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Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour through Great Falls National Park

4 (11)
McLean, US
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Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour through Great Falls National Park

4 (11)
McLean, US
Share
Embark on a thrilling self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour through Great Falls National Park. Step into an adventure that will lead you along cliffside paths, revealing breathtaking views of thundering waterfalls, challenging rock climbing spots, and daring kayakers tackling perilous rapids. This audio tour will take you off the beaten path, uncovering hidden waterfalls, secret rock climbing and rappelling spots, and a route through an abandoned colonial-era city. With step-by-step guidance through GPS, you'll explore the lesser-known gems of the park and witness the power and beauty of the Potomac River. This exhilarating tour lasts up to two hours and promises an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Not Included
  • 2 hours - 3 hours
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • & Audio GuidedSelf Guided Experience
  • Hike along cliffs overlooking the Potomac River
  • Explore hidden waterfalls and rock climbing spots
  • Walk through the ruins of an abandoned city
  • Witness the thundering Great Falls waterfalls
  • Get a bird's eye view of daredevil kayakers
  • Audio Tour - GPS triggered and hands free
  • Private transportation
  • Parking fees
  • $20 vehicle access pass

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More about this experience

Introduction

Discover the hidden treasures of Great Falls National Park on a thrilling self-guided waterfall hiking tour. Get ready to embark on an adventure like no other as you journey along the cliffs overlooking the majestic Potomac River. This unique experience offers an opportunity to explore lesser-known gems, experience exhilarating rock climbing excursions, and witness the region's most daring kayaking spots.

What to Expect?

During this self-guided tour, you can expect a total duration of 120 to 180 minutes of awe-inspiring natural beauty and excitement. From the moment you arrive at the Great Falls Park Visitor's Center, you'll be equipped with step-by-step directions and a map synced to your phone's GPS. The tour will take you through breathtaking locations, including the third-largest waterfalls in the United States, dramatic cliffs along the Potomac River, and the ruins of an abandoned colonial-era city. Prepare to be immersed in the wilderness with opportunities to go off-trail and witness daredevil kayakers in action.

Who is this For?

This self-guided waterfall hiking tour appeals to adventurers of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, history buff, or outdoor junkie, this experience satisfies a diverse range of interests. Families seeking a unique excursion, couples in search of a memorable date, or solo travelers seeking an adrenaline rush will all find something to enjoy in this tour.

Why Book This?

Unlock the secrets of Great Falls National Park with this self-guided tour, offering an exclusive perspective that goes beyond the usual tourist spots. As you traverse the trails, you'll discover hidden waterfalls, witness heart-pounding rock climbing escapades, and experience the excitement of the region's wild kayaking stretches—all guided step-by-step through GPS. Escape the crowds and embrace the adventure as you explore areas only known to locals. The captivating narration will provide insights and stories, enriching your journey and making it an unforgettable experience.

Good to Know

It's essential to download the VoiceMap app and the Great Falls tour before entering the park to ensure uninterrupted access to the guided audio tour. Cell phone service can be unreliable within the park, so enabling GPS/location is crucial for a seamless experience. Feel free to take your time during the tour, as it typically takes about two hours to complete. Although the tour is not excessively challenging, it promises excitement at every turn. Make sure to come prepared with comfortable walking shoes and a sense of adventure.

Reviews

Travelers who have embarked on this self-guided waterfall hiking tour rave about the unique perspectives and hidden wonders they discovered along the way. They commend the engaging narration and the ease of following the step-by-step directions. Many appreciate the opportunity to explore beyond the usual tourist attractions and witness the impressive waterfalls, the daring kayakers, and the picturesque cliffs overlooking the Potomac River. Overall, customers express satisfaction and a sense of thrill from this captivating and unforgettable experience in Great Falls National Park.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Great Falls Park

Great Falls Park - the 3rd largest waterfalls in the United States, and one of the largest national parks immediately accessible to Washington DC. With a $20 vehicle access pass (not included in Viator package), you will have full access to the extensive Great Falls Park grounds and trails. The Viator package includes a guided step-by-step audio tour, including a walking map that syncs to your phone's GPS, as well as a narrated tour with over an hour of commentary about Great Falls and its hidden treasures. To ensure an ideal self-guided tour: Because cell phone service can be less than ideal, please download the VoiceMap app and Great Falls Tour before entering Great Falls Park grounds. When using the VoiceMap app, please enable GPS/Location to enable the GPS triggered tour.

