Two parks with a giant waterfall between them just fourteen miles upstream of Washington, D.C.
The Potomac River, which connects West Virginia to the Atlantic Ocean, has a series of rapids along its length. The largest is located just fourteen miles upstream from Washington, D.C., Great Falls of the Potomac. Great Falls is divided by two National Park Service parks, the Great Falls section of the C&O Canal and Great Falls Park, part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Confusing until you realize that Maryland has the C&O Canal and Virginia has the George Washington Memorial Parkway. You do have to drive at least 20 minutes to get to the other side of the river. There is no foot bridge.
The Maryland side of Great Falls features the trails, Maryland Gold Mine National Historic Site (didn’t have time to check out the trails for this one) and more lovely locks of the C&O Canal (which I wrote about here). Now for a look at Great Falls, Maryland edition:
The Great Falls Tavern at Lock 20, now serving as a visitor center for this part of the C&O Canal.
You can start to see why they needed a canal here on the Potomac River.
Lock 19. The elevation drops quite a bit here. There are five locks in just a short span of the canal.
The ruins of Lockhouse 18.
Lock 18. You can see three locks in this photo. Well, kind of. There is a lock in front of the tavern.
To see the Great Falls of the Potomac from the Maryland side, you have to cross over to Olmsted Island.
Super pretty.
Can’t get enough of these rapids.
The forest on Olmsted Island is protected as it is a unique landscape and people ruin everything.
More rapids!
Great Falls of the Potomac from the Maryland side.
Back to the C&O Canal. Overgrown Lock 17.
A stop gate was used to stop and deflect flood water from going further down the canal causing damage. They weren’t always effective against the worst flooding.
Lock and Lockhouse 16. I the color of the local Seneca stone used here.
Now for Great Falls Park, Virginia’s version:
Now for the Great Falls of the Potomac from the Virginia. There are closer overlooks, but they were closed because of ice. I had traction devices on so that was annoying.
Now for another canal, this time on the Virginia side. As you have seen, the Potomac is not navigable. The Patowmack Canal was part of an early canal system that went around the rapids of the Potomac and was championed by George Washington himself. It took 17 years to build and opened in 1802. After the Erie Canal opened in 1825, competition was harsh, and the canal closed in 1828 and the land was sold to the C&O Canal Company. The Little Rapids Canal was located on the other side of the Potomac and later absorbed by the C&O Canal, which also took over some of the other small bypass canals.
Yes, this was a canal. It used to be a bit deeper though.
Now it’s looking more like a canal. I think? It might be a feeder line or something.
This is the end of a holding area that led to the main canal. The wooden doors would have been right there.
Okay, this is definitely a lock.
High above the Potomac here at Mather Gorge.
As what happens when canals and railroads are built, a small town known as Matildaville appeared. Only little ruins remain including this house built by the Patowmack Company in the late 1790s. Matildaville was abandoned in the 1830s after the canal was closed.
Great Falls is a great suburban/almost urban getaway to enjoy some nature and history at the same time. It was crowed when I was there, but I also went on a sunny day on a weekend to avoid bad weather. Both sides are great and have trails, but I did prefer the Maryland side for having more walking trails and being less crowded. During the summer, the canal is filled with water, and they host boat rides (Covid pending). It would be great to go back to see the canal full. Plus, I haven’t gotten my magnet yet.
Check out my next update where I explore Baltimore, Maryland!
or
Check out more national parks and other public lands!
