this occasion I was dismayed…read more It was one thing during the peak of the COVID era when there were signs up saying this trail was to be undertaken in one direction only. People were throwing around all sorts of silly rules out of desperation in those days. I doubt any lives were saved by this; maybe the theory was to reduce human contact but realistically, we're talking about hiking in open air. Public health aside, I return to find even now there are still signs saying to take the trail one way. And having done it both ways many times, it's the wrong way! Absurd. Supposedly there's some justification, but I think that grown adults can figure out how to hike in two directions without running into each other. As an overall natural resource, it remains a gem (though it must be noted that the Billy Goat B trail downstream is currently closed due to damage). But whoever is making these stupid rules shouldn't be in the business of making rules at all. Thankfully some rebels were taking the trail in the northernly direction, as well they should.

To my surprise, this trail was found by accident as I had finished an errand in Herndon and needed…read morea place to kill time and explore. This trail/park allows you to see the beautiful nature Northern VA offers with the trees, streams, trails, and surroundings of buildings and landscapes. It's a long trail and it intersects with the WO&D trail. Plenty of space and mileage to explore and perfect for biking/walking/jogging. Get those steps in!

I love walking this easy trail with my dog and am so fortunate to have it located so close from…read morehome. There is plenty of shade and is great for bikers, runners, dog walkers and if you are looking for a simple trail to take your family to! There is also a really neat wall of painted rocks that the community has been contributing to which is awesome because we all get to add to one big piece of art! On a few of my walks here, I've seen deer, raccoons, and foxes so there is a pretty good chance you may spot some wildlife too.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A great park for a walk…read more *Parking available *No restrooms *Map of the trails posted A great park with beautiful views of the pristine landscape. Walk near the Potomac river or up the hills of trees and rock formations. There are (3) trails which are marked and easy to follow. Quite and tranquil

Beautiful , shaded park that is a bit of a hidden gem since it's not very often talk of around the…read morearea. They have hiking trails that are for beginner and also for ones that are a bit more advanced.

Plummers Island is an island covering 12-acres seated in the Potomac River approximately nine miles…read moreupriver from Washington, DC. Owned by the U.S. Nationals Park Service, the island purportedly holds the distinction of being the most scientifically studied island in North America. Every plant species present in this island has been catalogued and its DNA analyzed. Getting to the island is most easily done by boat or kayak, or you can attempt to forge the waterway at the island's southeastern tip, where there is a makeshift log bridge.

This 12-acre island is located in the Potomac River in Maryland. You have to do a short hike to…read moreget here through the forest and then cross some rocks or ride a small boat. A cabin is located at the top of the island and has some nice views. The Washington Biologists Field Club takes care of the island and conducts research there.

We were headed to Scotts Run for a hike and found that it was closed so we happened upon Difficult…read moreRun. The parking lot was tight. It was a Saturday and when we got there (around 1pm), only a few spots were available and when we left (~3:30pm) there were cars lined up waiting for people to leave. This was our first time and we were not sure which way to go as the maps were not 100% clear. After asking some folks which way they directed us to the trail (turns out it was their first time also). The direction they sent us took us in the direction of Great Falls. The path was easy, flat and not difficult at all. There was lots of tree cover that kept things cool. The path follows a stream. The water was very clear and we could see tadpoles and fish. Overall a nice walking trail. Would not mind going back to explore more or it.

This isn't going to be confused with ease, but it's not too difficult as well. Hiking this is a lot…read moreof fun. The amount of wildlife you'll see, it's a fun spot. Yes it can get busy due to being a popular destination. My recommendation is to get here early. Bring a backpack with lunch. Love that this is slightly rugged. Amazing rock formations. You can get to Great Falls from here. That alone is winning. The views are quite nice, and it's always a pleasure to hike this area. Definitely wear good shoes.