Great Falls Park

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Great Falls Park This page is maintained by NPS employees for information and discussion. Please be considerate of the opinions of others. You participate at your own risk.
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While this is an opportunity to participate in an open forum, we ask you to please keep your comments and wall posts family- friendly. We will not allow graphic, obscene, explicit, or racial comments or submissions. We will not allow comments that are abusive, hateful, or intended to defame a person, group, or organization. We do not allow solicitations or advertisements. This includes promotions or endorsements of any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. These posts and or links are subject to deletion. People who continue to post such content and/or links may be subject to page participation restrictions and/or removal from the page. We will not permit attempts to defame or defraud any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. We do not allow comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity. You take personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Posting of external links on this site that are intended as advertising (or to drive traffic to websites unrelated to the Great Falls Park or George Washington Memorial Parkway), or do not contribute to dialogue and discussions about the park may be deleted. People who continue to post such links may be subject to page participation restrictions and/or removal from the page. External links do not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. National Park Service or the U.S. Department of Interior.

Join us for a special Halloween-themed Carilion Concert on Saturday October 31st!When: October 31, 12pm-2pmWhere: The ev...
10/21/2026

Join us for a special Halloween-themed Carilion Concert on Saturday October 31st!

When: October 31, 12pm-2pm

Where: The event will be held in the plaza of the Netherland Carilion. Parking will be limited and is only available at the US Marine Corps war Memorial. The park is accessible by metro, about a 15-minute walk from the Rosslyn metro stop.

What: Enjoy the music and visit one of our tables to earn prizes and giveaways from park rangers and other partner organization (No candy will be given by park staff). Costumes are encouraged! Come and enjoy the fun!

Ospreys—such as the one pictured here at Great Falls Park with its lunch at its feet—are obligate piscivores, meaning al...
10/15/2026

Ospreys—such as the one pictured here at Great Falls Park with its lunch at its feet—are obligate piscivores, meaning almost all of their diet is made up of fresh fish. As apex predators in river corridors, ospreys play an important role in maintaining balanced fish populations and cycling nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial zones.

Their presence is also tied to human health. Because ospreys sit at the top of the aquatic food web, any environmental pollutants—such as mercury, industrial runoff, or persistent pesticides—can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in their bodies. A thriving osprey population along the Potomac River is a reliable indicator of clean water.

Since the Potomac supplies drinking water to millions of people in the Washington metropolitan area, healthy ospreys signal that the surrounding watershed is resilient, low in contaminants, and healthy for human use.

Learn more about maintaining healthy watersheds: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/protectingwater/water-quality.htm

NPS Photo / Chris Vuille-Kowing

George Washington Memorial Parkway Great Falls Park National Park Service

As of 10/19/26 - Water Systems restored, public restroom and drinking water systems open.PARK ALERT: Until further notic...
10/14/2026

As of 10/19/26 - Water Systems restored, public restroom and drinking water systems open.

PARK ALERT: Until further notice, the water at Great Falls Park is shut off. The park's public restrooms and drinking water systems are closed. There are portable toilets located in the main parking lot and at the junction of Old Carriage Road Trail and Matildaville Trail. Please plan ahead and bring drinking water with you to the park.

Captain George Pointer Birthday Commemoration and Great Falls Park 60th Anniversary/A250 Freedom Event, Sunday, October ...
10/08/2026

Captain George Pointer Birthday Commemoration and Great Falls Park 60th Anniversary/A250 Freedom Event, Sunday, October 11, 2026 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Join us as we commemorate the 253rd birthday of Captain George Pointer, rain, inside the Visitor Center; or shine, Overlook 3.
Ranger Discussions, Living History Displays, and Junior Ranger Activities
10:00 am & Noon - Melvin Diggs III and staff, Civil War USCT Soldier Drill Demonstrations;
11:00 AM & 1:00 PM - John McCaskill, Living History presentations;
11:30 AM & 1:30 PM - USCT Children's hands-on Civil War Soldier Drill Practices

Explore the important role of Captain George Pointer in the building the new United States' first canal system, the Patowmack Canal, and his inspiring role in developing a new Nation after the American Revolution.

Learn of the courage and determination his two Great Grandsons brought to securing the strength of the United States and in bringing freedom to millions of enslaved people through their service in the United States Color Troops during the Civil War.

Learn more about Captain George Pointer:
https://www.nps.gov/grfa/learn/historyculture/captain-george-pointer.htm

Sponsored by Eastern National, a non-profit partner of the National Park Service.

