Billy Goat Trail, Great Falls, Maryland

I took the family hiking at Great Falls, Maryland, a national park that is part of the C&O Canal. The park features the canal's tow path (now a walking and biking path), canal locks, historic buildings, overviews of the Potomac River (including the eponymous falls), and wooded hiking trails. We came for the Billy Goat Trail Part A, which is perhaps more rocky than wooded. It is a fun and challenging hike that only my eldest son and I had hiked before. On the way to the trail head, we passed the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center (which was not open). It was an inn along the canal serving travelers.

Great Falls Inn, right next to Lock 20

Another lock further down the trail

We went to an overlook that had dramatic views of the falls.

A river rushes through it

Calmer part of the water but still treacherous

Much calmer water

As we walked down the tow path we were amazed to see a deer nonchalantly munching on some vegetation as we passed. It didn't run away even though we were close.

Nothing to see here

A pedestrian bridge over the canal

We made it to the trail head where things got more interesting.

Ready for a new adventure!

The trail was a lot more rocky, with some scrambling over boulders. We were surprised how many trees managed to poke up out of the rocks.

More rocks than trees

The Potomac (and Virginia) in the distance

My family

My wife played up the scariness to the satisfaction of our youngest, who helpfully pointed out ways through the rocks and safe spots to put your feet.

Scrambling together

Another good view of the river

The most dramatic part of the hike is the Traverse, a rock scramble of about a hundred feet up the rock face. My wife was legitimately scared here.

Just climb up to those trees

The brutal sun beating down on us as we went up

Getting to the top was a relief and time for water and snacks. We continued following the trail with its blue blazes.

Making a face for the camera

More big boulders

Unfortunately, we did not bring enough water for the whole family. Fortunately, the trail has an Exit Trail that lets hikers skip the bottom or top half of the trail. We voted to bail out. The exit took us back to the tow path. We headed north back to the car.

How does the canal have more water here?

A little body of water on the side

Another lock

A lock with ruins of a house

We did have a lot of fun and bought the year-long pass for this park, so we will be back for other trails at Great Falls, including the gold mine trail.