1998 Photos

Description: This is a moderate 4 mile hike minutes from the hustle and bustle of our nation’s capitol. It’s a great place to take the family and for beginners to develop their “hiking legs”. For a place so close to a major metropolis there is so much …. wild power and natural beauty here as you watch the Potomac force its way through the rocky crags of Great Falls and the narrows just above Mather’s Gorge. As you walk along you can witness extreme sports firsthand, White Water Kayaking and Rock Climbing, and at the same time study the micro-ecosystems of the never ending vernal pools scattered along Billy Goat Trail. On the return leg you can take in the history of the canal. All of this power and beauty has its price: crowds. Since the C&O Canal runs straight through the middle of the park any reasonably suitable day for being outdoors will bring throngs of walkers, hikers, joggers and bikers to the park. Try to get there early. Then, at least, you’ll only have to deal with the crowds as you walk along the towpath back to your cars.

Note: I classify this hike as being moderate but those with balance problems and other certain phobias may have issues with this hike. I won’t go into a detailed explanation but will just say that the trail’s name was aptly applied.

Trail Notes by Ken Clark, Howard County, MD Sierra Club: From the Tavern Visitor Center, cross the canal on a footbridge over the middle of lock 20. If you time it right, you may get a demonstration of the lock operation. You are now on the canal towpath. Note the sign about how many people drown here due to the dangerous water currents. Turn right and go a short distance to a view of the river, from on top of the intake of the Washington Aqueduct. A low dam crosses the river here to divert water into the aqueduct. Return back down the towpath and continue on past locks 20, 19, and 18.

On your right, the Olmsted Island trail takes you out to see the falls. Everything in the Potomac River is Maryland, including the islands, but that's Virginia you see on the other shore. You'll see an observation platform over there, near the Great Falls, VA Visitor Center (see Difficult Run Loop). Return back to the towpath and turn right.

Another quarter mile takes you to the beginning of the Billy Goat A Trail, on your right just before the Stop Gate Bridge. The sign says that this section is only1.7 miles long, but you can easily spend two hours enjoying this trail. Follow the blue blazes, found on trees as you start, but often on the rocks as the trail continues. Check out the various views of Mather Gorge, kayakers, and rock climbers on the Virginia side. Also inspect the numerous little pools and ponds, where you can find frogs, tadpoles, turtles, spotted newts, and snakes (mostly northern water snakes).

At one point, the trail goes down to the river and then cuts up a diagonal crack in a rock face. It looks a little intimidating from the bottom, but really isn't too bad. When you come to Trail Marker 2, if you've had enough rocks you can take the emergency exit trail back to the towpath. If you're still having fun, continue following the blue blazes over more rock scrambles and beaches. Eventually the trail veers away from the river and ends at the towpath.

Turn left onto the tow path and follow it back to your cars.

Printable/Downloadable Map! Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique this outing!

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Name: ThatGuy Hike: Billy Goat Trail Section A
Date: 1/10/8 Rating: 5

Critique: It is a great trail but some people are intimidated by the Traverse (the cliff in the middle). It is a very heavily used trail, so the park encourages people to stay on the marked footpath and not venture into the middle of the island. Also they like to encourage people to also visit Billy Goat Trails B and C. The B section is just down stream from Angler's Inn, the C section from Carderock.

Sorry to be 'that guy', but the reason dogs are banned from the Billy Goat Trail Section A is because it is such a heavily used trail and they tend to get in the way. Also it is on an island (Bear Island) and the presence of dogs freaks out the animals and they don't really have any place to go. Despite people saying how well behaved their fido is, I have seen them chasing animals and getting into fights with other dogs. Not to mention they are tick magnets.

People with dogs that can't handle the traverse or other rocky parts of the trail tend to make their own path through the middle of the habitat, which doesn't help with the whole animals on an island thing.

Dogs are allowed on Sections B and C, which are much more suited for them I think.

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Name: Cory Hike: Billy Goat Trail - A
Date: 8/5/2007 Rating: 4

Critique: This was the second hike I have done in the DC area and decided to do the MD side of the Great Falls Park. I found the C&O Trail area very interesting and well maintained and loved the Billy Goad Trail! It was very challenging for me (I'm still way out of shape at this point) but the 1.7 mi route across the rocks was so engaging that I didn't notice how tired it made me until I was walking back to the start point on the tow path. Overall, it's just absolutely beautiful. Since the $5 entrance fee from the VA side was valid for this side (3 day pass) it was a free hike on this day. There are more Billy Goat trails that are south of this loop and I intend to explore them next. This is a true treasure for somewhere so close to the DC metro area.

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Name: Lauren Hike: Billy Goat Trail
Date: June 17, 2007 Rating: 4

Critique: I highly enjoyed this hike. While Section A is only 1.7 miles long, it feels much longer. I only started doing day hikes during this summer, and though I have done trails at least twice as long as Billy Goat Section A, I found this hike to be especially exhausting. Don't get me wrong... it's the best kind of exhausting I've ever experienced! You really feel like you've accomplished something.

The endless spectacular views and the rock scrambling/climbing made the trail one of the most diverse and exciting trails I've hiked, and at times I felt that I had been transported away from Maryland to somewhere out West! I highly recommend this trail for beginners who, like I, have had some experience on a couple of moderate trails under their belt and want to experience something more exciting than just an endless green tunnel.

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