Billy Goat Trail—All Sections

Plan Like A Ranger

A trip to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park offers you an opportunity to discover historical, natural, and recreational treasures. While preparing for your visit please be aware of closures and current conditions, weather forecasts, and review the safety tips.

 

Adult & child look out from Purplehorse Beach to Potomac River

NPS Photo

 

 

Is the Trail Open?

• Section A of the Billy Goat Trail often closes due to flooding. Under normal conditions, the trail is closed when the gauge at Little Falls reaches 5 feet and reopens when the gauge falls to 4.8 feet. However, under certain circumstances, the trail may be closed at lower levels.
• Please check Current Conditions before your trip to confirm the trail that you want to hike is open.

 

Hikers scramble up a section of Billy Goat Trail-A

NPS photo/T. Kilbourn-Shear

Choose Your Trail

Located southeast of Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, in Potomac, Maryland; The Billy Goat Trail, one of the busiest trails in the DC area, contains three different sections that total eight miles, each section begins and ends on the towpath. The Billy Goat Trail provides fun and adventure for all ages.

Section A

Level: Technical and Strenuous
Length: 1.75 miles
Season(s): Open year-round
Pets: Not permitted

Recommended ONE-WAY going downstream:

• Start at the upstream entrance near Great Falls and end downstream near Anglers
• One-way travel reduces the number of encounters with other visitors
• One-way travel prevents hiker "jam-ups" at the Traverse and other narrow areas of the trail
• One-way travel protects natural habitats
• The Exit Trail (half way point) will still be two-ways, so hikers can choose just the top half or bottom half of the trail.

Are you ready to hike Billy Goat Trail sec. A? Check out our safety video for more information, recommendations, and a preview of trail conditions.

Section B

Section B of the Billy Goat Trail is closed due to trail damage and erosion.

Section C

Level: Easy to Moderate
Length: 1.6 miles
Season(s): Open year-round
Pets: Permitted

What to Bring

• Good, comfortable, broken-in, hiking shoes that grip well on rocks and hills. The majority of injuries—sprained ankles, tweaked knees, and falls—happen because people did not wear good shoes.

• Two liters of water per person
• Snacks
• Suncreen and a hat
• Map of Hiking Trails

 

Parking

• Access all three of the sections from the towpath between Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center and Carderock (Anglers is between section A and B).
  • If you’re hiking Section A, parking at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center provides the closest access
  • If you’re hiking Section C, parking at the Carderock recreation area provides the closest accesss
• The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center provides a place (Wednesday - Sunday) to get more information about hikes and the history of the area. The restrooms by the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center parking lot are open daily (Sunday - Saturday)

 

Proceed with Caution

• Don't become a statistic. There are over 400 emergency calls and rescues each year on the Billy Goat Trail.
• Wading and standing on rocks at the water’s edge are extremely dangerous. One false step can have dire consequences. Fines of $200 or more may be charged for swimming in the Potomac River along the trail. If you’re interested in learning why this part of the river is so deadly, check out this article in the Washington Post.

 

Leave No Trace

• Protect fragile plants by staying on the trail.
• Follow the blue blazes that mark the path.
• Hike in small groups.
• Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. This is a trash free park. If you pack it in, pack it out.
• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.

 

Billy Goat Trail-A Recommended One-Way Map

Photo Credit: NPS

Hiking Trails of Great Falls, MD

• More than half a dozen trails and paths surround the Billy Goat Trail, including the towpath, River Trail, Gold Mine Loop, and Ford Mine Trail. Visit our map webpage for more info.
• Billy Goat Trail Section A is currently a recommended one-way trail, going downstream. One-way travel prevents hiker "jam-ups" at the Traverse and other narrow areas of the trail, protects natural habitats, and reduces the number of encounters with other visitors. The Exit Trail (half way point) is a two-ways to allow hikers to choose just the top or bottom half of the trail.
• Billy Goat Trail Section B is currently CLOSED due to trail damage and erosion.
• Billy Goat Trail Section C is less crowded than Billy Goat Trail Section A. Section C includes river views and a small waterfall; the trail is mostly wooded with some rock outcroppings. Free parking is available at Carderock recreation area.

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