Great Falls Park

You could go to Great Falls, one of the National Parks in Northern Virginia, on a nice, sunny day.  You could go early in the morning to avoid traffic and crowds, even.  But wouldn't it be more exciting to go on a rainy day?  Especially if one of your companions is already sick?  

In April, I planned a trip to Shenandoah National Park on a foggy day and we couldn't see two feet ahead of the car once we were halfway up the mountain.  And just wait, I went to Monticello this month on a rainy, foggy day.  Best of both worlds, right?

I really have the worst planning skills.  I just shouldn't be allowed to plan things.

In any case, we didn't let a silly little thing like a downpour get in the way of our traipse through the park last week.  Most of the rain came down while we were heading entirely in the wrong direction, but quite a few interesting photo opportunities came up because of that.  Aside from having my jeans soaked through from the knee down with lukewarm water, it was pretty nice out there.  But take my advice - no matter where you park, head back toward the guardhouse/entrance to see the falls.  There is a huge picnic area, a visitor's center, bathrooms, a snack hut and three overlooks for the Falls themselves.  If you've walked for several minutes and haven't seen the visitor's center, you're going the wrong way.  Or you could do what we did and walk all the way until the trail ends and then realize you're in the wrong place.  You have options!

If you do decide to go away from the Falls, you will be walking along part of the Patowmack Canal, one of George Washington's projects to improve trade in the area.  Somewhere around there are also the ruins of Matildaville, a town that rose up because of the construction on the canal.


To get a full view of the Falls, go straight to Overlook 3.  But to get the best pictures, you'll probably want to go to all three.  Be warned, Overlook 1 is part overlook/part rock climbing, so you won't want to take anyone down there who can't do the latter.  The other overlooks have a nice, flat viewing area.

Also, when they tell you not to lean over or sit on top of the railings, they mean it.  It's for your own safety.  They have cameras.  Cameras that they actually pay attention to.  You'll get yelled at by the Park Po-Po if you do it.  Or maybe just glared at with great hostility.  It's not worth it either way.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  Ignorance of the law is no excuse.  At least, that's what my mother is always telling me.

Another tip: Don't mess with the fawns.  Their moms will be back soon to pick them up.

Maybe it won't rain... 

Cancel. It's totally raining on that heron.

Those falls are really unimpressive...wait a minute...

 Maps are only helpful if they're correct.  My friends said the map on this sign was misleading, but the map you get at the guardhouse will lead you in the right direction.  So just...you know, ignore those signs.  But not the ones at the overlook.  Let me rephrase that: Pay attention to all the posted signs that warn you about possibly dying, but ignore the ones that tell you where to go.  And check out the Canada Geese.

It was worth the long walk in the rain to see this little guy.

Oh...yeah, this makes more sense - an actual overlook.

I now understand why the area I live in is called Cascades. 

Check out the high water marks pole (at Overlook 3).

Looking away from the Falls.

Look - Marylanders! (Over at the C&O Canal National Historic Park in Maryland.  There should totally be a suspension bridge...)