The Great Falls. You can hike all over the park to get views of the falls, with varying degrees of difficulty. There is an observation deck that take minimal effort to reach, as well as imposing rock scramble views!
We had the distinct pleasure to kick off our 2013 hiking season at Great Falls, courtesy of the Young Marines Units from Shenandoah Valley and Manassas. Billy has just recently joined the S.V. unit based in Winchester, and this was his first big adventure with the group. He hooked up with his unit early in the morning, and then spent the day with them….doing drills, hiking, and bonding. That left JJ, Mickey, J-Wow and I many hours to explore this wonderful area. The park is 800 acres and is shared by Maryland and Virginia. We parked at the Great Falls Visitor Center on the Maryland side, and for $5 had access to the area all day.
What a great day for the Young Marine Units from Shenadoah Valley and Manassas
Taking a break on Billy Goat Trail
Just 10 miles from our Nation’s Capitol, this area could not feel further from the hustle and bustle of city life. Maybe that is why the park is so popular; and boy does it get busy! People come in droves to walk, run, bike, fish, stroll, walk their dogs, hike, picnic, ride horses, rock climb, kayak, explore, and in general….experience nature at its finest.
The towpath along the C&O Canal provides a serene beauty, and 180 miles of recreational opportunities!
The Maryland side of Great Falls Park is also home to the C&O Canal and National Historic Park. The Tow Path is 184 miles long, beginning in Georgetown and ending in Cumberland, MD. The entire path is accessible for all the aforementioned recreational pursuits. If you enter this area near Great Falls, there is much opportunity for education and exploration of the canal era. There is a small museum on hand with informative displays, and a park rangers who are eager to dispense information. There are locks and other refreshed replicas that explain how the canal system worked, and how at one point, it was the transportation system that was looked upon to open up the country to the west. But establishing the canal all the way to the Ohio River, the goal was to open commerce and travel. Meandering along the tow path is a great way to spend the day. We had the pleasure of being there on the first warm(ish) day of the spring, and it was very popular!
Mickey and JJ getting ready to tackle the famous Billy Goat A Trail!
There are many hiking trails that veer off the tow path, with the centerpiece being the Billy Goat A Trail. It is a 1.7 mile spur that leaves the tow path and scrambles over rocks that line the Potomac River. At which point, it meets back up with the tow path for an option to continue on to Billy Goat B & C trails…..with each trail lessening in difficulty. We happen to love rock scrambles….and this one did not disapoint. I would say the scramble itself is a challenging as Old Rag, but at a far less distance, so overall very doable for novice hikers and families with elementary school aged kids.
My little rocket man!
JJ was completely in his element the entire time…..and happily did the trail forwards and backwards. He traversed the rocks just like a billy goat would, and earned the name ‘rocket man’ from me because every time I looked around, he was high a top a new rock! Dogs are not allowed on this trail (although we saw a few that had found their way through despite the restrictions). Warnings abounded about how difficult this trail is, and they are warranted in a way….but I feel most people are able to do it if they are alert and cautious. First and foremost, wear proper shoes! Ones with good traction, and by all means….no flip flops. Take your time and enjoy the sights, for there are many….and travel with a support system. There are a few challenging passes, highlighted by a 40 foot rock face. Being as it gets so popular, expect to wait in lines at the most difficult sections….but the upside to that is there are always extra hands to help out. (And hikers are invariably friendly!) There are also a few emergency exits from the trail, right before you get to the really demanding sections…..so it is possible to get a taste of the trail, without the full investment. Because it juts out from the tow path, this hike is perfect for the seasoned hiker as well as the more reluctant…..groups can split up and meet each other at the end, while traversing the same distance in an entirely different manor.
