National Park Service · VA
George Washington Memorial Parkway
The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Live · updated
Temporary Closure of the Clara Barton Parkway Right Lane at Site 17, wooded areas between C&O Canal and Lock 10 parking lot, north to Lock 14, required to address ongoing safety concerns from DC Water emergency sanitary sewer overflow & bypass and pipe repair operations. Click on "More" below for specific details on the closure.
Trails ranked today
Old Carriage Road
Flat, wide historic roadbed once used to reach the town of Matildaville. An easy walk through the woods, good for birding and a gentle alternative to the rocky River Trail.
River Trail
The park’s signature hike, skirting the clifftops above Mather Gorge with spectacular views of the Potomac’s rapids. Rocky, uneven footing with some scrambling.
Difficult Run Trail
Scenic streamside trail following Difficult Run through a rocky gorge to its confluence with the Potomac. Narrow with rocky sections; anchors a popular loop with the River and Ridge trails.
Matildaville Trail
Passes the stone ruins of Matildaville, a town founded in 1790 and abandoned by the 1830s, near the Patowmack Canal. Gently hilly with winter glimpses of Mather Gorge.
Park advisories
Due to constriction for the Long Bridge Project, the Mount Vernon Trail will be temporarily detoured around the construction zone beginning on July 15, 2026. Trail users should expect periodic crossings of equipment and materials where the trail meets the construction access road. Detour will be in place through 2030.
Beginning on Monday, November 17, 2025, expect intermittent traffic impacts at GWMP. This Bridge and pavement preservation work is expected to extend into the Fall of 2026 and will make repairs to 24 GWMP bridges and over 30 paved roads and parking assets. To minimize traffic impacts, weekday lane closures on George Washington Memorial Parkway, Clara Barton Parkway, and Spout Run Parkway will NOT be allowed inbound to DC from 5:30am to 9:30am and outbound from DC from 2:30pm to 7:30pm Monday through Friday.
About this park
Agency
National Park Service.
Official site
Coordinates
38.9628, -77.1495
Trails covered
4 curated routes at this park.