Great Falls Park from Eleanor Mahoney on Vimeo.

In the weeks following the massive snowmageddon this winter, I was eager to get to Great Falls Park along the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. This extraordinary place is worth a visit (actually multiple visits!) as the landscape constantly changes, depending on the season and the precipitation. As the snow melt began, the falls grew in intensity, demonstrating nature’s power. It was quite a scene!  The National Park Service and all the other land managers and owners along the river did a great job handling the aftermath of our blizzards.

I was lucky enough to meet Park Ranger Aaron Larocca, who gave me a tour and offered up a little bit of the site’s history in the clip above.  At the park, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal (George Washington’s idea) offers a glimpse into the early story of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature and its only 15 miles from downtown DC. So check it out! And, if you want to make a day of it, be sure to visit Scott’s Run Preserve (right off 495 at 193) and Riverbend Park, adjacent to Great Falls Park.  Both are managed by Fairfax County Park Authority and offer fabulous views of the Potomac gorge along with great hiking.

Gateway Glances is an occasional travelogue series written by Eleanor Mahoney