Hiking Trails of Great Falls Maryland National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Potomac, MD ) VIRGINIA i m d 1 . a Mile 15 2 o ( R . Conn r ls T l e a Island in F M rd ) i Fo m 1 ( r. GREAT FALLS TAVERN T r e v VISITOR CENTER Paved Road Comfort Station i R Towpath Hiking Trail Access Washington Aqueduct Observation Deck Towpath Mileage Information M from start of canal Lock 20 a in Georgetown, Parking Go c VFW Spur ld A Washington, D.C. r (0.1 mi) M t Lock 19 h i n e Picnic Area Spur ( u Accessible Trails 0 r . Lock 18 Lock 19 8 Great Falls Overlook B Ranger Station Hiking Trails Spur(0.3 mi) m o d Mile 14 i u ar Olmsted Island Overlook Tr. ) lev Maryland Mine Trail Marker (TM) Snack Bar Lock 17 (0.7 mi) Falls Rd. Spur Rocky (0.2 mi) Overlook Telephone Islands Overlook Spur (0.1 mi) CHESAPEAKE Gold Mine Loop Lock Water Stop Gate (1.6 mi) r & OHIO CANAL pu Stop Gate Bridge B Lock S i NAT’L. HISTORICAL l 16 6 ) l 1 i y L o ck m G (0 3 PARK o Lock . a 15 A t B Rockwood Spur T n r e W . r g m (0.5 mi) S l e a o e c r o . s R A d o S a l p ( TM-1 d 1 ( a u GEORGE WASHINGTON . 1 Valley Tr. 7 .5 n T r 5 m d r. ( i 0 (0 (0.6 mi) MEMORIAL PARKWAY m ) . Bear . 5 i ) 7 m GREAT FALLS PARK m Island i Widewater i ) ) Traverse Anglers TM-2 Mile13 Emergency Exit Sherwin Purplehorse Beach TM-3 Island MARYLAND P B il o ly t G Mile 12 o o a m t T r a . S Ma North c e Mile 11 cArthur Boulevard c Marsden Tract R . i Campground Vaso v B (1.4 mi) Washington, DC e Island r Offutt Island C lar (Non-NPS) Hermit I. Herzog I. a B Lock 12 ar Lock 14Lock 13 ton Carderock Pa 1Kilometers rkw Perry I. Turkey Island ay (Non-NPS) (Non-NPS) Mile 10 r. S oat T ec. 0 1 Mile 2 Miles illy G C (1.6 m B i) EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Hiking Trails of Great Falls Maryland National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park TRAIL & LENGTH DESCRIPTION The Billy Goat Trail Trail Safety (one way) Recommendations Anglers Spur Moderate - Trail connects Gold Mine Loop to Berma Road 0.1 miles from Anglers The Billy Goat Trails have been popular with • Allow enough time to finish your entire hike 0.5 mile parking area. hikers since the mid-1800s. Comprised of before sunset - trails are difficult to follow and Berma Road Easy - Views of Widewater. Old conduit road parallels canal from Stop Gate to three separate trails accessible from the distinguish after dark. Hiking trails after dark 1.5 miles Anglers parking lot. Connects to the towpath at either end, creating a 2.8 mile loop. towpath, and designated Sections “A”, “B”, greatly increases your risk of being lost, injured Also connects to the Gold Mine Loop from Overlook Spur, Lock 16 Spur, and Anglers and “C”, the Billy Goat Trails offer beautiful and/or stranded. Spur. views of the Potomac River. Please choose the Billy Goat Trail Difficult - Physically demanding trail. Scrambling over angled rocks, boulders and appropriate trail by its difficulty level. • Be prepared for environmental extremes - Section A climbing required. Views of Mather Gorge and river. Trail follows cliff along river rocky outcroppings tend to amplify extreme 1.75 miles and rejoins towpath 0.7 miles north of Anglers. Trail makes a 3.7 mile loop via Tow- path. No shortcuts around rocks. Dogs are not permitted. Section “A” is extremely strenuous and weather conditions. Lack of adequate shade involves a lot of rock scrambling and the and protection from the elements can also Billy Goat Trail Moderate - Access trail from towpath near Anglers or Carderock. Trail passes Section B through floodplain forest and along the river. Minimal rock scrambling required. need for good balance. With its difficult greatly increase hikers’ exposure. 1.4 miles terrain, the 1.7 mile hike takes most visitors Billy Goat Trail Moderate - River views and a small waterfall are encountered on this trail. Access 2-3 hours to complete. Visitors in less than • Carry adequate fluids & replenish fluids Section C from Carderock Area. optimal health, with small children, or those regularly in summer months - dehydration and 1.6 miles not experienced or properly outfitted, should heat stress can lead to heat stroke and death. Falls Road Spur Easy - Short spur trail connects Gold Mine Loop to Falls Road. Trail passes directly consider other trail hiking options. Section 0.2 mile beside remains of the Maryland Mine. “A” starts below Great Falls near the Stop • Wear appropriate footwear - adequate soles Ford Mine Trail Moderate - Trail leads over streams and up into the hills, passing the remains of the Gate and ends on the towpath just upstream and ankle support can prevent injuries. 