Gold Mine and Ford Mine, a 6.3 or 9 Moderate Hike

Gold Mine and Ford Mine, a 6.3 or 9 Moderate Hike

SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES."

This hike features the remnants of a quirky gold mine and the classic overlook of Great Falls. An optional extension of 2.7 miles takes us to an area near a lesser known mine, Ford Mine.

The Gold 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 “Gold 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 (The C&O Canal National Historic Park) Visitor’s Center. From there we hike to Gold Mine, then to overlooks above the canal and river, then down to the classic Great Falls Overlook. We return to the visitor’s center.

For those who want more, we take a 2.7 mile hike through the area near the Ford Mine. While the mine is no longer visible, the terrain is a pleasant ramble through words and rolling hills.

The 6.3-mile hike will end around 12:30 PM. The 9-mile hike will end around 2:15 PM.

Bring a snack or lunch which we will enjoy between the hikes.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30

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.

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.

NOTE: There is a $20 entrance fee per car unless you have a National Parks Pass.

Details:
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.3 miles (Gold Mine Loop) or 9 miles (Gold Mine and Ford Mine Loops)
Elevation Gain: Approximately 520 feet (Gold Mine) or 680 (Gold and Ford Mine)
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: There is a toilet near the trailhead
Fees: There is a $20 entrance fee per car unless you have a National Parks Pass.

A leashed, well-behaved Fido is allowed on this hike

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:
- RSVP TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. IF YOUR PLANS CHANGE, UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY 6:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE SO THERE IS TIME TO BACKFILL YOUR SPOT. SIGNING OUT AFTER 6:00 PM WILL RESULT IN A "NO SHOW." REPEATED NO SHOWS WILL RESULT IN BARRING YOU FROM FUTURE HIKES WITH THIS LEADER. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST, CHECK YOUR STATUS SOON AFTER 6:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE TO SEE IF YOU ARE ON THE "GOING" LIST.
-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.