Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Park Closure Aid Box Rock Climbing Area Closed

The Aid Box rock climbing area is temporarily closed due to a recent rock topple.

Read the full alert

Information Temporary Closures of Park Entrance Possible if Parking Lots Become Full

If parking lots become full, there will be a temporary closure of the park entrance at Georgetown Pike & Old Dominion Drive. The park entrance will re-open as soon as space becomes available. For updated information about parking, call Visitor Center at 703-757-3101

Overview

At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the Nation's Capital.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Guided Tours
  • Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Kayaking
  • Park Film

Plan your visit

Hours

Park Hours: Great Falls Park is open from 7:00 am until 30 minutes after sunset. This time varies each day. Great Falls Park is closed on December 25.

Fees and passes

  • Entrance - Private Vehicle — $20.00
  • Entrance - Motorcycle — $15.00
  • Entrance - Per Person — $10.00
  • Entrance - Non-commercial Groups — $100.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Van — $40.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $40.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Sedan — $25.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $100.00
  • Annual Entrance - Park — $35.00

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.

Getting there

From I-495, take exit 44 for route 193 west; continue 4 miles. Turn right on Old Dominion Drive.

Visitor centers

Weather

The Washington, D.C. area has a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Summer is hot and humid, and winter can be cold and snowy. Precipitation averages 2-4” monthly, year-round. The average temperature in summer is about 75 degrees F. Summer days in the mid-90's with high humidity are not uncommon. Winters vary in temperature, with the average temperature about 36 degrees F. Snow is rare. When it snows, it tends to melt within a few days.

Phone: 7037573101

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Water rushes over jagged rocks
Great Falls · NPS
Great Falls with a purple sky near dusk
Evening at Great Falls · NPS
An aerial shot of the Great Falls.
Great Falls Aerial · NPS
Water rushing over rocks
View of Great Falls from Virginia · NPS

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