Great Falls Park in Virginia

Sancerres at Sunset

Fifteen miles from Washington, D.C., the Potomac River gains speed and power as it cascades 76 feet down in less than a mile.

At the same time, the River’s banks narrow from about 1,000 feet wide to less than 100 as the water rushes through Mather Gorge, named for the first director of the National Park Service.

Great Falls Park in northern Virginia offers spectacular views of the rushing waters, as well as 15 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The National Park Service manages Great Falls Park as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, culminating with the first president’s Virginia home Mount Vernon.

The highlight of the Park is the Great Falls themselves. You can view them from three overlooks:

– Overlook 1 provides the closest view of the Falls. – Overlook 2 features a large platform that can be accessed via steps or a ramp. – Overlook 3 also has a large accessible platform.

It’s also possible to see the Great Falls from the Maryland side of the Potomac River at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park.

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