Patowmack Canal and Great Falls Park
add photosC&O Canal tours begin during the first two weeks in April and end in early November. Tours run Wednesday through Sunday. Certain conditions may necessitate canceling tours, so it’s best to call or check the Web site first.
2 Reviews for Patowmack Canal and Great Falls Park
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"River Trail to Matildaville Trail Loop"
This circuit hike in Great Falls National Park, VA is my favorite hike to take my children. It is along the Potomac River with beautiful scenery, has a lot of great rocks to climb, and an old quarry for a picnic lunch. Read a full review of this hike on www.hikingalongtrails.blogspot.com, February 2009.
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"Fun with the Family"
Commonly referred to as Great Falls Park, this is a definite must-do. This 800-acre park has 15 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to strenuous, 20-foot waterfalls, and 5 miles of trails for horseback riding and biking.
For out-of-town visitors, it may seem confusing as to which side of the park to choose. Separated by the Potomac River, each side offers hiking trails, visitor centers, and snack pavilions, but only the Maryland side of Great Falls Park has the C&O Canal. Both the Virginia and the Maryland sides can be reached easily from the Beltway (Interstate 495) and are just minutes from each other.
I must confess that my family prefers the Maryland side because of the canal towpath. Along this flat, slightly elevated trail removed from any vehicles, we taught our children to ride bicycles. (Bring your own bicycles.) We’ve spent many pleasant weekends bicycling on the Maryland side and also, sometimes, exploring the Virginia side.
Great Falls, Maryland, also offers canal boat rides from April through October. Mules pull these barges upstream and you can watch a barge going through one of the canal’s locks. Claimed as a national monument in 1961, then named a National Historical Park in 1971, the C&O Canal remains a technological treasure. Its system of lift locks raises the canal’s waters from near sea level in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., to 605 feet above sea level at Cumberland, Maryland, 184.5 miles upstream.
At Great Falls, Virginia, take the opportunity to hike the park’s trails. The visitor center has maps and brochures, an informative ten-minute slide show, and artifacts such as a canal lock and various rocks from the area. There is a snack pavilion, and grills are provided for cookouts. (Just remember to bring your own charcoal.) A children’s room provides hands-on nature activities. Ranger-guided walks and special programs (such as Swamp Tromp, Snakes and Bunnies, and Kids Crafts) are available weekends during the summer, with other programs during the spring and fall. Call for the schedule or check out the Web site.
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