is good fun, and Inns of Virginia - Falls Church is a tremendous site to get some rest. Be careful coming to Great Falls Park, you might not ever wanna go home again. Paddling on Potomac River is so much fun, and do explore Black Pond, it's a picturesque lake.
Dry warm beds
await you at Hilton Mclean Tysons Corner, and the Gold Mine Trail offers hiking at its best. The summit of Mount Daniel can be spotted from Great Falls Park, and you can have a delightful hiking adventure along the Woods Trail.
Cabin John Creek has a tremendous whitewater paddling
spot close by, naturally you could also take a look at Woodside Lake while you're here; it's not far at all.
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. FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee
ANNUAL PARK PASS
$15.00 for Annual for Annual
Great Falls Park Passes are valid for 1 year. Passes are also valid on the Maryland side of the falls at the C&O Canal
National Historical Park.
INDIVIDUAL
$2 for 3 Days
VEHICLE
$4.00 for 3 Days
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.
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