Great Falls Park

McLean, VA

The Virginia side of Great Falls offers more dramatic overlook perspectives of the churning Potomac gorge than the Maryland side, with three overlooks at different heights.

Photography Guide

Best Time: golden hour
Crowds: Busy
Shot Types: waterfallwidelandscape
Best Seasons: springfall

Practical Tips

Overlook 1 gives the broadest view. Mather Gorge from Overlook 3 is a stunning cliff-top composition. Spring brings powerful flood-stage water that's exceptionally dramatic.

Gallery

Nearby Places

Overlooks

Potomac, MD

Great Falls - Billy Goat Trail

The Great Falls of the Potomac is one of the most dramatic waterfall scenes in the eastern US - churning whitewater rapids cutting through billion-year-old Mather Gorge.

golden hourspring · fall

Photogenic

Potomac, MD

Great Falls - Olmsted Island

A series of boardwalk bridges connects the Maryland shore to Olmsted Island, putting visitors directly above the churning Great Falls gorge - the closest vantage to the falls.

anyspring · fall

Hidden Gems

Potomac, MD

C&O Canal at Great Falls

The original 1830s stone locks and lock house at Great Falls form a perfectly preserved 19th-century industrial waterscape along the canal towpath.

golden hourspring · fall