Gold Mine and Great Falls Overlook. A Moderate 6.5 Mile Hike

Gold Mine and Great Falls Overlook. A Moderate 6.5 Mile Hike

This hike features the remnants of a quirky gold mine and the classic overlook of Great Falls. The mine was established by a Union soldier who was stationed along the Maryland side of the Potomac River near Great Falls during the Civil War. He noticed a glint of gold and after the war, he returned to the area, bought some farmland, and started mining for gold. Eventually, 30 small mines were opened by various prospectors. One of the largest mines was the Maryland Mine. A total of 5,000 ounces of gold were produced by the mines in the area, worth about $10,000,000 in today's money. Today, little remain of these mines, but there is a loop trail that passes by one of them. The hike starts near Old Angler’s Inn, passes by the mine remains, then goes down to the classic overlook of Great Falls before returning to the woods and hiking back on trails with splendid views of the Potomac River.

Bring a snack or lunch to enjoy at one of the overlooks,

Please note:
You must sign up by 5:00 PM the evening before the hike.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 8:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00.

Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 38.981913, -77.226457

The Street address is 10801 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854. NOTE: This address is for Old Angler's Inn. The parking lot for the hike is across the street from the Inn. DO NOT park in The Old Angler's Inn parking lot. They tow.

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim: 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 590 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead and half-way through the hike.
Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Weather:
The weather for this location can be found here.

Notes:
-Please note, you must sign up at by 5:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-A well-mannered pooch may join the hike, but must be on a leash.
-Please keep this a fragrance-free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.