Great Falls Park Custom Search Great Falls Park, a site that is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an 800 acre park located along the Potomac River 14 miles upriver from Washington D.C. The park is known for two things, it's scenic beauty at the head of Potomac River fall line and the historic Patowmack Canal.    CONTACTS Email - GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov Fax- 703-285-2223 Write to George Washington Memorial Parkway Great Falls Park McLean, VA 22101 - or - Great Falls Park 9200 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 Phone Visitor Information - 703-285-2965 Visitor Information - 703-285-2966 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open every day except December 25. The park opens at 7AM and is closed at dark. Visitor Center Hours: summer: 10 - 5 weekdays; 10 - 6 weekends winter: 10 - 4 Park regulations are enforced for your safety and for protection of the park. Pets must be leashed at all times. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the park. Swimming and wading are strictly prohibited. Great Falls Park is a DAY USE park only. No camping or overnight parking allowed. Motor vehicles must stay on paved roads. Picking wildflowers, hunting, injuring or capturing wildlife and destroying or removing trees, rocks, and ruins are prohibited. Getting There PLANE - From Reagan National Airport: Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway north. Take I-495 South for Virginia. Take Exit 44 Route 193. Follow car directions below. (approx. 20 minutes) From Dulles International Airport: Take Dulles Toll Road (I-267) to I-495 North. Take Exit 44 Route 193. Follow car directions below. (approx. 30 minutes) From Washington Baltimore Airport: Take I-95 South. Take I-495 West. Take Exit 44 Route 193. Follow car directions below. (approx. 1 hour) CAR - From I-495: Take Exit 44 Route 193 also named Georgetown Pike. Take 193 west. Turn right at Old Dominion Drive (approximately 4 1/2 miles). Straight 1 mile to entrance station. Parking, falls overlooks, and Visitor Center are all centrally located. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Not Available Weather & Climate N/A Accessibility Handicap Parking is available. Visitor Center and falls overlook #2 (200 yards from Visitor Center) is handicap accessible. FACILITIES GREAT FALLS PARK VISITOR CENTER Open All Year Phone - 703-285-2965 Location - The Visitor Center is within walking distance of the falls overlooks. Closures - N/A Special Programs - Falls Walk, River Walk, Overlook Talk, Patowmack Canal Walk, High Water at Great Falls, animal habitats, Snakes and Bunnies, Swamp Tromp, Wildflower Walks, Sunday birders group, Kids Crafts Check our monthly bulletin boards for program times, and look for the Calendar of Events coming soon to our extended webpages. Exhibits - The Visitor Center features a 10-minute slide program, 'History of Great Falls,' and a standing diorama, or three dimensional model, of the Great Falls and Patowmack Canal. Learn about this 200-year old canal so near to the nation's capital, considered an engineering feat of it's time. Coinciding displays show George Washington's role as a leader in establishing this important trade and communication link into the western lands. See on display a preserved piece of a canal lock gate, revealing the craftsmanship, and ingenuity of the age. Other displays show geologic features of the Potomac River Gorge and Great Falls, the Potomac river and flooding, nature displays, and recreational sports. A children's room provides hands on nature and other activities. Available Facilities - Picnic tables and grills are available near the Visitor Center. First come first serve. No reservations taken. Fifteen miles of trails provide ample hiking along the Potomac River Gorge below the Great Falls, along the historic Patowmack Canal (ask for a self-guided brochure at the Visitor Center), and along upland oak deciduous forest. Trails access Riverbend County Park to the north. Restrooms available in the Visitor Center area and lower parking area. Snack bar located in the Vistor Center courtyard.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Great Falls Park.   Campgrounds Near Great Falls Park: Harmony Place Trailer Park, Alexandria, 12 miles away Valley Mill Camp, Germantown, 12 miles away Burke Lake Park, Fairfax Station, 13 miles away Hillwood Camping Park, Gainesville, 13 miles away Mountain View Campground At Silver Lake, Hay market, 13 miles away Lake Fairfax Park, Reston, 13 miles away Pohick Bay Regional Park, Lorton, 14 miles away   Marinas Near Great Falls Park: Columbia Island Marina, Arlington , 7 miles away Columbia Island Marina, Washington , 9 miles away Fairfax Yacht Club, Alexandria , 10 miles away Seafarers Boat Club, Washington , 10 miles away Washington Marina, Washington , 11 miles away   Hotels Near Great Falls Park: Staybridge Suites MCLEAN-TYSONS CORNER, Mclean , 0 miles away Inns Of VirginiaFalls Church, Falls Church , 2 miles away Econo Lodge Metro, Arlington , 3 miles away Hilton Mclean Tysons Corner, Mclean , 3 miles away The Westin Tysons Corner, Falls Church , 3 miles away Budget Inn, Falls Church , 3 miles away TownePlace Suites Falls Church, Falls Church , 3 miles away   Trails Near Great Falls Park: Gold Mine Trail, Montgomery County , 5 miles away Potomac Heritage Trail, Fairfax County , 7 miles away Meadow Trail, Fairfax County , 7 miles away Paw Paw Passage Trail, Fairfax County , 7 miles away Woods Trail, District of Columbia County , 8 miles away   Beaches Near Great Falls Park: Bathing Beach, District of Columbia County , 10 miles away   Ski Areas Near Great Falls Park: Ski Liberty, Pennsylvania , 47 miles away, 620 foot drop, 8 lifts, 16 runs Ski Roundtop, Pennsylvania , 66 miles away, 600 foot drop, 11 lifts, 15 runs   Whitewater Near Great Falls Park: Pimmit Run, Fairfax / Arlington County , 1 miles away, Class II-III - 3 miles long (Old Dominion Drive to above Glebe Road) Scott's Run, -blank- County , 3 miles away, Class IV-V - -blank- miles long (Swinks Mill Road to Fairfax County Park trailhead) Four Mile Run, Arlington County , 4 miles away, Class III - 4.5 miles long (Ohio Street to Arlington Ridge Road) Potomac River, Montgomery County , 4 miles away, Class II-III(IV) - 2 miles long (Little Falls) Cabin John Creek, Montgomery County , 4 miles away, Class -blank- - 3 miles long (River Road to Potomac)   Public Lands Near Great Falls Park: Glen Echo Park, McLean - VA , 4 miles away Wolf Trap Farm Park, Vienna - VA , 6 miles away Fort Washington Park, Fort Washington - MD , 17 miles away George Washington's Grist Mill Historic State Park, Virginia , 12 miles away Mason Neck State Park, Virginia , 15 miles away Seneca Creek State Park, Maryland , 17 miles away Leesylvania State Park, Virginia , 19 miles away   Golf Courses Near Great Falls Park: Tpc Potomac At Avenel Farm, Potomac , 4 miles away Golf Course, Arlington , 4 miles away Washington Golf & Country Club, Arlington , 4 miles away Billy Casper Golf, Vienna , 4 miles away Jefferson District Park & Golf, Falls Church , 4 miles away   Lakes Near Great Falls Park Lake Barcroft, Fairfax County , 5 miles away Lake Needwood, Montgomery County , 10 miles away Burke Lake, Fairfax County , 12 miles away Marumsco Acres Lake, Prince William County , 16 miles away Tridelphia Reservoir, Montgomery County , 18 miles away