Great Falls Park Guide: A Natural Attraction with Historical Significance in Washington

Great Falls Park is an exciting tourist attraction in the city of Washington. This is located along the Potomac River and features 800 acres of land. This is a natural park in the metropolitan area of the said city and is just nearby the downtown area.

Not only is this stunning, this is also a part of the Washington history. The Native American petroglyphs were discovered here. Aside from that, the Patowmack Canal in which George Washington provided funds for is located here. The said canal operated starting from as early as 1785.

Around 1906 to 1932, the park worked as an amusement park along with the Old Dominion Railroad and the Washington and Old Dominion Railway. There are picnic grounds, a carousel and dance pavilion back then. Today, you can still have a family picnic here and there is also a visitor's center.

The park is open to the public but it is prohibited to wade and swim in the waters here including Difficult Run and Potomac River. This is because the currents are extremely dangerous. The park is a part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which connects several other attractions in the city. Among those that are really popular include the Arlington House, Belle Haven Park and the Columbia Island Marina.

The park is open from 7 AM till dark but it is closed on Christmas Day. The center for visitors is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM but they usually have extended hours on summer and spring seasons.