Park · Virginia

Trails in Great Falls Park

26 named trails · 11 miles · 1 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks map Every park with trails Park on nps.gov

26 trails, A to Z.

Connector Trail

0.1 mi one way · 147 ft–155 ft · native surface · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Great Falls Park Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Great Falls Difficult Run (RT-0407)

0.8 mi one way · about 100 ft of climbing · 81 ft–178 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Great Falls Jetty Overlook

about 10 ft of climbing · 134 ft–148 ft · native surface · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Great Falls Park Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Great Falls Overlook #1

about 10 ft of climbing · 132 ft–145 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Great Falls Overlook #2

about 20 ft of climbing · 125 ft–147 ft · native surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way High Watermarks Exhibit

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Great Falls Ridge Trail Rd (RT-0410)

0.6 mi one way · about 20 ft of climbing · 150 ft of descent · 153 ft–290 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Matildaville - Patowmack Connector Trail

20 ft of descent · 148 ft–165 ft · native surface · hiking

History

Along the way Superintendent's House (Matildaville)

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Matildaville Trail

1.1 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 119 ft–267 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

History

Along the way Anderson House (Matildaville) Dickey's Barn (Matildaville) Dickey's Inn (Matildaville) House Foundation (Matildaville) Ice House (Matildaville) Lower Guard Gate Matildaville (ruins) Spring House (Matildaville) Storehouse Ruins (Matildaville) Superintendent's House (Matildaville)

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Mine Run Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 155 ft–244 ft · native surface · hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

North River Trail

0.3 mi one way · 151 ft–154 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Old Carriage Rd Trail to Patowmack Canal Trail Spur

142 ft–147 ft · native surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way High Watermarks Exhibit

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Old Carriage Road

2.3 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 200 ft of descent · 142 ft–279 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

ExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way High Watermarks Exhibit Great Falls Park Visitor Center

Soak Up Spectacular Views at the Great Falls Overlooks the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · dogs allowed · entrance fee applies

Start Great Falls Park

Just 15 miles from the Nation's Capital, Great Falls Park provides an abundance of outdoor activies. Explore the park through binoculars or a camera lens and walk a section of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail!

Head to the overlooks behind the visitor center to view Great Falls.

Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park.

Accessibility Accessible parking is available in the main parking lot. The unloading zone by the main picnic area has an accessible ramp. Overlooks Two and Three are fully accessible, as is the Patowmack Canal Trail to the Holding Basin and the guard gate. The exhibits, programs, and slide presentations on the upper floor of the Visitor Center are reached via a ramp on either end of the building. There is one wheelchair available in the visitor center for loan, free of charge, on a first come, first serve basis. If you have any questions, please contact the park at 703-285-2965.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Old Carriage Road - Matildaville Connector Trail

144 ft–145 ft · native surface · hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Old Carriage Road to Patowmack Canal Trail

0.1 mi one way · 146 ft–151 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Overlook #3 to River Trail

0.1 mi one way · 142 ft–145 ft · native surface · hiking

Exhibits

Along the way High Watermarks Exhibit

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Parking Lot Trails

0.2 mi one way · 149 ft–155 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Patowmack Canal - River Connector Trail

132 ft–140 ft · native surface · hiking

HistoryBridges

Along the way Footbridge (AA Gorge) Lower Guard Gate

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Patowmack Canal Trail

1.5 mi one way · 10 ft of descent · 133 ft–151 ft · native surface · hiking

HistoryExhibitsVisitor centers

Along the way High Watermarks Exhibit Anderson House (Matildaville) Dickey's Barn (Matildaville) Dickey's Inn (Matildaville) Lower Guard Gate Matildaville (ruins) Spring House (Matildaville) Storehouse Ruins (Matildaville) Superintendent's House (Matildaville) Great Falls Park Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Ridge Trail

1.0 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 250 ft–318 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

River - Matildaville Connector Trail

0.1 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 83 ft–121 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

River Trail

1.3 mi one way · about 200 ft of climbing · 97 ft–267 ft · native surface · hiking

ViewsBridges

Along the way Footbridge (AA Gorge) Cow Hoof Rock

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Riverbend Road Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 90 ft of climbing · 235 ft–323 ft · native surface · hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Swamp - Ridge Connector Trail

0.4 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 152 ft–291 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Swamp Trail

0.4 mi one way · 153 ft–158 ft · native surface · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

To Old Carriage Road

152 ft–155 ft · native surface · bike, hiking, horse

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Visitor Center Trails

0.2 mi one way · 144 ft–156 ft · native surface · hiking

Visitor centers

Along the way Great Falls Park Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

More hikes the Park Service describes

Write-ups that name no single mapped trail, in the Service's words.

Hike Algonkian Regional Park to Difficult Run · 3-6 Hours · dogs allowed
This hike is mostly wooded; some parts are rocky and some can be rocky. But you will see, in some places, exceptional displays of bluebells in spring and colors in autumn. Management partners include Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority; The Nature Conservancy; Fairfax County Park Authority; and National Park Service, all are aided by volunteers with the Potomac Heritage Trail Association and others.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.