Great Falls is one of my favorite outdoor escapes near Washington, D.C. Here the Potomac River passes through a narrow, rocky gorge along the border between Maryland and Virginia, creating a series of powerful rapids and waterfalls. Despite being only a short distance from one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas, parts of the park feel surprisingly wild.
The C&O Canal
The Maryland side of Great Falls also has an interesting connection to the region’s transportation history. Running parallel to the Potomac is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, better known as the C&O Canal. During the 19th century, boats used the canal to transport goods between Washington and communities farther west along the Potomac River.
Today the old towpath follows the canal through the park and provides an easy route for walking and biking. It’s an interesting contrast: on one side is a calm, human-made waterway that once carried canal boats, while nearby the Potomac crashes through the natural rock formations of Great Falls.
Bedrock Forest
The forest immediately around Great Falls grows across unusually rocky terrain. In some places there seems to be barely enough soil for a tree to survive, yet roots work their way through cracks in the exposed bedrock. The combination of forest, cliffs, islands, and river makes this small area much more interesting than a typical suburban park.
I also came across this large mass of caterpillars in a tree during the warmer months. I don’t remember the species, but there were enough of them together to completely cover portions of the branches.
Wildlife at Great Falls
Canada geese are a familiar sight throughout Maryland and much of the eastern United States. They’re especially common around rivers, ponds, and other bodies of water, and large flocks are easy to recognize when they fly overhead in their characteristic formations.
This little reptile running across a wooden bench was a five-lined skink. Juveniles are particularly easy to recognize because of their bright blue tails and the light stripes running along their bodies. They’re native to eastern North America and are one of the more colorful reptiles I’ve encountered around Maryland.
I was also lucky enough to spot this hummingbird feeding from flowers high in a tree. These photos came out a little blurry because I had my camera at full zoom without a tripod, but hummingbirds move so quickly that I was happy to capture it at all.
Great Falls isn’t a huge wilderness area, but that’s part of what makes it impressive. Within a short drive of Washington, D.C., there are powerful rapids, rocky forests, historic canals, hiking trails, and plenty of wildlife. It’s one of the best places I’ve found in the region when I want to get outdoors without traveling very far.
