Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park · MD
Great Falls Overlook Trail
Short boardwalk footpath crossing bridges to Olmsted Island and the Great Falls Overlook, where the Potomac roars through the rocks above Mather Gorge; begins near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
Live · updated
Today
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Today's best: hiking
Multiple items are closed due to hazardous conditions or maintenance. See below for more details.
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Trail running
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Mountain biking
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Dog walking
Park closure — trail is inaccessible today.
Score breakdown
- − 86°F air — Above hiking's comfort zone (32–85°F)
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
- − NWS alert active — Check the alert before heading out
Trail facts
- Distance
- 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 24 ft
- Surface
- mixed
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
38.9969, -77.2515 — MD.
Park
Part of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (official site →).
Park advisories
DC Water is managing a sanitary sewer overflow from the Potomac Interceptor near Lock 10. Anyone with questions or in need of support can reach out to DC Water’s 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 or visit https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/potomac-interceptor-collapse.
More from Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park →
Horses are prohibited between Little Tonoloway (mile 124.5) and Paw Paw (mile 155) due to recent and ongoing towpath resurfacing. See more for details.
More from Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park →
Visitors are restricted to the designated trails within the Gold Mine Tract in the Great Falls area. This location is generally defined as that area bordered by MacArthur Boulevard and Berma Road and depicted on the Great Falls Maryland Hiking Map.
More from Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park →
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Great Falls Overlook Trail?
Great Falls Overlook Trail is a 0.5-mile route with 24 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Great Falls Overlook Trail?
Great Falls Overlook Trail is mixed surface — sections of dirt, rock, and root that vary along the route. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Great Falls Overlook Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Great Falls Overlook Trail is in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which is managed by the National Park Service. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the live NPS alerts API for this park unit. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.