Status: Open · as far as we can tell, checked Oct 27, 2026

Great Falls Park

76 ft · Potomac River, near McLean · Virginia

The Potomac dropping into Mather Gorge, a short walk from three NPS overlooks near DC.

By The Waterfall Guide editorial team · Waterfall near Great Falls · run by National Park Service

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The Great Falls of the Potomac River pouring over jagged rocks in November — Great Falls Park · National Park Service, Public domain

Great Falls Park · NortyNort, CC BY-SA 3.0

Right now

Right now as of Oct 27, 2026

Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $20 per vehicle (no cash).

Status note (Oct 27, 2026): Open 7am to 30 minutes after sunset, closed December 25. NPS notes that one section of the Difficult Run Trail is washed out. On the Maryland side, NPS listed the Olmsted Island boardwalk and Billy Goat Trail as open on October 27, 2026. Tavern boat rides are closed for the season. What the status labels mean

Great Falls Park is a National Park Service site in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 15 miles from Washington, DC. Here the Potomac River drops about 76 feet in less than a mile, per Wikipedia, into Mather Gorge. Three overlooks sit a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Visitor Center. The park is open daily, 7am to 30 minutes after sunset. Entry is $20 per vehicle, with no cash accepted, and swimming and wading are banned.

About Great Falls Park

Great Falls is not a single drop. The Potomac drops about 76 feet in less than a mile through a series of steep falls of roughly 20 feet each, according to Wikipedia. Then it squeezes into narrow Mather Gorge. Wikipedia's infobox gives 47 feet instead, and the National Park Service publishes no height.

NPS describes Great Falls Park as an 800-acre park only 15 miles from the nation's capital. The Maryland bank across the river belongs to a different NPS unit, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

Is Great Falls a national park?

Not by name, but it is run by the National Park Service. NPS acquired the land in 1966 and began operating Great Falls Park as a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, per its park chronology.

Because NPS runs it, Great Falls Park charges an NPS entrance fee and accepts the America the Beautiful pass. Its official name is still Great Falls Park, not a national park.

History

George Washington's Patowmack Canal used five locks on the Virginia side to get boats around the falls, Wikipedia says. The C&O Canal later ran along the Maryland shore.

At Overlook 3, look for the High Water Marks pole. It marks how high past floods have risen on the river.

Getting there and parking

Great Falls Park is about 15 miles from Washington, DC, near the communities of Great Falls and McLean. Parking is first come, first served, and the cost is included in the entrance fee. Vehicles must stay on the paved road and in the lots.

Bring a card or a digital pass, because the park does not take cash.

Is Great Falls Park open today?

The park is open daily from 7am to 30 minutes after sunset and closes on December 25, according to the NPS hours page updated in April 2026. The NPS FAQ page says the Visitor Center is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

From late spring through early fall, the lots fill quickly, especially on nice weekends and holidays. When they are full, NPS closes the entrance road until spaces open, sometimes for about an hour.

NPS suggests arriving early. It says the entrance line usually starts around 10:30 or 11am on nice weekends, with waits of up to about an hour.

Visiting from Maryland

You can also see the falls from Maryland, but no bridge links the two sides, so you have to drive around. NPS says the C&O Canal park is free to visit except the Great Falls Tavern area in Potomac, Maryland.

The Tavern area charges $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle and $10 per person 16 and older, and it is cashless. A $35 annual pass covers both Great Falls Park and the C&O Canal.

From Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, the Olmsted Island boardwalk leads less than half a mile to the Great Falls Overlook. Allow about 15 minutes each way. Leaving the boardwalk is illegal.

Making a longer Maryland trip? Our Cunningham Falls guide covers a state park falls near Thurmont.

Map and nearby falls

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Overlooks and trails

All three Virginia overlooks at Great Falls Park are a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Visitor Center, on foot only, according to NPS.

The three overlooks

Overlook 1 is closest to the falls. You reach it by wooden steps and a rocky path, and you may need your hands to reach the railing.

Overlook 2 has a large wooden platform with benches, reached by a ramp and a flat gravel path.

Overlook 3 is the one NPS calls the best view. It has two platforms, the High Water Marks pole and a flat gravel path from the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center exhibits are ramp-accessible.

Hiking trails in the park

NPS says the park has fifteen miles of hiking trails. Its hiking page lists these Virginia-side trails and lengths:

River Trail: 1.5 miles one way, moderate to hard
Patowmack Canal Trail: 1.25 miles, easy
Old Carriage Road: 1.6 miles
Matildaville Trail: 1.1 miles
Ridge Trail: 1.5 miles
Difficult Run Trail: 0.7 mile, with one section washed out

Billy Goat Trail (Maryland)

The Billy Goat Trail is in Maryland, not in Great Falls Park. Section A starts southeast of Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center and runs 1.75 miles one way. NPS rates it technical and strenuous and allows 2 to 3 hours.

Pets are not permitted on Section A, and NPS recommends hiking it one way, going downstream. Section A closes when the Little Falls gauge reaches 5 feet and reopens at 4.8 feet.

On October 27, 2026, NPS listed Sections A, B and C and the Olmsted Island boardwalk as open. Tavern boat rides were closed for the season.

When to visit

Weekends and holidays from late spring to early fall are when the lots fill fastest, NPS says. NPS suggests arriving early, since the entrance line usually starts around 10:30 or 11am. We found no NPS guidance on a best season.

