New Year resolution? Great Falls 4.6-mile hike at a moderate pace

New Year resolution to get outdoors and exercise? Now's your chance.

Great Falls National Park in the close-in Virginia suburbs is an outdoor treasure in our own backyard. An ideal place to exercise! The hike will be a leisurely one, at an average pace of about 2 mph. Our route includes a couple of hills and rocks to flex those unused leg muscles; also water views and waterfalls to feast your eyes.

We will warm up walking south from the Visitors Center on the wide, flat Old Carriage Road and the winding Swamp Trail. Then the adventures start on the Ridge and Difficult Run Trails, including a couple of steep hills and a detour to a waterfall. The return route is along the Ridge Trail and a moderately difficult section of the River Trail, which has a couple of short but steep hills; steps; mini-rock scrambles; and clifftop overlooks.

We will move slowly on the River Trail and pause at several overlooks of the Potomac River flowing through Mather Gorge downstream from Great Falls. We will finish at the overlooks of Great Falls.

Bring plenty of water, and snacks for a rest stop mid-way during the hike. (Note: the park's snack bar might be open; no cash accepted; it is located "under" the Visitor Center near the restrooms.)

Start time: Meet at 10:45 and start walking at 11:00. If you can't make the hike, please cancel your RSVP by 6 pm the night before to allow others on the waiting list to join. There is NO cell service in the park, so hike leader will not get last-minute messages.

Required: Hiking boots/shoes (no athletic shoes with smooth bottoms), water. Recommended: hiking poles, rain gear, snacks.

Average pace: a leisurely 2.0 mph (faster on the early flat section, slower on the later rocky section)

AllTrails: We will mostly follow the AllTrails "River, Ridge, CCT, and Swamp Trails" in reverse: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/great-falls-loop-river-ridge-cct-and-swamp-trails

Meeting point: Meet at 10:45 am for sign-ins and introductions at Great Falls Park, Virginia. Meet at the bottom of the ramp to the front entrance of the Visitor Center (the doors facing the parking lot). Street address is 9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102. Allow extra drive time for construction delays on Georgetown Pike and George Washington Parkway.

Meeting place coordinates: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kAY7ou858TqCAJeK7?g_st=ipc

Park entrance fee: NO CASH ACCEPTED. $20 per car or $35 annually. Free with a National Park pass. Carpools can be arranged by using the Meetup Comments section. (Hike leader can take 1-2 passengers from Eastern Market or Rosslyn metro station if willing to go early.)

Facilities: Restrooms in the outside courtyard of the Visitor Center. Also porta-johns in the park.

Hike details:
Rating: Moderate; one moderately difficult section
Distance: Approx. 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain: Approx. 500 ft.
Pace: Average about 2.0 miles per hour
Conditions: Small but steep hills. Mini-rock scrambles. Can be muddy after rain.
Maximum number of hikers: 10

Contact Information: Please use the Meetup Comments for routine comments and questions. Hike leader is Amber 703-231-5978.

RSVP: Sign-up ends at 6:00 pm the night before the hike. Please do not show up unregistered. If possible, cancel by the same deadline.

To find out more about PATC, see
https://www.patc.net
Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, see https://www.patc.net/membership