PARK ALERT: Water has been restored to Great Falls Park. Restrooms and drinking water systems are back online. Thank you...
10/05/2026

PARK ALERT: Water has been restored to Great Falls Park. Restrooms and drinking water systems are back online. Thank you for your patience.

PARK ALERT: Until further notice, the water at Great Falls Park is shut off. The park's public restrooms and drinking wa...
10/01/2026

PARK ALERT: Until further notice, the water at Great Falls Park is shut off. The park's public restrooms and drinking water systems are closed. There are portable toilets located in the main parking lot and at the junction of Old Carriage Road Trail and Matildaville Trail. Please plan ahead and bring drinking water with you to the park.

Who is ready for sweater weather?  And crisp fall breezes?  Plus of course amazing autumn colors?If you live in the DMV ...
09/27/2026

Who is ready for sweater weather? And crisp fall breezes? Plus of course amazing autumn colors?

If you live in the DMV area, or are visiting, you have many options to "Find Your Fall" in the National Parks across the greater capital region! This includes your beloved George Washington Memorial Parkway!

With over 20 sites along the parkway, you have many opportunities to enjoy fall!
Take a walk along the Potomac River at Great Falls Park or a bike ride along the Mount Vernon Trail. Watch the planes take off over fall leaves at Gravelly Point or have a picnic at Collingwood Picnic Area. Explore freshwater tidal wetlands at D**e Marsh or walk around the island oasis of Theodore Roosevelt Island. So many great options!

Plan your visit to George Washington Memorial Parkway: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Plan your visit to National Parks in the National Capital Region: https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/news/find-your-fall-explore-national-parks-across-the-greater-capital-region.htm


George Washington Memorial Parkway National Park Service

Join park rangers for the last night sky program of the year!Date/Time: October 4, 8:00 PMLocation: Fort Hunt Park, Area...
09/26/2026

Join park rangers for the last night sky program of the year!

Date/Time: October 4, 8:00 PM
Location: Fort Hunt Park, Area D

Gather at area D to view Saturn at opposition - its brightest and closest view from Earth. Rangers will point things out in the sky, provide a telescope for viewing, and talk about why dark nights are important. All are welcome!

Dress for the temperature, bring something to sit on, and bring a red light if you have one. Programs typically last an hour and may be cancelled due to weather.

Want to see Saturn on your own? Look for a bright spot in the evening eastern sky for the rest of the year. Autumn is a wonderful time to stargaze, with familiar sites like the Pleaides coming into view. Step out at night and take a look!

Looking for other National Park night sky programs? https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nightskies/events.htm

Saturn Opposition 2018:https://science.nasa.gov/asset/hubble/saturn-opposition-2018/

Photo (NASA): Saturn at opposition in 2018 from the Hubble Space Telescope.


George Washington Memorial Parkway National Park Service

National Public Lands Day is this Saturday (September 26)!Are you interested in getting involved in the nation's largest...
09/25/2026

National Public Lands Day is this Saturday (September 26)!

Are you interested in getting involved in the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort?

George Washington Memorial Parkway and its partners have several volunteer events happening that you can attend! Activity & registration information below!

🌎 Gravelly Point-Litter pickup and invasive plant removal with Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000QmeSPYAZ

🌎 Turkey Run Park- Potomac River cleanup with Potomac Conservancy: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000QadjpYAB

🌎US Marine Corp War Memorial- Litter pickup and invasive plant removal with George Washington Memorial Parkway: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000R7LMkYAN

🌎 Theodore Roosevelt Island- Invasive plant removal with the NPS Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT): https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000QMy9pYAD

Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. National Public Lands Day is led by the National Environmental Education Foundation - NEEF. This year’s theme is “Caring for Our Shared America” in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.


George Washington Memorial Parkway National Park Service Theodore Roosevelt Island

Great Falls Park recently wrapped up National Park Week with swearing-in ceremonies for dozens of brand-new Junior Range...
09/19/2026

Great Falls Park recently wrapped up National Park Week with swearing-in ceremonies for dozens of brand-new Junior Rangers.

In case you missed that special event, Junior Ranger booklets and badges are always available by request in the park's Visitor Center, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also access the Junior Ranger books online: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm

Photo: NPS / Monica Anderson

George Washington Memorial Parkway National Park Service

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9200 Old Dominion Drive
McLean, VA
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