The best gravel rides in Rock Creek Park And Piney Branch Parkway

Wonderful

Enjoy easy access to the Great Falls, a popular destination for photographers, hikers, and expert kayakers. Though not exceptionally tall, the falls surge with force as the Potomac River carves through ancient, metamorphic rock.

Located at mile 14.3 on the C&O Canal Towpath in Potomac, Maryland, Great Falls Park is a must-visit highlight for hikers, cyclists, and history buffs alike. A short boardwalk leads to the Olmsted Island overlook, where the Potomac River dramatically crashes over jagged rocks—one of the most scenic views near D.C. For hikers, the popular Billy Goat Trail offers three segments, with Section A featuring challenging rock scrambles and breathtaking river views. The historic Great Falls Tavern, built in 1829, now serves as a visitor center and launch point for seasonal mule-drawn canal boat rides. The towpath itself is flat and easy to navigate, ideal for walking or biking. Amenities include restrooms, picnic spots, and interpretive exhibits. Parking is available at the visitor center (fee required), or you can park for free at nearby Swains Lock and walk or ride 2.5 miles to the falls.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) National Historical Park offers multiple access points and visitor centers, including one here in Georgetown, Washington, DC. Beginning on 29th Street NW, south of M Street, the 184.5-mile canal runs from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. Its nearly level towpath is popular for hiking and biking, while the canal itself provides opportunities for canoeing, fishing, and boating, making it a great spot for outdoor recreation. Enjoy people watching and viewing historical brick buildings and homes.

The Capital Crescent Trail follows the north shoreline of the Potomac river downstream into Washington, D.C. Currently the trail is around 7 miles long, but there is an extension planned for the near future.

Peirce Mill, built in 1829 by Isaac Peirce on Rock Creek, once used water to power this mill that processed corn, wheat, and rye until its turbine shaft broke in 1897. Situated on a 960-acre plantation operated with slave labor, the mill became part of Rock Creek Park in 1890 through an Act of Congress. By the early 1900s, park managers enhanced the site with roads, bridges, and a dam. The New Deal legislation gave Rock Creek Park to the National Park Service in 1933, and the mill was restored. Today, visitors can explore the site, which includes parking, a visitor center, bathrooms, and a picnic area, as part of Rock Creek Park’s year-round attractions.

The final (or beginning) mile of the C&O Canal stands here, next to the Tide Lock on the Potomac, the true birthplace of the canal. The spot is marked with a stone pillar. Stretching from Cumberland to Washington, DC, this route ends at Mile Post 0, where hikers and bikers can definitively mark the start or finish of their journey along the historic canal. The towpath follows the canal’s full 184.5 miles to its Cumberland, MD, terminus, often extending to 333 miles for those who begin in Pittsburgh on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail.

The Potomac River, stretching 405 miles from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, ranks as the fourth-largest river on the East Coast. Swimming is prohibited in the District of Columbia's portion of the river. George Washington envisioned the Potomac as "the great avenue into the Western Country," and it played a central role in his life, serving as a vital hub during his era. For scenic views of the Potomac River on a bike, follow the Capital Crescent Trail, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail, or the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.