Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Great Falls is created where the Potomac River meets a series of rocks and Mather Gorge, named
for the first director of the National Park Service. This spectacular sight is popular year-round. The
three overlooks just off the picnic area are easy to get to—the third one offers the best views and is the
most accessible.
Across from Overlook 3 is a high-water marker that shows, unbelievably, how high the river has
flooded over the years. Because the gorge is so narrow, any extreme amounts of water, from hurricanes
or excessive snowmelt, cause the river to rise several feet over the cliffs. In March 2010, the melt from
an unusually snowy winter brought the river level right to the top of the cliffs.
This loop through the park is described in a clockwise direction. As you continue along the River
Trail, the path narrows and there is a small area where you will need to climb over some rocks. Stop
along the way and go to the cliff edge for more great views. The river is a bit calmer here, and you will
likely see kayakers in the water. Swimming is forbidden as the water is very rough. This area is also
popular with rock climbers and, on a nice day, you will likely encounter climbing groups as you make
your way along the river.
The Matildaville Trail takes you through the ruins of what once was a thriving town. George Wash-
ington surveyed this land when he was young and had the idea to bypass this rough part of the river by
building a system of canals around it to create a trade route between Virginia and the Ohio Valley. The
Patowmack Canal, a precursor to the C&O Canal, was completed in 1802 and brought goods from
Cumberland, Maryland, to the Washington area for almost thirty years. The town of Matildaville was
established in 1790 by “Lighthorse Harry” Lee, and was situated on the canal. It fell into decline in the
1820s after the canal ceased to operate. On the Matildaville Trail, faint remains of the city can be seen.
Heading back toward the trailhead on the Old Carriage Road, you walk along the ruins of the canal
and its locks. The canal was bought by the C&O Canal Company, which went on to build a continuous
canal on the other side of the river.
In the early twentieth century, a railroad was built from Georgetown through parts of northern Vir-
ginia and culminated at Great Falls, where there was an amusement park, dance hall, and restaurant.
An evening of dinner and dancing was often topped off by a romantic walk by the falls.
Returning to the visitor center, you will walk through the large park area, popular for family picnics.
