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 IS A SECOND HIKE THAT IS LISTED FOR GOLD MINE DUE TO THE HIGH DEMAND. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THIS HIKE STARTS AT GREAT FALLS PARK MD BECAUSE OF LIMITED PARKING AT ANGLER'S INN. 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. Today, little remains of these mines, but there is a loop trail that passes by one of them. The hike starts at the Great Falls Maryland Parking lot. The hike passes by the mine remains, and offers splendid views overlooking the Potomac river and visits the classic overlook of Great Falls.

Please note: You must sign up by 9:00 PM the night 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 39.001617, -77.247334

The Street address is 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854. NOTE: From this address, follow signs down to the visitor center parking lot.

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa; 410.610.6254. 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
Fees: $20 or National Park Pass

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 9:00 PM the day before the hike.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-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.