Riverbend Park to Great Falls and Mather Gorge, 7 moderate miles

Riverbend Park, Great Falls Park, and Scenic Trails Along Mather Gorge. A Moderate 7 Mile Hike

This hike is a two-park, 7-mile trek. This hike leads from Riverbend Park through the uplands, to Great Falls, along the Gorge and returns on Matildaville Trail. You’ll experience the assorted scenery, impressive vistas, and about 600 feet of elevation change this route provides.

Only about 15 miles from downtown Washington, the Great Falls area is probably the metro area’s finest close-in natural attraction. Tucked away in a remote river setting, Riverbend Park has over 400 acres of forest, meadows, and ponds. There, the broad and smooth Potomac River suddenly tumbles almost 80 feet in a series of rapids and then squeezes through a narrow, mile-long, and sheer-walled gorge. National Park Service lands protect both banks and provide riveting views of nature at work.

Trail Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: McLean, VA
Length: A Moderate 7 miles
Configuration: Modified loop
Scenery: Wooded uplands, river vistas, waterfalls, historic remains
Exposure: Shady
Trail Surface: Mostly dirt; some pavement, gravel; very rocky in places with one steep hill.
Elev. Gain: 500 feet
Skill Level: A Moderate 7 total miles
Facilities: Bathrooms both at trailhead and Great Falls

Park Fee
There is no park fee for this hike.

Gear Suggestions
Click Here for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.

Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine. Click Here to view the forecast for the area where we will be hiking.

Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions to Where We Meet for This Hike, including where to park and meetup with the group.

Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 8:45-8:55 a.m.

The Hike is at 9:00 a.m.

Please remember we are a volunteer supported organization that values:

1. Fellowship and camaraderie while practicing good hike etiquette.
2. Leave No Trace principles.

Our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and MAHG certified hike leaders members who volunteer as leaders for Mid-Atlantic Hiking Groups volunteer leadership team. Click Here to become a part of the team!
We ensure that no hiker is left behind. MAHG volunteers are very supportive, encouraging, with a focus on safety while enjoying the excellent camaraderie and benefiting from the many health benefits of hiking and unplugging from the stress of day-to-day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of MAHGs core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to the organization's mission.

A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!

Let’s have fun out on the trails and see you there!

Christa: 410.610.6254
Greg: 571.484.7499

• Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a volunteer supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and donations ARE tax deductible.
Tax ID: 47-5141831
• Click here to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.