Void if altered, and pass is non transferable/ non refundable. No more than $10 per student will be collected for any day of programs. 22101. Learn More About National Parks and Federal Lands Passes. Call ahead for entrance station hours of operation. The falls' Virginia portion is situated inside the 800-acre Great Falls Park in the town of Great Falls. Representations of pass are prohibited. Select a pass option below to learn more! Here's what Trippy members say about Great Falls National Park: " Great Falls National Park would be another laid back place to visit." Admits one single private motorcycle and its passengers. Rockville, MD; Great Falls National Park ; Due to the escalation of the coronavirus outbreak, local state parks, ranges and preserves, as well as many stores may be closed. Two months ago I was in Maryland for the Mass Mutual golf tournament for the HEROES charity, and had the opportunity to visit Great Falls National Park on the Virginia side. C & 0 Locking Mechanism The popularity of the falls for expert white water kayakers only started in the early 1990s. Organized groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit. A few miles outside of DC and it feels a world away. All other access to the park is free. You have access from both states to this Park. From thundering falls to placid-looking shallows, deadly hazards lurk in water all along the Potomac River Gorge. It's really worth it! 10/24/2013 Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the nation's capital. The total fee charged for an Organized Non-Commercial Group will not exceed the $100 fee per vehicle. This series of cascading falls has developed on the Potomac River in rocks formerly known as the Wissahickon formation. Great Falls Park: Great Falls National Park. CUA groups will be charged the $20.00 per vehicle fee or $10.00 per person fee at entry. There is no fee for support vehicles ("sag wagons"). The Great Falls Park was part of the Northern Virginia Parks system and was transferred to the NPS in 1966. Great Falls features both a Virginia and Maryland side. Part of the parkthat's in the Potomac showcases the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and is a United States National Park. The falls total 76 feet (20 m) over a series of major cascades. Two wooden canal lock gates located on the park visitor center was excavated in the 1980s. Before any development on the Great Falls, there are Native American petroglyphs that have been discovered within the park on cliffs overlooking Difficult Run. The most popular trail in the park is the Billy Goat Trail. Some passes provide additional benefits, such as a 50-percent discount on camping at some sites for holders of Senior or Access passes. 286,954 were here. Potomac, MD 20854 Call ahead for entrance station hours of operation, Great Falls National Park Mc Lean, MD 22102. The picture above was taken on my birthday back on May 5th at one of the overlooks. It is a part of the National Park Service (NPS) and George Washington Memorial Parkway. Also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Great Falls, MD. Also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The Wissahickon consists of resistant metamorphic rocks including schists, gneisses, metagraywackes and metaconglomerates. The America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States. I write articles and I do a little bit of programming on the site. The park is roughly around 800 acres which includes one of the oldest canals in the United States (U.S.). Removal of seats from a vehicle does not then qualify for the lower rate. It’s one of the first known examples of blasting powder being used for engineering purposes anywhere in the world. Share. The park charges a small entrance fee of $5 per car (~600 available parking spots). You can spend 10 minutes in the tavern. The park is ideal for white water kayaking. There was a proposed bridge to span the falls but, due to a strong lobby to eliminate additional bridges over the Potomac and concerns over environmental impacts, the project was never undertaken. Vehicles with capacity of 7-25 passengers: $40. and to be sure pass sales will be available. It is an historic building in Potomac that currently is being used as the park's visitor center. Visit the Park's website for more information.. Great Falls is one of the most popular spots on the canal for walkings out to the falls, watching the mule-drawn canal boat pass through Lock 20, picnicking, and/or heading out to the Billy Goat Trail. The Great Falls of the Potomac River are near the northern boundary of the park, as are the remains of the Patowmack Canal, the first canal in the United … The project was abandoned in 1830 due to the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on the opposite side of the river and the popularity of railroads. More information about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series, including available passes, costs, benefits, and how and where they may be obtained, is available. Great Falls is a part of the National Park Service and there is a small admission fee. 9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, DC. It's immensely popular for hiking (with provided trail maps