Plan restroom stops around the Visitor Center schedule. Courtyard restrooms there are open 8:30am to 4pm. NPS lists portable toilets on the Old Carriage Road and Matildaville trails, open during park hours.

The last NPS fee-free day of 2026 is November 11, for US citizens and residents.

For a Virginia falls at the end of a hiking trail, see our Dark Hollow Falls guide in Shenandoah National Park.

All visitor facts
Height	76 ftNote: total drop in under a mile, per Wikipedia; its infobox says 47 ft and NPS gives no height
Trail	Three overlooks, each a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Visitor Center. About 15 miles of hiking trails in the park
Difficulty	Easy
Time needed	5 to 10 minutes from the Visitor Center to the overlooks
Entry fee	$20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, $10 per person on foot, bike or horse (15 and under free); valid 7 days. No cash.
Permit / reservation	No permit; NPS entrance fee ($20 per vehicle, no cash)
Parking	Park lots (entrance fee); road closes when full on busy days
Hours / season	7am to 30 minutes after sunset daily; closed December 25. Visitor Center 10am to 5pm (NPS)
Dogs	Allowed on a 6-ft leash at all times; not in the Visitor Center or on ranger programs. Not permitted on Billy Goat Trail Section A on the Maryland side
Swimming	Prohibited. NPS bans swimming and wading anywhere in the park.
Wheelchair / stroller	Overlooks 2 and 3 have ramps and flat gravel paths; Overlook 1 has steps and rocks. Visitor Center exhibits are ramp-accessible.
Walk behind the falls	No
Restrooms	Visitor Center courtyard restrooms 8:30am to 4pm; portable toilets on the Old Carriage Road and Matildaville trails during park hours (NPS, April 2026)
Crowds	High on warm-weather weekends; the entrance closes when the lots fill (NPS)
Managed by	National Park Service, Great Falls Park

Safety and swimming

Swimming and wading are prohibited anywhere in Great Falls Park. NPS calls them illegal and dangerous. The river hides underwater caves and sieves, powerful hydraulics, swift water and deep potholes, NPS says.

In summer 2026, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue's swift water team patrolled the Potomac near Great Falls after what it called "a number of drownings," WJLA reported. Days earlier, crews had recovered the body of a missing 25-year-old man near Great Falls Park. Stay on trails and overlooks, and keep children well back from the water's edge. Our waterfall safety guide covers more on river and pool hazards.

Kayaking and rafting are at your own risk, and NPS requires a personal flotation device and a helmet. Keep dogs on a 6-foot leash, and do not leave pets in a parked car. At Overlook 1, watch your footing on the rocks.

Conditions change: confirm with the National Park Service before you go.

Where to stay near Great Falls Park

Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Great Falls.

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Photos

Great Falls of the Potomac seen from the Virginia side in Great Falls Park — Photo: NortyNort, CC BY-SA 3.0

Great Falls of the Potomac River in winter — Photo: MamaGeek, CC BY 3.0

Great Falls of the Potomac viewed from the Maryland side near Potomac — Photo: Richyad, CC BY-SA 4.0

Great Falls Park FAQ

How much is the entrance fee at Great Falls Park in 2026?

$20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, or $10 per person on foot, bike or horse (15 and under free), all good for 7 days. A $35 annual pass covers Great Falls Park and the C&O Canal. The park doesn't take cash, and no other ticket is needed.

Is Great Falls Park a national park?

Not by name. It's a National Park Service site called Great Falls Park, run as a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. NPS acquired the land and began operating the park in 1966.

Is Great Falls Park open today?

Most days, yes. Great Falls Park is open daily from 7am to 30 minutes after sunset, except December 25, per NPS. On busy days, mostly weekends from late spring to early fall, NPS closes the entrance road when the lots fill. NPS suggests arriving early; the entrance line usually starts around 10:30 or 11am.

How long are the hiking trails at Great Falls Park?

NPS lists about 15 miles of trails. The River Trail is 1.5 miles one way and moderate to hard. Others include the Patowmack Canal Trail (1.25 miles), Old Carriage Road (1.6 miles), Matildaville (1.1 miles), Ridge Trail (1.5 miles) and Difficult Run (0.7 mile).

Can you swim or wade at Great Falls?

No. NPS prohibits swimming and wading throughout Great Falls Park because of underwater sieves, hydraulics and swift currents. In summer 2026, after several drownings in local waterways, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue patrolled the river near Great Falls to warn visitors, WJLA reported.

Which Great Falls overlook is best?

NPS calls Overlook 3 the best view. It has two platforms and a flat gravel path with no steps. Overlook 2 is also accessible. Overlook 1 is closest to the falls but needs steps and some scrambling on rock.

Is Great Falls better from Virginia or Maryland?

Both sides have good views. Virginia's Great Falls Park has three overlooks a few minutes from the Visitor Center. In Maryland, the Olmsted Island boardwalk from Great Falls Tavern leads to a close-up overlook, and the Billy Goat Trail starts nearby. No bridge connects them, so you have to drive between the two.

Are dogs allowed at Great Falls Park?

Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times, but not in the Visitor Center or on ranger programs. On the Maryland side, pets are not permitted on Billy Goat Trail Section A.

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Sources

Last verified Oct 27, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Great Falls Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

Photos: National Park Service, Public domain; NortyNort, CC BY-SA 3.0; MamaGeek, CC BY 3.0. Photo credits