Admission Not Included

Potomac River

The iconic river that runs along the famous Washington DC monuments. This river runs through Great Falls along dramatic cliffs that tourists get to hike along. This stretch of river is particularly wild, and only extremely advanced kayakers attempt to navigate this stretch of river. Luckily, this tour gives you a bird's eye view of the kayaking heroics as river level.

Admission Not Included

Great Falls

The third largest waterfalls in the United States. A must see if you're in the Washington DC area. You'll have 3 different viewing platforms for these amazing waterfalls. You'll also have views over the Mather Gorge downstream of the falls, as well as a view of hikers attempting the perilous Billy Goat Trail cliffs and Potomac River cliff rappelling, including Romeo's Ladder and Juliet's Balcony.

Reviews

(11)

4 (11)

emh43016

This is a good place to see the powerful water movement of the Potomac River among the large dark rocks. It’s in a beautiful area with lots of beautiful mansions and scenery. The park has bathrooms and parking. The old inn for the canal workers and canal boat and locks are also at this location. It’s about a 1/4 mile walk to the falls overlook from the parking lot. Park entry is $20 for vehicles. The canal boat is covered during the winter.

Mal_G

*Read before buying* This is a SELF-GUIDED walking tour. A recording. Not entry to the park. Otherwise it's a good buy.

Julia W

Beautiful views and unexpected exercise! I did not expect it to be a hike, but I loved it! Climbing over rocks to be able to see the waterfall was a new experience that I loved. There are other places from which to see the falls that are smooth, but again, I loved the experience of climbing over the rocks. The walk through the woods was amazing and also a new experience. I'm active, but not an outdoorsy person. Again, loved it!

472bruceo

Couldn’t figure out how to access it so I didn’t get a chance to use this even though I paid for it.

ediem452

The sights are gorgeous. The visitors' center was under construction when we went, but signs and trail are clear, so not needed. We had four people and I paid the entry fee of $5 per person but there was no one collecting tickets. At the entrance, we just paid $20 for parking. We felt it was okay as just a small donation but maybe people can wait to purchase when they are there, in case it is not needed.

JessicaB694

Gorgeous and a fun hike. Handicap accessible viewing and small kid friendly hike option. Such a beautiful and peaceful spot. Pack a meal and have a picnic.

jameshD9428UM

I couldn't get the Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour to work because there is no cell service at the park. A waste of good money.

Mello_247

I bought these $10 tickets for no reason! 1. It was national park day or something and everything was free. That should’ve been stated when I chose the date I’d be arriving. 2. Nothing was explained. It was everyone for themselves so that’s what we did. No point of downloading the app that the confirmation email instructed me to do. A total lack of information from this app side and I won’t be using it again.

MR_TR23510

I had a great experience with the self guided tour. I had no data/cell signal and this guided tour was spot on where I was located. The Geo sync spoke up when I reached each of the highlight points. As for the park, the views were amazing. I never knew all the details of the Potomac river. The first animal siting was a deer right at the entrance. The 2nd was a woodpecker. The third was an eagle sunbathing, staring right at me 20 feet away. I was in awe of the beauty and majesty. Side note, the park like many others has litter throughout here and there, not real bad. so, bring a bag with you and pick up as you go. the next ones behind you will appreciate the beauty even more. Better yet, do not leave anything behind, leave no trace folks. I loved the park. I followed the River Trail and Gladisville Trail per the guided tour. Great job.

G9436OBkarenj

Audio tour was nice! Excellent for first-time visit and made the hike very interesting with the extra info and history. I would have seen the various things he pointed out but would not have known what they once were without the audio tour. Doug's voice and speaking style is perfect for the location. My only concern was the 6-hour delay in receiving the download code from TripAdvisor. Luckily, Doug responded quickly when I reached out to him to provide the code while I was driving to Great Falls. Best to download the audio tour ahead of getting there as cell data coverage is very bad in the park area. Although the hiking route is not arduous, it is over rough, rocky land so be prepared to scramble a bit. I will use this audio tour company again!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-05-12 22:07
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