Great Falls (Potomac River)

The Great Falls of the Potomac River are located on the Fall Line, 22 km (14 miles ) upstream from Washington, DC on the Potomac River. The area around the Great Falls is popular for kayaking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking and other outdoor sports. The Great Falls Park, which is operated by the National Park Service, is located on the southern banks in Virginia during the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park is located along the northern shore of Maryland. The achievable of Maryland from Billy Goat Trail to Bear Iceland offers scenic views of the Great Falls, as well as the viewing platforms on Olmsted Iceland (also from Maryland from distance) and view points on Virginia's side.

About 35,000 years ago, the Great Falls of the Potomac formed from the Potomac River. The waters of the river gather speed as it passes the insistence of the Mather Gorge River and cascading over a series of 6 -meter-high cases. Overall, the water falls 23 feet deep in less than a mile (1.6 km) away, which makes the Great Falls of the Potomac to the steepest and most spectacular rapids of the rivers in the eastern U.S..

More information

• Great Falls Park