2.1 miles Ford Mine (1880s-1921) gold mining operations. Access is located at the end of Great from the park’s Anglers access point. Dogs are Falls parking lot. not permitted. • Be aware of your surroundings and locations - Gold Mine Loop Easy - The Maryland Mine (1867-1939) processed gold. Situated in the heart of the knowing your location on the trail will help in 1.6 miles gold mining tract, the loop can be accessed from the Gold Mine Spur, the VFW Spur, Section “B” is a moderate hike. Located just an emergency situation. Because of the difficult the Falls Road Spur, the Rockwood Spur, the Valley Trail, Anglers Spur, Woodland downstream from Anglers, in the Marsden terrain, most rescues, even for a hurt ankle, Trail and Overlook Trail. Tract area, “B” contains a few small rock often involve dispatching boats and/ or a Gold Mine Spur Moderate - Connects Great Falls Tavern area to Gold Mine Loop. scrambles and provides a quieter atmosphere helicopter. 0.8 miles then “A”. It is the best of the three for Lock 19 Spur Moderate - Connects to Gold Mine Spur and Overlook Trail. Connecting Gold Mine birding, especially in the spring. National Park Service Regulations 0.3 mile Spur and Lock 19 makes an easy 1 mile loop. Lock 16 Spur Moderate - Connects Berma Road and Gold Mine Loop. From towpath, cross foot- Section “C” is an easy walk. Although there These regulations are enforced to protect the 0.3 mile bridge to Berma Road. are still a few rock outcroppings, most of the resource and provide for your safety. A more Olmsted Island trail is wooded. It is located just downstream Easy - Series of bridges and boardwalks traverse a unique floodplain terrace complete list is available by contacting the Bridges environment and end at the Great Falls Overlook. Spectacular view of the Falls and from “A” and “B”, in the Carderock area of National Park Service. 0.25 mile Mather Gorge. Handicap Accessible. Dogs are not permitted. (Accessible Boardwalk) the park. Great hike for spring wildflowers Overlook Trail Moderate - Scenic, uphill hike overlooking Potomac River. Access Overlook Trail and fall colors or during the hottest summer • Do Not Disturb Park Resources days. 0.7 mile through the Lock 19 Trail located 400 feet downstream of the Great Falls Tavern. • The Park is a Trash-free Park Connects with Overlook Spur and Gold Mine Spur. Special Note About Bear Island • Pets Must be Leashed Overlook Spur Easy - Trail connects Overlook Trail to Berma Road. • Bicycles are Only Allowed on the 0.1 mile Section “A” traverses one of the most Towpath and Berma Road Not on Trails biologically diverse areas in the country, Bear River Trail Easy - Walk along river’s edge and through a rich floodplain forest. Access the trail • Do Not Enter the Potomac River 1 mile from the towpath just upstream of Washington Aqueduct observation deck. 2 mile Island. Topography, geography and regular loop can be made by walking towpath back. flood events have created some of the rarest • Alcohol is Prohibited and most sensitive habitats. Because of this, • Collecting or Disturbing Plants is Rockwood Spur Easy - Trail connects Rockwood Manor Park to Gold Mine Loop and Valley Trail. Easy 0.5 mile 1 mile loop can be made. No parking available on MacArthur Blvd. the National Park Service and The Nature Prohibited Conservancy jointly own and manage Bear Valley Trail Moderate - Trail follows creek through open valley to connect Anglers Spur to Gold • Keep Wildlife Wild Island. Please lessen your impact by 0.6 mile Mine Loop. Moderate 1.4 mile loop can be made by getting on the Gold Mine Loop and taking it back to the Anglers Spur. remaining on the blazed trail and staying off • Camping/Fires are Prohibited in the the island when the trail is closed. This will Area Woodland Trail Moderate - Trail connects Gold Mine Loop and Anglers Spur, passes prospectors’ help preserve the uniqueness of the island • Hunting and Use of Firearms are Prohibited 0.7 mile trenches and overgrown Civil War earthworks. and the trail for future generations of hikers. • Park Closes at Dark FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 911 or 1 (866) 677-6677.