at the visitor center), rock climbing, dog walking and picnicking (there are picnic tables and small grills for your use in the picnic area). The Great Falls Tavern is located at the entrance of this park. Physical pass must be presented at time of use. Below the falls, through Mather Gorge, the river is rated class 2-3 and has been a very popular kayaking run since the 1960s. National Park Service officials watch extreme kayakers from overlook 2 in Great Falls Park in Potomac, MD on June 21, 2011. You can also see stone mason marks found on the stones unique to each artisan along the canals. Entry into the water above the falls from the Virginia side is illegal. Great Falls Park, operated by the National Park Service, is located on the southern banks in Virginia, while Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parkland is located along the northern banks of the river in Maryland. This is the guideline to be followed in granting education fee waivers. Great Falls Park Individual Permit: $10.00 The NPS operates a visitor center near the falls. Admits the pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle OR pass holder and three person (16 and older) where per person entrance fees are charged. Great Falls National Park May 2004 - Maryland side. Read related article. © Maryland Historic District. Great Falls Park Motorcycle Permit: $15.00, Great Falls Park Individual Permit: $10.00. Background History. Feel free to leave a message. Great Falls Park is a small National Park Service (NPS) site in Virginia, United States. The street address for the Maryland side is: 11710 MacArthur Blvd. Mentioned in these answers: VIEW DETAILED MAP. The natural beauty of Great Falls is unmatched with its series of steep, jagged rocks that flow through the narrow Mather Gorge. The sighting of the Painted Bunting, on the Maryland side of Great Falls, was first documented last week. Great Falls, MD is part of the Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O) Canal National Historic Park and they’re located off Falls Road in Potomac. (No per person fee) Directions: To reach Great Falls Park from I-495, exit 44, Route 193 (Georgetown Pike), follow 193 west about 4.5 miles and turn right onto Old Dominion Drive. February 20, 2018. As of January 1, 2016 the C&O Canal National Historical Park will charge education program fees for curriculum-based, park-led education programs at Great Falls (Potomac, MD). Seeing the water slice around and over the rocks is tremendous. It offers several viewing platforms that provide visitors with vantage points overlooking the falls. Maryland: 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD; Virginia: 9200 Old Dominion Dr. McLean, VA; For an overview of the trails and amenities at the parks, see A Visitors Guide to Great Falls Park Great Falls Park Vehicle Permit: $20.00 Individuals 15 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2021: Vehicles with capacity of 1-6 passengers: $25 plus $3 per person. It is very beautiful and just about 30 minutes from Washington D.C. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. It contains a large picnic area, but its only open during the daylight hours. Tips and reviews. Great Falls Park Motorcycle Permit: $15.00 Admits one single private motorcycle and its passengers. Great Falls Park McLean, VA Passes allow free entrance to individual pass holders under the conditions stated on the pass. The Great Falls Park is located along the banks of the Potomac River between the states of Viginia (Fairfax) and Maryland (Potomac). Vehicles with a capacity of 16 or more are charged a fee of $10.00 per person. Vehicles with capacity of 26+: $100. Just a 30 minute drive from DC gets you a great escape from the hustle and bustle of life in the city. Situated on 800 acres along the banks of the Potomac River in northern Fairfax County, the park is a disconnected but integral part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The ONLY location in the C&O Canal National Historial Park that collects entrance fees are at Great Falls Entrance Station. Your application package must contain all of the following. Situated on 800 acres (3.65 km2) along the banks of the Potomac River in northern Fairfax County, the park is a disconnected but integral part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Explore the most popular trails in my list Great Falls Park, MD with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.

This 800-acre park spans parts of Virginia and Maryland. The canal is a Civil Engineering Landmark as well as a Virginia Historic Landmark along with several ruins of the small town of Matildaville, Virginia. There’s around 15 miles (24 km) of hiking trails around the park that follows a small stream known as Difficult Run. A scenic trail near the river travels upstream starts at the mouth of Difficult Run, climbs to the top of Mather Gorge, continue pass the falls, the dam, and a reservoir before ending in Riverbend Park (Fairfax County). The following information has been taken directly from National Park Service Regulations (NPS-22). The Great Falls Tavern serves as a C&O Canal National Historical Park Visitor Center.

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