Last updated: August 13, 2026
Place
Great Falls Park
K. Yarusso
Quick Facts
Location:
9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102
Significance:
The site contains remains of George Washington's original Patowmack Canal, a series of five navigational canals built between 1786 and 1802 to bypass rapids and make the Potomac River navigable upstream toward the Ohio River Valley. It was one of the first major internal improvement projects in the United States
Amenities
4 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Junior Ranger Activity, Junior Ranger Booklet Available, Restroom
At Great Falls Park, visitors can follow the blue blazes of the Potomac Heritage Trail while viewing and hearing the rapids of the Great Falls. The park has many opportunities to explore history and nature only 15 miles from the Nation’s Capital.