Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Location
Montgomery County
Endpoints
Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center
Mileage
3.2
Roughness Index
1
Surface
Asphalt
Tucked in the meandering, wooded hills of the sprawling yet understated
multimillion-dollar estates of Great Falls, just outside Washington, DC, is the Ches-
apeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Home to the already famous C&O
Canal Towpath, the Great Falls section of the park also hosts this unique rail-trail cir-
cuit.
The trail begins at the hillside just beyond the historic, early 1800s-era Great
Falls Tavern Visitor Center. Start at the well-marked post and head up a series of stairs
that are cut into the hillside and reinforced with logs. This is not your traditional rail-
trail. Only part of it runs on the former railroad corridor, so prepare for some gentle
uphill climbs. (The trail is off-limits to bicycles.)
The trail, marked by a blue blaze, immediately takes you into the surrounding
airy forest. After less than a mile, you reach the beginning of the actual loop. Take
note: Detours on yellow-blazed spur trails along the route take you to the Maryland
Mine ruins, where gold was processed from 1867 to 1939.
Upon reaching the start of the loop, go either left or right; both ways will take you
back to this starting point. If you head to the right, you will first come to the Wood-
land Trail Spur (one of six trail spurs along the loop), where you'll cross a tiny creek
and the surface will change from dirt to gravel. If you are on the trail in the spring,
several stands of red bud will be in bloom, providing a vibrant color contrasts to the
grayish-green of an awakening forest. At certain points, you may have to scramble
