A Natural Wonder In Two States, Great Falls In Maryland And Virginia Is Truly Spectacular
By Megan Shute|Published September 20, 2023
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Scattered across the state from the Eastern shore to the Appalachian Mountains in the west, Maryland is home to countless hidden — and not-so-hidden — natural wonders, and we can’t wait to explore one of our new favorites with you today.
When we moved to the state two years ago, I immediately started compiling my Maryland bucket list, with visits to places like the charming capital city of Annapolis and Assateague Island — where wild horses run free — and recently made my way to one of many natural wonders on the list: Great Falls.
Tucked along the border of Maryland and Virginia, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is home to Great Falls, a stunning series of cascades along the Potomac River.
We visited the Maryland side, but I’ve heard the views are equally as stunning from the Virginia side of the park.
We parked at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, walked inside to check out the maps of the area, said hello to the mules that were hanging out behind the historic building, and were on our way.
There is a small viewing area near the Visitor Center, but you’ll want to embark on the short and sweet Great Falls Overlook Trail for the really impressive views.
If you pass the canal boat pictured above, you're headed the right way.
Follow the signs to the Great Falls Overlook as you travel across bridges and boardwalks, through the verdant forest, and pass a series of cascading waterfalls along the river.
No matter what time of year you visit, the view is spectacular — we can’t wait to visit again when the surrounding foliage is ablaze in hues of red, orange, and yellow.
For an easy one-mile stroll, the views sure do pack a punch. This was a wonderful excursion, and we will absolutely be back to tackle the Billy Goat trail soon.
For more information about both the Maryland and Virginia parks, visit the National Park Service website. Have you ever visited the Maryland side of Great Falls at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments, and let me know where you think we should explore next!
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