Great Falls Park

Description: Explore the importance of water with this guided hike along the Potomac River which will last 30 to 35 mins. Learn about the journey water takes to allow us to cook, clean, and maintain our health and how you can help keep our water sources healthy. Intended for children 6-10, but all ages are welcome to join! 

This hike will start at 9:00am at Overlook 2 and will take place on North River Trail which is fairly flat and would be sustainable for devices with wheels. This program does take place outdoors so, please come prepared for the weather. We ask that you RSVP by sending an email to GWMP_VSnorth@nps.gov with First Day Hike in the subject line, and group size in the body of the email. We hope to see you in the New Year! 

Join a ranger for a family-friendly, wheels-accessible hike covering the history of Old Carriage Road. In this half-mile round trip, learn about how this popular path used to be a vital roadway from the canal era into the 20th century. Meet at the lower parking lot.  

This hike will start at 1:00pm at the parking lot immediately after the fee booth and will take place on Old Carriage Road. This program does take place outdoors so, please come prepared for the weather. We ask that you RSVP by sending an email to GWMP_VSnorth@nps.gov with First Day Hike in the subject line. Please include the size of your group in your email! We hope to see you in the New Year! 

 

Step back in time on a guided History Hike at Great Falls Park. Discover the story of George Washington’s Patowmack Canal and the people who built and worked along the Potomac River. This guided hike explores the canal ruins and overlooks, blending spectacular scenery with the history of early American innovation and community life at Great Falls. 

This hike will start at 11:00am at Overlook 3 and will take place on Patowmack Canal Trail. This program does take place outdoors so, please come prepared for the weather. We ask that you RSVP by sending an email to GWMP_VSnorth@nps.gov with First Day Hike in the subject line. Please include the size of your group in your email! We hope to see you in the New Year! 

Discover the biological realities of winter survival in this drop in program designed to dispel dangerous myths about cold tolerance and acclimatization. Learn to protect your group by identifying the "umbles" associated with hypothermia and the visual signs of frostbite across different skin tones. This essential safety briefing equips you with knowledge on proper layering, hydration, and the physiological limits of the human body in nature.

 

Commemorative Hikes for GRFA 60th 

Location: Great Falls Park 

Time: 11am   

Join a Ranger on a special commemorative hike celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 60th anniversary of Great Falls Park.

This guided 1.5‑mile walk  invites visitors to explore the powerful landscape and learn about George Washington vision of the canal project at Great Falls and the enslaved labor used to improve transportation and  commerce.   

Great Falls Through Time: Nature, History, Design, and 60th anniversary  

Location: Great Falls Park Auditorium 

Time: 10am-1pm 

Join us for a morning of nature, history, science, and discovery as local experts discuss the  parks’ unique biodiversity.

• Mission 66 - Historical and management context of infrastructure, planning, and the park’s mid‑20th‑century transformation.. Mission 66 sets the stage for how Great Falls Park and the Parkway evolved into the modern NPS sites visitors know today.
• Geology - Geologist explains why Great Falls looks the way it does from the bedrock, the gorge, the rapids  and the physical foundation for everything that comes next.
• People and the Potomac River - Connects Indigenous history, early industry, transportation, recreation, and the ongoing relationship between people and the river.
• Biodiversity along George Washington Memorial Parkway - Learn about the variety of plant and animal life that thrives along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
• Spring Birds of Great Falls: Migration & Identification - Learn about key migration patterns, identification tips, and the species most commonly seen during the spring season  

This Sunday, June 28th at 1:00 pm in the Great Falls Visitor Center, join Award-Winning Actress & Smithsonian Scholar Mary Ann Jung for a new hour-long performance: Martha Washington - A Revolutionary Woman.

"Martha Washington was so much more than the kindly grandmother image most people have of her. She was a smart, courageous woman who risked her life to support her beloved husband George Washington and his troops during the Revolutionary War. She was an indispensable part of the forming of our nation and set the standards of what a First Lady should be. Learn about Martha's sacrifices and strategies as she forged a new path in a brand-new country. It's a delightful interactive adventure in Colonial America."

The performance is free to attend, but the park’s standard entrance fee still applies to attendees. For questions, please call 703-757-3101. This program was funded by Eastern National, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

Date: July 3, July 4, and July 5, 2026 Time: Movie start times 10:00 am and 1:30 pm each day Location: Great Falls Visitor Center Auditorium - Free     Experience A250 Event - Hamilton, the Musical - Movie showing   Experience the A250 commemoration of American History with a fresh, new perspective! Enjoy the theatrical telling of American history through the engaging musical, Hamilton, the movie.    While here discover the story of the Patowmack Canal, first canal system built in America. Understand some of the real struggles and achievements that the new United States faced at the end of the American Revolution.   Walk in the footsteps of George Washington, view the remains of canal walls built through the labor of hundreds of workers, mostly enslaved African American men and indentured servants, newly immigrated to the United States from other countries, along with paid workers, and a few women, all united at Great Falls in a monumental engineering project that led to the Constitutional Convention and the unification of the United States of America. 

Summer Lecture Series special 250 

Location: Great Falls Park Auditorium 

Time: 10am-12pm 

Explore how Great Falls connects to the American story in this four‑part summer lecture series. Topics include the influence of the Haudenosaunee on early American democracy, the Patowmack Canal’s role in shaping the young nation, the labor and legacy of the people who built and sustained this landscape, and how the National Park Service continues to care for America’s natural and cultural resources today.

Great Falls: Front Door to Democracy Discover how Great Falls became a gateway to the American story. From early transportation routes to the development of public lands, this theme explores how the landscape reflects the nation’s democratic ideals and shared heritage.   Canal to Constitution Learn how George Washington’s vision for the Patowmack Canal helped shape the young nation. This theme connects early engineering, commerce, and nation‑building to the founding principles that guided the Constitution.   Labor and Legacy This theme honors the people who built and shaped Great Falls—from Indigenous communities and enslaved laborers to engineers and modern stewards. Their work and stories form the foundation of the park’s enduring legacy.   Caring for America’s Landscape Explore how Great Falls and other national parks are protected today. This theme highlights the science, stewardship, and community involvement that keep America’s natural and cultural resources thriving for future generations.

  Date: July 22, 2026 Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm   People come out to Great Falls for so many different activities. These activities come with risks. Learn how to keep plan like a park ranger, paddle safely on the Potomac, and climb your way to the top of the gorge!   Join us for a day of safety demonstrations and safety exploration, free goodies and more!