Great Falls Park
Welcome to the Matildaville Trail
The Matildaville Trail is a 1.1 mile (1.8 km) trail that begins
near the lower parking lot and restroom facilities. Designated for hiking
and horses, This trail involves walking on mostly flat terrain with one steep
hill towards its end. Equestrians have used this historic path throughout
the last century. In fact the first section of the trail follows closely along
an historic road that led to the Patowmack Canal and Matildaville. The trail
intersects midway with 
Old
Carriage Road Trail and ends at the intersection with the Ridge Trail. The
first part of this trail leads through the ruins of the canal town of Matildaville
where the remains of the Dickeys Inn and the Patomack Canal Superintendents
House can be seen. The Dickeys Inn marks an old homestead that existed during
the early 1900's. The family boarded visitors, served meals and sold postcards
to passerbys when Great Falls was an "amusement Park" beginning
in 1907, and Washingtonians took the trolley car from Georgetown for a day
outside of the city. The canal superintendents house was the hub of activity
during the canal days between 1802 and 1828. The structure housed the superintendent
and his family and served as a point for collection of tolls as boatmen passed
through the canal. The superintendent was charged for operating the canal
and its maintenance. A self-guided brochure about the canal is available at
the Visitor Center.
The Matildaville Trail continues gradually uphill through a
forested area that was at one time farm and pasture land for the town. Deer
are often seen and owls are sometimes heard in this area in the late afternoon
and evening. The trail follows the hillside until it meets with the Old Carriage
Road Trail near a small quarry area. 
At
this intersection turn left on the road through the quarry and proceed to
the first trail on the right. This is the continuation of the Matildaville
Trail. The trail at this point becomes more moderate walking with a steep
uphill grade through typical eastern deciduous forest. Ferns, rhododendrons
and mountain laurel dot the hillsides. The trail ends at the intersection
with the Ridge Trail and the Carriage Road Trail. Return using one of these
trails or retrace your steps. For a longer hike consider following the Ridge
Trail to Difficult Run, a tributary of the Potomac River and the southern
border of the park.
TRAILS
| River
Trail Patowmack Canal Trail Ridge Trail Old Carriage Road Trail Swamp Trail Difficult Run Trail |
Matildaville
Trail Mine Run Trail Trails to Riverbend Park Visitor Center Overlook 1 and 2 |
Great
Falls Extended Page
Return To The Great Falls Park