On the way out, I stayed with J-Wow on the Tow Path, while JJ and Mickey confronted the rock scramble. On the way back, Mickey joined J-Wow, while I took my turn on the rocks, chaperoned by JJ! As mentioned before, we did see a few dogs on the rock scramble, but if hiking with a dog in this area, I would cede the warnings and keep them on the tow path. J-Wow is a great rock climber….but I think taking her would actually put us at danger if we kept her on the lease. She could navigate the rocks faster than us, and risk pulling us over, or worse, descending down the rocks! And, it is entirely too busy of a park (and against the rules) to let them go off lease. Chances are they would be fine, but it is not a risk I would take with J-Wow. Smaller dogs would pose less of a danger….but it is likely you would have to carry them in some spots. And, of course really well trained dogs could handle it better, but J-Wow is just a bit too exuberant at this stage!
Young Marine Recruit Billy in action!
JJ making his way down the 40 foot rock face
Now, a word about that 40 foot rock scramble. It was daunting. But exhilarating at the same time. I took on the challenge down hill….and decided to treat it as a slide. JJ did it both ways, and when asked which was harder, he replied, ‘down, but mostly because I had an overprotective mom nearby’. Ha, Ha, I am not surprised that dad was more fun in this instance!
Despite the 40 foot wall being the most challenging section of a hike we have ever done, in general, the hikes in Great Falls are not that difficult. As the park follows the Potomac River, everything is relatively flat. And even the Billy Goat sections pose little or no elevation changes. But, around every corner there are amazing views which are unique to this park. We often joked we were marching to Mordor (fyi Lord of the Rings Reference) keeping a watchful eye out for Gollum! The flatness of this area, and our need to be there all day due to the Young Marine function, gave us a chance to rack up some pretty long hikes. Mickey, JJ, J-Wow and I did 10 miles, and Billy logged in 12 with his unit – making it the longest hike ever for the boys and J-Wow, and tying Old Rag for the longest for Mickey and I.
There are many vantage points to view the splendor of the falls along the Billy Goat Trails
Looking onto the Virginia side from Billy Goat Trail A
Great Falls is a two hour drive from Harrisonburg, but it was well worth the effort. It is understandable why this hike ranks as one of the most popular on all of the East Coast. There is enough in the park to keep you busy the entire day…..but with its close proximity to all the DC attractions, it could be combined with other pursuits. It is also conveniently located one exit up from the Tysons Corner area which has wonderful shopping and dining options to serve as a reward after a long day of hiking and exploring!
Food is allowed to be brought into the park, and there is a concession stand on site that served a wide array of options. One interesting aspect of this park is it is trash free. Meaning, once you leave the main entrances, there are no trash cans. The park service asks that you carry out all of your trash to keep the park beautiful and serene. By our observations, fellow travelers did a good job complying with the request. Which is wonderful to report.
I just conquered the 40 foot rock face, and lived to tell about it….even if according to JJ, I was ‘overprotective!’
Rankings: (4.4 average out of 5)
Minnie: 5 out of 5!!! Rock scrambles are always fabulous, and this one second only (maybe) to Old Rag! It has unique views, beautiful scenery, history and culture. What more could you ask for?
Mickey: 4…I liked it a lot, but it got way too crowded for me.
Billy: 4….I liked the rock scrambles and I was really proud to do it with my Young Marines Unit. We hiked for 12 miles!
JJ: 5 Plus…..My favorite hike ever because of the 40 foot rock face. I love rock scrambles!
J-Wow loved meeting new dogs at Great River Falls. And, there were many! She was also identified as a Rhodesian Ridgeback (although not expertly) on this hike!
J-Wow: 4. It was great for meeting other 4 legged friends, but I had to separate from the pack on the Billy Goat A Trail. On this hike, my ‘people’ were told I looked like a Rhodesian Ridgeback. After a bit of ‘internet research’ they concur. So, when others ask what breed I am….which the almost always do, my ‘people’ will now answer, 100% perfect….with a lot of Rhodesian Ridgeback!
So, there you go….a hike we all loved. The only drawback being it does seem to get REALLY crowded. But, the upside to that is…..less chance of encountering snakes! I think at the end of the season, when we redo our top 10 list, Great Falls will surely make it….unless we encounter some amazing trails this spring and summer. If we do, you can read all about it here, on Virginiavinesandtrails.
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