Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) Hike
Waterfall · about 76 ft high | Maryland
1 mi round trip
Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) Hike at a Glance
The Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) hike via the Great Falls Overlook Trail is 1 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 76 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 150 ft |
| Trail | Great Falls Overlook Trail |
| Distance | 1 mi round trip |
Your time: about 20 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 25 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 190 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 1 mi distance for this hike is verified (nps.gov), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland)
Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) is a waterfall in Maryland, about 76 feet high, on land managed by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Its height is from en.wikipedia.org.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Great Falls Overlook Trail: 1 miles round trip, from Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center. Distance from nps.gov.
Before You Go
- An entrance fee is required to enter the park at Great Falls. (nps.gov)
- Pets are not permitted on the trail. (nps.gov)
- The trail is an ADA-accessible boardwalk. (nps.gov)
- Do not climb down to the rocks or the river. (nps.gov)
- The Potomac River is unpredictable and can be very dangerous. (nps.gov)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland)?
The Great Falls Overlook Trail to Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) is 1 miles round trip.
Where does the Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) hike start?
It starts from Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
How tall is Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland)?
Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) is about 76 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland)?
An entrance fee is required to enter the park at Great Falls.
Are dogs allowed on the Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) trail?
Pets are not permitted on the trail.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- nps.gov
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Falls height
- en.wikipedia.org
- Falls location
- gowaterfalling.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland).