Great Falls of the Potomac, where the river drops 76 feet in less than a mile through a series of dramatic cascades, is one of the great natural spectacles of the mid-Atlantic — and Billy Goat Trail Section A is the best way to experience it up close. The trail traces the Maryland shoreline of Mather Gorge for 1.7 miles through continuous boulder scrambling, with the Potomac churning below and the 60-foot rhyolite cliffs of Virginia rising on the opposite bank. It is not a casual walk: route-finding requires attention, and the rock can be treacherous when wet.

The trail begins at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center parking area and can be connected to the C&O Canal towpath for a 4.7-mile loop that also visits the viewing platforms above the falls. The gorge section is entirely different from the towpath in character — raw, rocky, and physically demanding despite its short length. At some points the route traverses bare rock slabs sloping toward the river. The falls themselves are loudest in spring during high water, when the sheer volume of the Potomac in flood is awe-inspiring.

Great Falls is part of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The $20 entrance fee (per vehicle, 3-day pass) covers both the Maryland and Virginia sides. Dogs are allowed on leash on the canal towpath but not on Billy Goat Trail Section A. No permit required. The area is extremely popular on weekends; arrive before 9am.